GM Power antenna mast broke again a few weeks ago, replacing it with an aftermarket mast as the GM replacement is now only available in the totally incorrect bare stainless steel finish. The motor that I'm working on is the complete Delco/GM replacement assembly that I bought 10 years ago or so when they didn't cost $300.

Here's the mast that I'm trying to fix it with:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AM-FM-Power-...RYbl-F&vxp=mtr

I followed the guide on this site, disassembled the storage drum and gears, removed the old broken piece, greased everything, got the end of the new mast started inside the drum, and put the assembly back together last weekend, but am still having a few problems.

1. The motor itself got snagged on something and came apart when I had to take the whole assembly apart for a second time since the guide on here failed to mention that the nut that goes on the outside of the car has to be taken off and put over the new mast from the top. All the magnetic parts inside the bottom of the motor stayed together, but one tiny spring that goes in the top of the motor was out of place. I put the spring back in what I thought was the correct place, but from what I could tell the motor would not even attempt to suck the rest of the mast cable in when I plugged everythign back in and turned the key on and cycled the radio on and off. I'm not completely sure if the motor works now or not as it's all the way in the back of the car and I can't really hear it from the driver's seat. Do you really need another person to physically force the new cable in while I'm cycling the radio on and off? Also, is there a basic guide on how to work on electric motors somewhere? Not 100% sure that the spring I put back was installed in precisely the same as the other spring. It might be a ring or two off. I guess worst case scenario, I probably still have the complete factory assembly somewhere that I replaced 10 years ago or so.

2. The guide from the seller ( http://www.antennamastsrus.com/instructions%20mast.htm) says that you have to make sure that the old grounding retaining sleeve comes off with the old mast. I did not see one with the old mast, and looking down inside the mast shaft with a flashlight, I don't see it in there either. Is there a chance that my motor never had a grounding retaining sleeve, and/or doesn't need one?

3. One of the tabs on the new grounding retaining sleeve has already broken off. Is that going to be a problem? I didn't see any mention at all of the grounding sleeve in the guide on this site. Also I don't see how it's going to physically fit down in the mast shaft as it's much larger than the shaft. Should I just remove it?

Any help would be appreciated. This has been a nightmare trying to get this thing back together.