I thought I'd post this here in case it helps anyone else out in the future.

It is possible to put the magnet around the motor in the wrong way around, which then causes the motor to spin backwards. After a clean up and regrease, my aerial was going up when off and down when on.

The lesson learnt, mark the magnet prior to removal

 

Experience is a tough teacher. It gives the test first, and then the lesson.

Nicely done!!

 

What an absolute nightmare of a job it became. It all seemed to check out on the bench testing going up, hitting its stop, going down, hitting its stop. But it was going backwards which I had no way of knowing at the time. I'd spent hours messing with it wondering if it had jammed then what else could possibly have gone wrong. I figured out it was going backwards and not shutting off at the ends when powered by the Jeep then wondered what could cause it.

That aerial has been stuck up for maybe 1-2 years now after disconnecting it due to it getting stiff and stuck.

 

My '98 arrived with the aerial extended about 9" Originally it was a priority because I was sure it would get tangled up with the scenery but 5 years later - it's just the same! I had thought about replacing it with the one off my '96 parts XJ (although the foot is quite different) but having removed that one it's just dangling behind the wheel because I've never worked out either how to remove the radio or withdraw the wires, as I can't see where they pass through the firewall.

 

I would imagine it'd be a bit of hassle swapping a '96 unit into a '98 with connector differences and possible mounting changes.

It's a super simple job to do, the wires pass through right behind the aerial unit and plug in up in the back of the dash (not too high up). You don't need to touch your radio as it disconnects the aerial wire under the dash. Once it's out it's a careful disassembly, clean the grease out, clean up the motor and end stop contacts, regrease everything up and refit, providing you put the magnet in correctly

 

Never even looked at the '98 but the harness on the '96 just disappears.

I've had the radio out of the '98 which obviously meant disconnecting the aerial, so don't understand what you mean about not having to touch the radio but the '96 is another matter altogether, that dash is totally impenetrable, I have never found any way of getting behind it.

When I first had the idea of swapping in the '96's I hadn't learnt that the connectors changed after '96, even on components that were otherwise the same - but that's not the end of the world. I might have a go at removing the stuck one, as that's probably easier, although I have no great confidence in my ability to fix it.

 

This is a view of the wiring behind the dash for a 95 but the circled is where it plugs into the harness, then the other end the radio. So for me RHD it's on the drivers side. I'll try and snap some pics or a video if I remember for you.

So you do unplug the aerial but in the main harness there's an extension cable, one end plugs into the radio, the othet the antenna.

 

Thanks but I think we must have different comfort zones I'm pretty much resigned to leaving the '96's to it's fate.

I might have another look at the '98 at the weekend (the dash centre section with the radio is already removed) 'cos I rather assumed that what I pulled out of the radio was the aerial lead, not being aware of this extension lead - or maybe that's one of the things that changed in '97.