Disassemby of Profurl

[Neeves]

We have a Profurl 29 or 35. The furling mechanism has locked and I'd like to investigate the lower part of the assembly and just checking for expertise on how to disassemble.

The instructions don't advise how to take it apart - simply how to assemble.

The instructions seem to imply that the drum mechanism and the lower extrusion (which is above the drum and which slides over foil extrusion) are simply secured by 2 'bolts'. The upper bolt (I think they call it a 'Stop Screw' is an Alan headed bolt the lower one I'd call a grub screw (they call it a 'nippled screw') and currently is recessed into the lower extrusion. I cannot work out if that's all that hold the bottom together. If I release these 2 components, the grub screw and pan headed bolt can I slide the assembly up and find the bottle screw hidden inside?

There are 2 plastic locking devises that protrude with quite large heads, say 30mm diameter (except they are not quite circular) - do they need to be removed, pulled out, or do they simply slide over everything inside.

I've tried to remove the pan headed Alan keyed bolt - it released with some pressure. The grub screw seems to be either corroded solid or held with Loctite, so it may in both cases need a blow torch. The pan headed bolts does not seem to lock anything it is quite short 5-8mm and simply appears to tighten against something inside (the foil?) but does not appear to tighten into a hole or recess - unless it has sheared and I'm looking at the sheared end locked inside . What does the grub screw do? - as I may need to drill it out.

The furler is now 20 years old.

I have the Profurl installation manual and if anyone has the manual and has the answers we would refer to pages and images in the manual.

Jonathan

 

[geem]

We have a Profurl 29 or 35. The furling mechanism has locked and I'd like to investigate the lower part of the assembly and just checking for expertise on how to disassemble.

The instructions don't advise how to take it apart - simply how to assemble.

The instructions seem to imply that the drum mechanism and the lower extrusion (which is above the drum and which slides over foil extrusion) are simply secured by 2 'bolts'. The upper bolt (I think they call it a 'Stop Screw' is an Alan headed bolt the lower one I'd call a grub screw (they call it a 'nippled screw') and currently is recessed into the lower extrusion. I cannot work out if that's all that hold the bottom together. If I release these 2 components, the grub screw and pan headed bolt can I slide the assembly up and find the bottle screw hidden inside?

There are 2 plastic locking devises that protrude with quite large heads, say 30mm diameter (except they are not quite circular) - do they need to be removed, pulled out, or do they simply slide over everything inside.

I've tried to remove the pan headed Alan keyed bolt - it released with some pressure. The grub screw seems to be either corroded solid or held with Loctite, so it may in both cases need a blow torch. The pan headed bolts does not seem to lock anything it is quite short 5-8mm and simply appears to tighten against something inside (the foil?) but does not appear to tighten into a hole or recess - unless it has sheared and I'm looking at the sheared end locked inside . What does the grub screw do? - as I may need to drill it out.

The furler is now 20 years old.

I have the Profurl installation manual and if anyone has the manual and has the answers we would refer to pages and images in the manual.

Jonathan

Do you have the furler off the boat? Its far easier to work on when its on the ground. You should be able to dissemble from the top and simply slide the extrusions off the wire if you have a sta-lok fitting at the top? From memory the extrusions have a plastic joint piece inside so a blow torch may not be a good idea

 

[Neeves]

Do you have the furler off the boat? Its far easier to work on when its on the ground. You should be able to dissemble from the top and simply slide the extrusions off the wire if you have a sta-lok fitting at the top? From memory the extrusions have a plastic joint piece inside so a blow torch may not be a good idea

No - the furler is installed. Initially I simply want to lift the drum and the extrusion above (the foil fits inside) and access the turnbuckle.

My understanding (which might be wrong) is that lifting the furler itself is possible - in fact if you cannot lift it I cannot see how you can access the turnbuckle at the lower end of the forestay.

Depending on how I progress I may eventually remove the forestay and furler - but initially I'd just like to access the turnbuckle (which should be easily achieved - how else can you inspect the whole forestay if you can access the turnbuckle?)

Yes I did wonder what was 'inside' - which is one reason I'm here

Jonathan

 

[geem]

Ok, if it similar to my new Profurl there are two plates at deck level. Undo these and put a haliard around the drum and hoist. You should get enough hoist to see the bottlescrew if you have enough wire exposed above the foil sections at the top of the mast

 

[Neeves]

My instructions say

"To adjust the turnbuckle, disassemble both locking devices and both screws 'T' and 'U'. Lift the drum mechanism upward to slide it over the extrusions (I assume the foils) until the upper part of of the turn buckle may be reached. Adjust the turnbuckle and tighten the lock nuts (presumably on the turnbuckle). Slip the mechanism down and reassemble......"

Screws 'T' and 'U', 'T' is the upper screw/bolt that has the pan head and they call a Stop Screw and 'U' is the lower screw (looks like a grub screw) and Profurl call a Nippled Screw. The Nippled screw appear to screw into an appropriate hole in the foil and the stop screw, when I took it out, appears to tighten against the foil itself (I could see no hole - but it might have sheared - its old and was stiff to remove).

The implication is that both locking devices, the black plastic devices pull out (they seem to be simply spacers to keep the drum central)

It seems simple, 2 screws or bolts, and 2 plastic devices that keep the drum central. Remove all 4 items and the drum and the extrusion that extends just above the drum (and is beefy, I assume because it needs to cover the bottle screw) will simply slide up the foil. The foils don't move, so no need to slide them up.


This is all to find out why the drum appears to have seized.


You mention you have a new Profurl and in your earlier post mention that the foils have plastic connection pieces inside? If this is the case then heat would be the last thing to use! Soaking with WD 40 (and patience) might be a better option or drilling it out - if patience is not enough. I could easily re-tap. Another part of the assembly instructions suggests they supply Loctite for all the screws bolts (but not Duralac (or no sign of it)

From the drawings the plastic locking devices slide over a clevis pin on a turnbuckle but have a key, which must stop them falling (or working) out and there must be a corresponding slot - but I cannot see the slot. These plastic devices are cut to length on installation (and I wonder if they have worn and the drum is no longer central).

Jonathan