Mk 2 Antenna replacement

[zippy99]

I'm looking for advice in removing the antenna from the 'housing' ( long hollow tube) that connects to the motor. Having cleared out the broken leader from the motor, the next job is to remove the aerial/antenna from this housing, but I'm prevented from doing so by a black plastic bush that prevents the aerial from being pulled out. What I'd like to know before I start applying brutal force is whether this bush is a friction fit (if so it's tighter than tight)or whether it is threaded and screwed on to the internal side of 'housing', as it sits inside the part of the housing that is threaded which is screwed to the external part of the body when the aerial is in place? Any advice that can be given, especially from those that have performed this task on a Mk2 would be greatly appreciated.

[zippy99]

As an addendum, the aerial mast came out out from the motor end of the housing! Having earlier bathed the base of the extended antenna with some WD40 as it was jammed in position in the closed position, it just fell out from bottom of the housing. However, I'm guessing that I still need to remove this black plastic guide at the top, as the online video's seem to show installing the replacement after everything is mounted back on the car, which I would not be able to do as this guide seemingly won't budge and I will have to put the new antenna in the housing and then feed the leader in to the motor whilst having the mechanism laying across the boot of the car, which if I have to do it this way, then so be it!

[zippy99]

Solved. I gave it some time with some WD40 and using the old aerial I slid the aerial against the guide/bush very firmly several times, it finally came out complete and answered the original question of being a friction fit. The bush/guide is about 3 inches long, plastic at the top with a thin metal shaft which fits around the aerial/antenna mast. It also helps to find a picture of one which if anybody ever needs a replacement can be found on Autolink and is known as Aerial top mount sleeve, MX-5 mk2, HG3066A9Z. As I now have my replacement antenna, it now means I can finally put the aerial assembly back in its place.