How to fit a new genuine mazda aeriel

[finnfyfe]

Hi there. Forgive me if I am beinjg a bit thick, but I have a bought a new radio ariel ( genuine mazda) for my Bongo. I have had a look and can't figure out how to fit. If you have done this yourself and know how I would appreciate you passing on your wisdom. Thanks very much all. Finn

[Ian]

The instructions are in a fact sheet in the members area of the main BF website.

[madmile]

I havent changed many and all have been a pain.
This advice is based on my experience and possibly not the best advice but it works OK for replacement with a new aerial.
1. The black centre of the chrome ring needs to come off to allow access to the allen key bolt underneath. It is really difficult to remove,but as your new aerial has a new one you can afford to dig it off with a sharp screwdriver etc.
2. Undo allen bolt but keep pressure on the centre of the aerial.
3. Pull off aerial BUT BE WARNED THERE IS A SMALL BALL BEARING ON THE BACK WHICH CAN EASILY FALL OFF IF ITS NOT STUCK IN PLACE WITH A BIT OF GREASE. The new aerial doent come with a new one so anything you can do to save this falling is important. Suggest making a catch pan out of masking tape or something so you can prevent it falling off. Once it hits the floor its gone for good.
4. put tiny bit of grease in notch on back of new aerial to hold bearing in place - push on and keep pressure on while doing up bolt.


Hope this helps.

[Scott]

I havent changed many and all have been a pain.
This advice is based on my experience and possibly not the best advice but it works OK for replacement with a new aerial.
1. The black centre of the chrome ring needs to come off to allow access to the allen key bolt underneath. It is really difficult to remove,but as your new aerial has a new one you can afford to dig it off with a sharp screwdriver etc.
2. Undo allen bolt but keep pressure on the centre of the aerial.
3. Pull off aerial BUT BE WARNED THERE IS A SMALL BALL BEARING ON THE BACK WHICH CAN EASILY FALL OFF IF ITS NOT STUCK IN PLACE WITH A BIT OF GREASE. The new aerial doent come with a new one so anything you can do to save this falling is important. Suggest making a catch pan out of masking tape or something so you can prevent it falling off. Once it hits the floor its gone for good.
4. put tiny bit of grease in notch on back of new aerial to hold bearing in place - push on and keep pressure on while doing up bolt.


Hope this helps.

I snapped mine off reversing under a tree and had to replace it, when i removed mine (exactly as you said above) there was no bearing in it and to be honest it stays where i put it (before and after it snapped) so not sure if you really need it

[MikeyC4]

I snapped mine off reversing under a tree and had to replace it, when i removed mine (exactly as you said above) there was no bearing in it and to be honest it stays where i put it (before and after it snapped) so not sure if you really need it

I had my girlfriend hover under with a folded kitchen towel to catch the 'phantom' ball bearing - and it wasn't there either, but seems to work fine nonetheless.

- - -

With regard to the tricky removal of the cap, I tried a different approach which seemed to work OK.

I noticed on the replacement cap that the plastic part was only anchored to the metal part by a central rod, so I tried removing it in a 2-step approach.

I heated up a nail on a gas ring until it was hot (holding it with needle-nosed pliers), then used it to melt the central area. (This took a couple of goes as I had a 20 yard dash between ring and Bongo!) I then used a pair of needle-nosed pliers in the new hole in the plastic cap to remove it and reveal the metal part.

Once the central hole in the metal cap was visible, it was easier to probe about with the smallest screwdriver I could find and gently lever the metal cap free.

Hope this helps.

Mike

[widdowson2008]

I snapped mine off reversing under a tree and had to replace it, when i removed mine (exactly as you said above) there was no bearing in it and to be honest it stays where i put it (before and after it snapped) so not sure if you really need it

SNAP (no pun meant) Did exactly the same with mine (twice) and with a bloody tree:lol: Lost the bearing on first replacement - couldn't be buggered to look too hard for it - reassembled without bearing and it worked fine. Then I bent the second one (tree again) and thought sod it. Have been running around for 10 months with a bent ariel - still works OK and have actually got quite fond of the shape.