aerial ballbearing

[Northern Bongolow]

any one know the size please.
just stripped one down to repair the mast, and out fell a rusty scab that i think was the ball bearing.

[westonwarrior]

I went to a cycle shop and bought the smallest they had, which fitted

[Northern Bongolow]

cheers mate, ive read all the past posts on this.
lots has been said but the size. .

[Simon Jones]

When I lost mine, someone kindly measured the size & PM'ed me the details, but just like the ball bearing, I've lost that info too . The suggestion that you can find a compatible one in trigger action pump spray (Mr Muscle, Flash, etc) proved incorrect despite dismantling several bottles that we had under the kitchen sink. If I had to guess the size, I would say the diameter is about 2mm.

[rita]

any one know the size please.
just stripped one down to repair the mast, and out fell a rusty scab that i think was the ball bearing.

3mm should do the trick.....

[Northern Bongolow]

thanks for your help all.
just been to the local bike shop who wanted to sell me packs of 30 but wouldnt open the sealed packs to check accurately .
bought a high tech front cycle light for £30 then he opened some packs and gave me a selection for free .

if it stops raining i will post which one seems to work best.

[Northern Bongolow]

i got 3,3mm and several above.
all were too large so i filed the opening into which the spring pushes the ball slightly to this size and it works well.

3mm (thanks rita) is the max size used in standard form, or even slightly smaller will do, larger will work if you file the opening.
for decimal, fractional, and metric sizes see here.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/inche ... d_751.html.

[stuc]

Still want to get the plastic insert out without breaking it as I want to drill and tap the aerial base. How do I get it out? tried on both Bongos but no joy.

[Simon Jones]

They're not really designed to be removed in one piece which is why it comes as part of the replacement aerial kit. The black plastic button is pressed into a metal disc which actually the bit you need to remove to access the bolt. I removed mine by drilling a hole about 1.5mm in the centre of the black button which allowed me to insert a self taping screw which could be used to pull the metal disc off.

[stuc]

Cheers Simon, it's just I have done it before without doing any damage to the black bit but do not know how I managed it. Must have been lucky I guess cos I can't budge it now.

[stuc]

Done it today, believe it or not after several attempts, got the insert out by just flicking the edge with a tiny screwdriver, no holes drilled, result!

[Northern Bongolow]

i did that----- its now in next doors garden somewhere

[stuc]

i did that----- its now in next doors garden somewhere

I know what you mean it did go a fair distance but I managed to find it.