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TinaMBee1
05-15-2020, 09:16 AM
I have an antenna that you put up and down from the inside. It says to lubricate a couple of times a year. What do you do that with and is it done from the top of the camper or the inside??

chuckster57
05-15-2020, 09:29 AM
From the roof. If you look at the base you should be able to see a “gear”. Spray some lube and then crank the antenna up and down a couple times.

flybouy
05-15-2020, 10:10 AM
Don't use oil or a petroleum based lube. Any over spray or run off onto the roof membrane can be damaging to the roof.

TinaMBee1
05-15-2020, 11:48 AM
From the roof. If you look at the base you should be able to see a “gear”. Spray some lube and then crank the antenna up and down a couple times.
so no WD 40?

dutchmensport
05-15-2020, 02:03 PM
If yours is a traditional bat wing RV antenna, there is a small cap on the top of the case that encloses the gears and mechanisms. You need to remove that cap and put a few drops of oil in it. That's all you need to do. And yes, its done on the top (outside) of the trailer:

Click here for a full video how to lube everything (https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lubricating+RV+Batwing+antenna&docid=608010181663786958&mid=0F2A06D05F5A351AB8150F2A06D05F5A351AB815&view=detail&FORM=VIRE)

notanlines
05-16-2020, 03:42 AM
Tina, WD40 gets terrible reviews in articles concerning lubes. I'd suggest a spray can (with the little red straw attached) of Lubriplate (usually at Motion Industries) or one of the spray cans of the PB Blaster Company, maybe the garage door spray lube. Most are available at any large auto parts store. You need a lube with solids rather than liquids, grease rather than oil.

+Ruff Rider
05-16-2020, 06:32 AM
WD40 is not a lubricant. People think it is but no. I use grease on mine. lt tends to run off after a while. You dont need much. Use Hi Temp bearing grease. I have greased mine once in 6 years.

travelin texans
05-16-2020, 08:21 AM
Personally unless you've got rusted bolts or tar on your vehicle paint there's not much else regular WD40 is good for other than a dust/dirt magnet. For your RV use a silicone spray lube, which WD40 has also, for good lubrication.

TinaMBee1
05-18-2020, 06:34 AM
If yours is a traditional bat wing RV antenna, there is a small cap on the top of the case that encloses the gears and mechanisms. You need to remove that cap and put a few drops of oil in it. That's all you need to do. And yes, its done on the top (outside) of the trailer:

Click here for a full video how to lube everything (https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lubricating+RV+Batwing+antenna&docid=608010181663786958&mid=0F2A06D05F5A351AB8150F2A06D05F5A351AB815&view=detail&FORM=VIRE)
of course I didn't get to see this video (how do you all find these great videos??!) so I did lube it up with WD40. Next time I do it I'll use some type of silicon spray. It says on the inside of the camper to do it 2X a year so will probably do it at the beginning of the season and when we close it up for winter.

brannend
06-10-2020, 05:28 AM
I wholeheartedly agree with the WD40 comments that have been posted. The WD stands for "Water Displacement" and the product has been used incorrectly by so many folks (including myself) for many years. I tend to prefer dry graphite lubes or wax based lubes. I used to ride bikes a lot and my chains were always pulled and placed in melted paraffin for lubrication. Never picked up dirt and such with a waxed chain.

mfifield01
06-11-2020, 05:22 AM
What about using the PTFE version? It's a dry lube.

https://www.wd40.com/products/dry-lube/