Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Is there a better way? I have sprayed the wire with windex and tried to push it through. I only get about 2/3rd of the way. The straw is already mounted in the plane.

:eek:

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use a long straight rod like the pushrods for servo to control horn rods. I just tape it to the end and then pull it through.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

What TheBrickLayer said. Use a stiff rod or music wire down the tube, then attach your antenna to the wire and pull it back through.

Ken

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use a piece of pushrod too & rather than trying to tape it because there usually isn't much room left in the tube, so I just use one drop of CA right at the end of the pushrod & set the end of the antenna straight to it, let it dry just long enough to hold then pull it all thru & pop it back apart. It seems to work well & I haven't had any issues yet from putting the drop of CA on the end of the antenna. Hope this helps, good luck.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I just mount the tube straight, and it feeds right through. If there is any bend it gets almost impossible. I have started using the red "golden rod" instead of the yellow. It makes it much easier and there is no significant weight difference.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use 30 lb test fishing line, stick it through the tube from the rear, and use a drop of Ca or a small pieceof tape to stick it to the antenna, then pull the antenna through. It will follow the curves of a pretty twisty route without bunching up.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I usually do what everyone else says , but I just saw in the AMA mag where a guy ties a thread to the (in this case a servo lead) wire and then vacumns the thread through the tube and pulls the wire through...seems as easy as any of these other suggestions....Rog

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Now that is a GREAT idea! That way you can run the antenna after the tube is already installed...

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Mike, In this case he stated that the tube is already installed in the fuse. I had forgotten about the vacuum the thread trick. I had read about that somewhere too. That sounds like a good one!!

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Yes, the tube is mounted. I can't get at the back end.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use the vacuum/thread "trick"... something I learned as an electrician... tie your tie wire around a paper bag, use shop vac to pull it too you, tape wires on end, pull wires to other end :)

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I have threaded a many an antenna through a tube that is already mounted. You do not want to lubricate it, that makes it even more difficult. The lubrication is too viscous for the flimsy antenna wire. Maybe WD 40 or soemthing would be about as thick as you would want. Normally, if I am patient and I keep the wire and my hands very dry and the wire straight, I can get it. It just takes time and patience and a good angle to get ahold of the wire.

I still think that the vacuum the thread trick is the best idea I have ever heard. Its probably an old one, but its a new one to me.. I will definitely do it next time.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use a piece of music wire pushed down through the tube. Then use dental floss to attach the antenna wire. Wrap the dental floss around the end of the music wire 10-12 times, then leave a 2"-3" piece of floss, and wrap the floss around the antenna wire 10-12 times. Then pull the wire back through the tube. The floss is thin enough to fit inside of the tube even wrapped around the music wire and the antenna wire. The loops will hold as you pull it back through.

Hope this helps

Ken

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

i use a sewing needle and thread,thread the needle with long enough thread,drop it into the tube and when it's out the other end push the needle into the end of the antenna and pull it through.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I've had good luck with thread and alittle compressed air. Like a can off "dust off" it has alittle straw tube so you can blow out your computer key board. Put the thread into your straw, aim the noozle at it and give it a quick burst or two, then a couple of halh hitchs on the antenna wire and pull it back through.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

They have Dental Floss in Oklahoma? :D

These are all good suggestions, but they won't help if the tube is pre-installed with no outlet.

What I have found is that if you just run you fingers down the length of the antenna wire (Sort of pulling it as you go) after a few pulls, the kinks will come out of the insulation and it will slide easily down the tube.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I just tackled this little job for the firts time yesterday. My tube was pre-installed too. I am a guitar player so I just took a guitar string and ran it through the opposite direction, used a little tape and pulled the antenna wire back through. Took about 2 minutes or less. The ball end on the guitar string keeps it from pulling through while you are taping the two together, too. I wish I had though of that before fumbling with it for 15 minutes just getting about 10 inches into the tube. Would have saved a lot of frustration.

DaveCFI

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Nope!!!! I picked some up last time I drove down to Dallas!!!! :D:D

Ken

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

They have roads in Dallas?

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

They call them roads. They're really just scrap chunks of asphalt and concrete piled up over the cattle trails. At least that's what it feels like driving around here.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I use a piece of 1/32" music wire and thread that through the tube, then a drop of CA on the end of the music wire and the antenna. The wire is very flexable so curves and MOST tight bends are no problem.

You can also do this with a piece of thread and then leave the thread until you are ready to put the antenna in if you are building.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

I lubricate the antenna with spray silicon. the type they use for lubing window channels in automobiles. its very thin and does gum up. then I can easily push the wire through the tube

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

Gary
Perhaps it is too late but you should always provide access to the outlet . Cut the end of the tube on a long angle and exit it thru fuse side or bottom. If there is no wood at the exit point install a piece of balse between frame members, and ca tube to it. Unless your fuse is real long you will for sure bunch your antenna up inside. You could try to fold about 1/2 inch of antenna over/thru a fairly loose fitting slot ina piece of THIN wood and hope the antenna doesn't come back out with the stick. Let us know when you solve it. You can make a neat installation by taping the ant along the bottom of the fuse.

Good luck.

RE: Getting Antenna Wire through Straw
 

What size tube are you using ? If it is small and the wire is just hard to push through you will eventually be able to do it once the kinks have relaxed in the wire. If the tube is big enough the wire is folding back on it self inside the tube it may just be easier to install a new tube. If the fuselage is long enough to hold the whole antenna without an exit I install the antenna into the tube first and then slide the whole thing into the plane. I only attach the tube on the end I can get to and I make it easy to break out. If the formers line up right I just bow the tube between two of them and let the spring tension hold it in place.