My 79 power antenna mast has broken off where the black plastic wheel is inside the vertical unit base. I do not know how this works, but it is not connected to the antenna.
Is this worth a fix ?
Do you have to purchase the housing and antenna as a single unit? Cable connector looks like it is brazed on inside the housing.
I can buy a working used one in excellent condition for $70.00. Is this way to go, as the parts to fix may be close to that. Easy fix ?
Thanks if you reply.

a replacement mast is not available. you need to replace the whole unit either original or after market. was going to do it myself before the accident. the body man will do it now. looked like a relatively easy fix though.

Boatman, the "replacement mast" which is available from Ecklers consists of the very top section(the part with the ball) which is attached to a nylon lead with a hook on the end. I do know that on the 78/early 79 you need to cut off the hook because it uses a pinch wheel to feed out the mast. It's been a while since I did my 79. If you have the unit with the plastic housing you need to drill out the rivets. I replaced mine with stainless screws and nuts. Carefully seperate the case and look to see if it has the pinchwheel or uses the hook. Remove the mast tube, cut the ball off the end of the mast leaving a few inches of mast with the ball. Pull the cut mast and broken nylon lead back through the other mast pieces from the bottom. You will need to reuse the ball again. It WILL NOT unscrew. Need to vicegrip the mast while holding it in a vice with the ball above and the vice loose. Smack the vicegrip with a hammer, the ball will come off. It will have to be soldered onto the new mast after the mast is reinserted into the other mast pieces. I use solder for electronics stuff. Heat the ball with a soldering rod melting the solder into the hole. When melted, plunge the new mast end into the solder and hold still. Might take a couple trys. See which type of feed system you have. The pinchwheel you just run the motor in the down mode and feed the nylon lead into the wheel. The hook needs to be attached to the wheel before you run the motor . When the lead is started, stop the motor and feed out the mast until you have enough fed out to reattach the tube. I believe the motor is self adjusting(I know the early one is). The pinchwheels will slip when the mast is all the way down until the unit resets itself. The hardest part is getting the broken nylon lead off the wheel without everything falling apart! Pay close attention to how everything looks..... Or buy the replacement one you mentioned! Mike... PS If you have the early system with the aluminum housing, I will buy it if you want to get rid of it and go the replacement route. Let me know.

MKapp - I sent you e-mail.
Boatman