SK-3005 Lubrication?

[SCVJeff]

After that incredible rainstorm in Quartzsite where I stowed the dish to keep from breaking something, I noticed today that I am hearing occasional metal to metal howling (not really a squeak) then it's in search mode. It's not going to surprise me in the least to see water in there after a 70+MPH sideways storm as we had.
Is there a prescribed grease procedure for these antennas?

[winegard]

Good morning SCVJeff -

The TRAV'LER systems are pre-greased and should be fine for the lifetime of the unit. Try the system over the next 5-6 weeks and if the sound does not improve, please call our warranty department at 800-788-4417.

[SCVJeff]

Hi Andy,
Thanks, I'll exercise it and see if things improve. It is clearly sluggish since the storm, along with that metal to metal howl I detected yesterday. Hopefully the grease will spread around..

[Bill Adams]

Your time in QZ ha likely allowed some amount of the desert to enter the base area of the dish. I doubt that any water got in during that rain (I was there at the time as well). I doubt there is a problem but please keep us up-to-date after you run it up and down a dozen or so times. If it's still noisy we can take a look at a couple of things if you don't mind going up on the roof with one tool.

[SCVJeff]

It was raining too hard for any dust.. I may pop it this weekend anyway just to see what I see. There was clearly a change in mechanical performance, and I'm curious as to why.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCVJeff It was raining too hard for any dust.. I may pop it this weekend anyway just to see what I see. There was clearly a change in mechanical performance, and I'm curious as to why.

Sorry, I thought you (like the rest of us) had been in QZ for more than that one day.

[SCVJeff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Adams Sorry, I thought you (like the rest of us) had been in QZ for more than that one day.

We were there for 9 days, but there was no airborne dust at all where we were off Plomosa. That's one of the reasons we make that extra-long trek into town.

[Bill Adams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCVJeff We were there for 9 days, but there was no airborne dust at all where we were off Plomosa. That's one of the reasons we make that extra-long trek into town.

Really? No airborne dust? OK, you were in the only spot in the entire desert where there is no dust? I will just have to leave that comment lay as I am not sure there is anything I can say to counter that kind of assumption.
For the rest of us, the rain did help keep the dust down vs. years past, but it was there (nearly everyday) and the grit Janet and I had to wipe off every horizontal surface was proof of this.
Let's not beat this to death. My only comment is that it is highly unlikely that the rain caused any kind of a squeak but rather that squeak showed up when you did your stow routine after having been up for many days.

[SCVJeff]

No dust. Zero, Nada....... As mentioned, that's one of the reasons we camp there. The coach was spotless when we got there, before the rain, after the rain (except for splash on the wheels), and all the way home till I hit a 6" deep sand drift across the highway in Yucca Valley :( Roof is spotless, solar is spotless... No dust. The only dust in the car was that picked up around the show in the parking lots.

I'll pop it over the weekend (rain permitting) and see what the deal is because it's still going on.

[Bill Adams]

It's a miracle! An RV under a bubble. We spent a lot of time working on Plomosa road. I wonder what that stuff was I saw kicking up under my wheels?

[SCVJeff]

This is a stupid discussion that has nothing to do with the post. We have spent the last 4 years in the same spot, 9+ days each time. That's over one month within 500' of previous years spots. I am TELLING you that the coach was spotless when we got there, and when we left. There was NO blowing dust in the area, and since you seem to have been 15 miles South of there I fail to understand where you come off arguing about this? You must have something better to do, go nit-pick another more meaningful argument.

[Route 66]

We're getting off topic with this dust/rain back and forth.

If y'all wish to continue, take it off line.

Thanks!

[Bill Adams]

The real discussion is whether there is something related to something that happened after you had to stow your dish. Since I have seen similar issues with our Datastorm products that are dust related (it's in the air and is unavoidable) it's quite possible that the rain event had nothing to do with the noise but rather that particular stow was the one where the noise became noticeable. I am sorry if you saw no humor in my post, by wife says that nobody "gets me". I guess she is right.
The facts are that there is dust and pollution and other types of grit that none of us can avoid. I think that this may be what is causing your noise and I remain hopeful that this noise will go away with with a few find/stow cycles.

[SCVJeff]

Andy:
I was able to pull the antenna at the mounting ring this after noon and found pretty much exactly what I expected. While laying on it's side I got about a teaspoon of water bleeding out of the AZ bearing ring area, along with a little left over on the roof inside the ring. When you have 70-80MPH and horizontal rain with water also being scoured up off the ground I guess this is no surprise. The water was simply blown under the skirt, and in.

I have exercised it at least 5 times and still detect the same howl heard earlier, not loud, but clearly there once you pick it up. Don't know what the grease is used on the ring but I suspect it's not mixing well with water (obviously it is). Next I'll look at pulling the upper layer for a better look. I have some commercial bearing grease used in marine pumps that will probably do the job and will stay where it's put. Just need another nice day.