SHORTEE ANTENNAS

[Clicker1944]

If you're gonna replace the OEM antenna anyway, why not clip off a portion first and see if you still get reasonable reception?

I shoulda had a V8 too!!!

[SpyderDen]

If you're gonna replace the OEM antenna anyway, why not clip off a portion first and see if you still get reasonable reception?

Won't work. The shorty antennas have a built in coil to keep the total length of the antenna to equal the wavelength of the received signal. You still need about 30" of metal wire to get reception.

[Bob Denman]

Cutting the antenna will just get you a shorter and more useless piece of wire to hang in the garage.

[Ga Blue Knight]

If you're gonna replace the OEM antenna anyway, why not clip off a portion first and see if you still get reasonable reception?

Basically a good idea but I did not cut mine in case the shorty did not work. Also it could put your eye out as you bend over to put stuff in your right luggage case!!!

[Bob Denman]

Owwww!

[schnauzermom]

So, I went with the ESI Shortee, chrome, and it looks great. Hopefully no problems with rusting. Worst part was trying to take the OEM off. Was locktite on and didn't have the right tools. But "with a little help from my friends", got it off. The chrome really dresses it up nicely

[Cruzr Joe]

If you're gonna replace the OEM antenna anyway, why not clip off a portion first and see if you still get reasonable reception?

The reason we don't do that is because it is practical!!! and it might work and then we will have too much time on our hands.

(good idea though)

[Bob Denman]

But with that extra time; you could spend some of it bulking up your "Christmas Wish-List" with the new Accessories catalog!

[baker911]

i am trying to take off factory antennas to put on the shortees , i think they put on a lot of locktite at the factory . whats best method to get these off ,
thanks ,

[cpdblegl]

The factory doesn't install the antenna. The tech at the dealership installs it when he puts the trike together. Had mine install my shortie instead of the original during assembly.

[shelbydave]

I can't guarantee it will work in your hills but for the price it's worth the try.

The hills up Bobs way are lined with tin foil...

[shelbydave]

i am trying to take off factory antennas to put on the shortees , i think they put on a lot of locktite at the factory . whats best method to get these off ,
thanks ,

I had the speaker pod off once, and was trying to just unscrew the antenna. It looks like the tech cross threaded it into the block. 2 pair of vice grips couldn't get them apart. I guess the next time I take that pod off, I'll have to take the block out, and use my bench vice.

[NancysToy]

The early RTs had a lot of trouble with losing antennae. BRP issued a service bulletin to have a drop of loctite put on the last thread only of the antenna, and added a star washer. Many techs put on too much loctite, which insulates the antenna and makes it less effective. Spyders produced after the service bulletin had a revised antenna block. I suspect this one had lock threads or some similar mechanism to prevent antenna loss. The inability to remove the antenna on newer Spyders may be due to this redesign.