Interior: Roll up antenna help needed

[1954khardtop]

Hi all, hope someone can help me out. I need to remove the knob from my inside control roll up antenna so I can install the kick panel. I tried pulling it off, but it is really stuck. The shaft moves outward when I pull, and I don't want to break anything inside. Does anyone know if there's a clip, pin, setscrew or whatever holding this on? Or am I just being over cautious? Thanks.

[Flashback]

No screw or pin, nothing but pressed on. Screw the nut behind the knob off and place the shaft in a vice. Put a good flat tire iron under each side and pry off.

[1954khardtop]

Thanks Flashback! I will be less timid now that I know there's no fastener.

[RadioRoy]

Wait. If the knob and shaft come off by loosening the nut, can't the OP just install the kick panel and then put the knob/shaft back on?

[rockne10]

If you push the old kick panel back from the knob you should have access to the nut that retains it. Back the nut off and the knob should just slip out.

[1954khardtop]

Thanks for the info guys, I will loosen the nut and pull shaft and all out.

[Jeff_H]

The plastic nut on these is pressed onto a short stumpy shaft that has a nut/bushing and a spring. Spring is trapped between the knob and nut/bushing. Normally no reason to pull that apart. The end of the stumpy shaft has a notch in it that engages a tab on the antenna reel shaft. The nut/bushing screws into threads on the reel and the notch engages the tab.

When you are pulling on the knob and it seems to come out some, that is the spring compressing between the knob & nut/bushing. I should note that you cannot see this spring as its hidden inside the nut/bushing flange. You will know what I mean when you get it off.

Should be able to push the kick panel closer to the car body to that there is room to get a open end wrench on the nut and unscrew it, thus removing the knob. Then, the kick panel can be removed. Also, the screen and handle for the vent may need to come off too as it maybe attached over the kickpanel.

I gave up on cardboard kickpanels on my '53 after they got wet and warped too many times from getting caught in a downpour (I used to pull them off while damp and stick between towels and weights). I could never totally eliminate water leaks around the door upper corner and it would get in the windlass and wick down into the kickpanel. I got some textured plastic sheet about 1/8" thick and made them from that and problems are much less.

[1954khardtop]

Got 'er done today. Thanks to all who shared their knowledge. I was trying to pull the plastic knob off the shaft, and would have ruined it for sure if I kept at it. My Dad used to say too soon old, to late smart. At least I have finally learned to stop and ask when something doesn't seem right.