Rust on CB Spring

[Xtrapol8]

Barjan's "Medium Duty" Antenna Spring #300-311 for antennas up to 36" ($10)

...is what I found at The Flying J and happily recommended as a spring that has plenty of flex and would work well with a Fibreglass antenna that is in harm's way.

However, it has started to rust from the inside (perhaps, grit rubbing between the coils?). It's wierd because the oustide is nice'n chromy but that "rust dust" is crawling out.

I've removed the antenna and PB B'Lasted the spring and done what I can.

Is there a spray-on coating that helps to slow this? Perhaps lithium grease? Has anyone ever created a sheath out of heat shrink (for wires)?

I'm all ears.

[Rev]

fluid film?

[minidisco]

Mine's been rusted heavily for more than 3yrs, and the reception (and springyness) have not been affected - as far as I can tell... I've been thinking of replacing it, but then again, why mess with stuff that's working fine?

[fleurys]

stainless steel is your friend

http://www.cbradiostore.com/servlet/the ... eel/Detail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Snafu]

stainless....nice!

There are rust converters out there (some kicking around the garage here). After that use fluid film on it (I would not use PB blaster)

[minidisco]

stainless steel is your friend

http://www.cbradiostore.com/servlet/the ... eel/Detail" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yup, that's the EXACT same one that I have. See note above: rusted beyond recognition....

[steelcityslicker]

Not trying to be a jerk but for $10 bucks maybe buy a new one to start fresh and treat it with an anti rust coating.

[Xtrapol8]

All good ideas. Thanks.

It is just a cosmetic issue; the spring still works fine. I may actually start with a new one in April, but I'd rather clean this one up and keep it clean if I can.

Steelcityslicker, is there a particular anti-rust coating you prefer?

[steelcityslicker]

Steelcityslicker, is there a particular anti-rust coating you prefer?

I just bought a can of "Rust Check - Coat and Protect" from CT. I haven't put it through a full winter yet but I'm sure it would do fine in a spot that's out of the way like a cb spring. Fluid Film is probably very much the same thing.

[petespath]

Two things cause metal to return to its natural state. Oxygen and water.
You can slow the process down but not stop it from happening.

[Bow_Tied]

Stainless steel can corrode, it will just "stain" "less" than regular steel. I thing regular stainless would hold up better but when you make stainless steel into a spring through heat treatment a lot of the corrosion resistance is reduced. It can make 316 stainless act like 302. If the spring coils are tight together at rest this creates crevices for salt and sand along with moisture to get into. Crevice corrosion can start easily and spread easily.

The heat shrink is a neat idea, but I have my doubts it would last through the summer sun.

[Morpheus]

I'd agree with the heat shrink idea.. use a large size, and only shrink it at the top and bottom, let the middle stay so it can still flex. I think it's hold up to summer sun, it holds up to engine compartment heat....

[Bow_Tied]

wasn't worried about heat but rather UV degredation, but I am only guessing. Even if it only lasted one year, still a cheap fix.

[Rev]

I had a fold-over adaptor ($8) that also began to rust within a few weeks. I later took it off, took the fibreglass antenna off ($35), and threw on a hybrid flexible whip($15). Solved my problems and I get better reception. Dave, I know you have put too much effort into your set-up to do this, but I say this for anyone else wanting a CB. In my experience with rust and dense Ontario brush I wish I had just gotten the whip from the beginning.

[Xtrapol8]

Rev, when the antenna finally breaks (or something else annoying happens), that's the route I will take.

[Rev]

I don't think I have seen a pic of yours all mounted up. Post up! after all I did drive all the way past the tree line to help you install that thing and I never got to see the end product!

[Scotto]

No offense here, Rev - but that pic has nothing to do with your fibre antennae, or how it's mounted, or the rust that occured within weeks of mounting the thing up. It's about you and a rock

Good pic, tho. Now, I wonder who took that pic

Your pal;

Scott

[Rev]

Oh is there a rock there? I didn't notice.

No offence taken. It is about the whip antenna to which I referred earlier. One of the few pics I have that show it since I mounted it up for the first time at AW, and haven’t really wheeled/taken pics since then. Did you take that pic? I never really knew who did.

Here is the fibreglass, but I don't think it will show anything usefull at this distance.

[buttsy]

You've had nothing but luck with this CB thing. I agree with the heat shrink. We heat shinked the ends of the Ladder Rack on the vans when I worked Cable. It lasted the whole time we had the Vans (several years), and that was through the abuse of putting ladders over it all day. That having been said we used some pretty heavy duty stuff (3M CCT if memory serves). I don't know how much space you have on the interior of the spring, but maybe Silica Gel or a dessicant pack inside before you heat shrink? Keep the moisture to a minimum if nothing else.

[Xtrapol8]

I tried to implement the plan today ... and almost did.

The spring is fluid filmed. I'd definitely do this with any virgin spring in the future. I had my son spray the spring while I held it in a bent position. Of course, he applied too much, but it gave me a great opportunity to see just how filmy the stuff really is - wow. So the antenna is back on the X. I slid on the perfect heat shrink that I managed to find at PA and promptly realized that it would be too big at the top where the antenna's base is only about half the size of the spring. ASAP I'll stop by PA and get some smaller heat shrink so that I can put a dart (any tailors on the board?) in the lower, bigger one, allowing it to stay flush with the antenna while being held nicely in place by the upper, smaller heat shrink applied over top a la roof shingles. The delay is actually a good thing, I was wondering how much heat from the gun might make it past the rubber to the fluid film...enough?...to make a funny video?

I'll post a couple of pics once I finish. Had I fluid filmed the thing on day one, it's possible I wouldn't be doing any of this, but it has been fun and will be interesting to see how it holds up.