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Topic: TV Antenna Rattle  (Read 1068 times) previous topic - next topic

TV Antenna Rattle

I have a serious rattle right above the driver. It is about to drive me out of the FT! I changed from the old batwing, put a Jack head on the arms....no improvement. I changed from that to a Jack Antenna....no improvement. I've removed the CB antenna because it was in the area...no improvement. The Hadley is secure. Any suggestions, besides removing the antenna?
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #1 –
Did you check the overhead storage compartments above driver's head?  Sometimes a "rattle" noise can be transmitted from a adjacent location, and really fool you as to it's location.

Possibly a antenna cable or other wiring that is routed between the headliner and the roof "skin"?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #2 –
I put a 4"piece of pool noodle on the antenna mast, right below the Jack antenna, fastened in place with cable ties. Stays put, no noise.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #3 –
I had the same problem.  Went to a JackAntenna and cut the batwing arms much shorter.  The pivot hole were also about worn through.  I did a write up some time back on exactly what I did, including adding some bushings to the arms to eliminate play.

Helped a bunch.  Hope this helps,

Rich
Rich and Peggy Bowman
2002 U270 3610 WTFS, build #5939--"Freedom"
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4xe
SMI AirForceOne brake system
PakCanoe 15

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #4 –
I had a rattle over my head when I first bought my coach.  Turned out my front A/C shroud was cracked and rattled and banged in the wind. YMMV
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Rich Bowman –
I did a write up some time back on exactly what I did, including adding some bushings to the arms to eliminate play.
OTA TV antenna mast modification (split from What did you do to your coach...
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #6 –
Thanks for the suggestions. I tried something similar to the noodle, didn't do much on mine. My mast is probably already included in some Boeing, or Budweiser product. Doubt if it would have helped since the new short plastic Jack still rattles. A/C shrouds kinda doubt since I had them off reinforcing the mount holes, and nothing changed. I have the coach at Xtreme now getting the roof recoated, shoulda taken the antenna off before it went, and started over.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #7 –
I could not stop Jack rattle.  Turn all the way to left or right helps put still rattles.  I purchased new batwing no more rattles and a lot better reception. 

Larry

1998 U270
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Larry Bradley
SOB
former 1998 U270
Build 5251
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #8 –
Again, I will ask the same question I did quite awhile back. Is the location--way up front where the airstream is greatest---causing extreme buffeting. Is this a common problem with coaches having their antenna in the same location?
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #9 –
The rattle is in the ceiling where the antenna is rolled up and down.  The bushings become worn.  Replace the guts there and your rattle should go away. Just my experience. 
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #10 –
Dan, when a Jack antenna (not just a Jack head) is installed, everything, including the hole size, is changed. Wish it were as easy as changing out the thing.

I'm with Nighthawk, I believe that FT just chose a bad area of turbulence in which to install the antenna. AND right over the drivers head !
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #11 –
I installed a "diverter" in front of the antenna to route air flow over the antenna area. Just a sheet of aluminum bent so that it mounted on the roof and angled up at a 30 degree (approx) angle.  Silenced the antenna.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: TV Antenna Rattle

Reply #12 –
The "front of the roof" antenna mounting position may not have been the best idea, but I don't think it is entirely to blame for antenna rattles.  I'm willing to bet that when the coaches (and the original antennas) were brand new, the assembly was rattle-free.  I think years of wear and tear are the cause of most problems.

We had a continuous irritating rattle in our crank-up antenna.  I tried all the "crutch" solutions (foam padding) to no avail.  Then I decided to replace the crank-up assembly with the King Controls OA8200 - I believe the same one Dave is talking about.  Well, I wasn't happy with the OTA reception performance of the new unit, so I went back to the old crank-up assembly (with a Jack head).  Because the mounting hole had been enlarged, I had to fabricate a aluminum base plate to reinstall the old antenna.  The whole story is here:

OTA TV antenna mast modification (split from What did you do to your coach...

Well, to my surprise, the reinstalled crank-up assembly is now totally silent.  I attribute this to 3 factors.  First, the new aluminum base plate is much more stable and rigid, which limits movement of the antenna.  Second, while it was apart I greased and tightened every joint in the crank-up arm assembly, removing a lot of "play" in the mechanism.  Third, I found a white nylon nut at the base of the rotating assembly that can be easily tightened, removing all the excess slack in the rotating base.  This "fix" is detailed in Reply #19 of the thread linked above.

We now have zero rattles in our antenna, both going down the road in the stowed position, and when elevated.  I just have a small piece of rubber stick-on weather stripping stuck to roof for the antenna head to land on when stowed - no other padding whatsoever.  Works for me!  8)
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"