short antenna

B.J., it is easy to do if you have the right supplies and a few tools, but it is hard to explain. I'll try. First, I took the antennae mount off the bar (2 bolts), then disconnected the antennae wire(unscrew from the bottom). Now that it is off the bike, unscrew the keeper on top that lets the antennae tip over. Inside there is a 1/8" pin that the OEM antenna hinges on. Drive out that pin to disconnect the long antenna. Now I am assuming that you have purchased the same antenna that I posted a picture of with name & number. Disassemble that antenna. Inside you will find a little rod with a spring that slips over it. One end of that little rod needs to be shaped the exact same size as the end of the OEM antenna, except the end should be left SQUARE instead of rounded like the OEM antenna. That little rod needs to go back in the slot where the end of the long antenna was attached by the 1/8" pin. When you file it down where it fits tightly in the bottom of that slot without any slop on the sides, then clamp it down while fitting all the way against the bottom of the slot and drill a 1/8" hole through it using the existing holes in the female piece as a guide. A good fit with the file and the drill is what keeps the new antenna from wobbling at the base. Now, you will have to calculate how much to cut off the other end of this rod because I do not remember. The rod needs to be long enough to support the spring, yet not too long to keep the new antenna from bottoming on the base where the OEM antenna keeper screwed on. I believe that I determined the amount to cut off the other end of the little rod by putting the new antenna over he little rod while shoved to the bottom of the slot and measuring the distance from the bottom of the new antenna to where it should fit on the OEM base. Then add another 1/8" or so and cut that amount off the little rod. Also file or grind off the sharp edges of the little rod after cutting it off so the spring won't get hung on them. The spring must be placed over the rod to conduct the signal from the inside of the new antenna to the antenna wire. Now, you will need a 1/8" rivet that is at least 0.7" long. A 1/8" piece of brazing rod cut to 0.7" will work fine. The 0.7" rivet must reach all the way through the base of the new antenna and be bradded (not now) with a small ball peen hammer(slowly). Now you need to drill a hole in one side of the base of the new antenna exactly 0.3" up from the bottom of the base. The size of this hole should be less than 1/8" because the plastic base of the new antenna needs to fit tightly around the 1/8" rivet on both sides. A #35 drill (0.110") is ideal if you have one, can borrow one, or even buy one. Now, with the hole drilled in one side of the base of the new antenna, place it over the OEM base and using the existing holes in the slotted OEM base, run the drill bit through those holes and drill a hole in the other side of the new antenna base. Now all that is left to do is assemble all this at once. Sounds easy, but an extra hand or two really helps. I put just the smallest amount of J B Weld on the inside of the new antenna base to make sure that it fit well. Put the short rod in the slot with the holes lined up (if you made it a tight fit, it will stay) slip the spring over the rod and push the new antenna down on the base with all the holes lined up and push the 1/8" brass rivet through all the holes that you have drilled, from one side to the other. You might now temporarily hook up the antenna wire and check to make sure that you are getting a signal to the radio while you can still get it apart. If it works, remove the antenna wire and gently brad the rivet on both sides with a small ball peen hammer working on one side and then the other until it has been spread enough that it will not come out from either side. A little dab of black paint on each end of the rivet and you are ready to reconnect the antenna wire and mount your new antenna on your bike. Before I went to all this trouble, with the bike in the garage, I tuned in a marginal FM station and switched antenna signals back and forth between the new antenna and the OEM antenna. The short antenna gave the best signal by the slightest of margins. My neighbor was there at the time and he concurred with my opinion. Yes, I could have had your new antenna on your bike in less time than it has taken to write up the procedure. However, it sure took a lot of thinking before I figured out how to put mine on. B.J. I hope that this helps. Oh yes, if you use any JB Weld, use only the smallest amount, because too much could short out the signal. Also, if you have or can borrow a dial caliper, it sure helps in making accurate measurements. Send me a picture!...Jim Lynch