12749 Radar Antenna - Repro of postwar 197 Radar Antenna
See Video of Improved Antenna after Repair This operating antenna has been wobbly spinning along for years and finally stopped. The repair required adding a brass bushing for the shaft and replacing the black Driving Washer. See 1997 Lionel Instructions and Diagram with Replacement Parts. |
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Remove Vibrotor Cover
The driving slug needed to be smoothed on the bottom.
| Tools
Used 1/8 " Drill bit and Unibit Surplus chuck for hand drilling MotoTool with fiber cutting wheel Files for finishing tube ends Letraset burnisher to seat driving washer with fingers parallel pliers Dad's Lionel track pliers |
Materials
Used Brass Tubing 1/8" OD 5/16" long for bushing 240 wet or dry paper to smooth out groove in shaft Graphite powder for lubrication |
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Hard Finger Washer with Flat Fingers The powdery looking dust is reflected light off old graphite.  |
Test fit Brass Rod in Motor Shaft  |
Ream Shaft Hole by Hand with 1/8" Bit |
After Test Fit More Hand Reaming Needed Clean all Surfaces  |
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Mark Brass Depth for Cutting  |
Brass Bushing is about 5/16" Long  |
Ready for Assembly
The antenna weight rides on the pointed tip.
Lubricate with graphite. |
Set Finger Washer with Burnisher |
Antenna shaft had notch worn into it that had to be
smoothed. Note slight shaft tilt. |
Apply 12 Volts AC For Testing
It operated fairly well but was still slightly tilted.
With parallel pliers holding black square shaft, very slightly straighten the pointed antenna shaft.
SUCCESS!!!
See Video
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