Furler bearing lubricant?

[KevO]

I know this has been discussed before but I can't find the correct thread. The lower drum and upper swivel bearings of my Sailspar continuous reefing system were flushed with fresh water at the end of last season. I believe they should be sprayed with a lubricant periodically, what is recommended?

 

[bluerm166]

From the Sailspar website - these are stainless steel bearings,not Torlon/Delrin,so 'a dry teflon spray' after fresh water flushing.

 

[dje67]

Another possibility:-

http://www.mclubemarine.com/onedrop/

 

[emsworthy]

This stuff has always worked for me.

http://www.homecareessentials.co.uk/acatalog/Tableau_Dry_Lube.html?gclid=CIy9gZ2IobwCFWT4wgodR3wATQ

 

[KevO]

I found some GT85 spray in the garage... says it has PTFE in it... would that be suitable?

 

[MoodySabre]

Sailspar says it only needs water - "on no account use grease"
http://www.sailspar.co.uk/yacht-products/headsail-reefing/additional-information/

 

[Swagman]

From Brion Toss Riggings Website -

________

The bearings that ride on the wire inside the foil should be maintenance-free, since they are hidden away from sunlight, grit, abrasion, and abuse. In addition, they each take only a small part of the total load. It is possible to mess them up (see below), but not easy. However, there are other, more complex bearings in every furler: the ball bearings in races that are in the swivel and drum, the ones that make the whole thing work. These bearings are external, are often exposed to the elements, and they must take concentrated loads, both in compression and tension. Furler makers have taken several paths with regard to the design of these bearings, both in the materials that the ball bearings are made from, and in the design of the bearing races. Harken and Schaefer make theirs from Torlon, a hard, resilient plastic that is also found in high-performance blocks. The advantage of Torlon is that it requires neither lubrication nor sealing. In fact, lubrication can actually do damage. As Harken's Jim Bourne puts it, "Never, ever, ever oil or grease Torlon bearings. It just attracts grit." If you want to get a little extra efficiency, spray a little dry lubricant, like MacLube or Slide-all, onto the bearings. Other than that, all the bearings need is an occasional rinse with fresh water.

Torlon's big drawback is that it can deform under sustained loads, the kind you might get on a days-long ocean tack. Harken and Schaefer compensate for this with bearing races that distribute the loads evenly, among a maximum number of bearings. Furlex takes a different approach, using deformation-resistant stainless steel ball bearings in a semi-open race. Unlike Torlon, stainless bearings need to be lubricated, or they'll chew each other to pieces. So Furlex bearing maintenance is a matter of a fresh water rinse, and an occasional "hard maintenance": spray with WD40 or the like to dissolve the old lubricant; soap and a hose to remove grit; and finally some fresh Furlex bearing grease.

Profurl takes yet another approach, using stainless bearings, but permanently sealing them and their lubricant inside a remarkably durable double-lip seal. No maintenance required here.

And Hood's new furlers take one more design path, alternating Torlon and stainless bearings, to get the toughness of stainless and the just-rinse-it ease of Torlon.

For any bearings that require maintenance, how often you do it is a matter of climate and use. In the North, once a year might be sufficient, while in the Tropics, once every six months might not be enough. Schaefer's Fred Cook says that, "We do our best to make a durable furler, but to some extent, we depend on the common sense of the sailor using it. If you use the unit hard, in a warm climate, it's going to require more attention than if you don't." And Furlex's rule of thumb is, "You maintain the furler when you maintain the winches." Of course, there are also those who frown at the thought of maintaining winches. But that's for another article.
_________

I've a Harken Furler and apart from a post race flush with fresh water (and occassionally washing up liquid) we don't add any lube at all.
Cheers

 

[The Third Man]

When they were still in business the Rotostay people said water only too.

 

[emsworthy]

I found some GT85 spray in the garage... says it has PTFE in it... would that be suitable?

It really depends if it leaves a wet or sticky residue or not. PTFE is an abbreviation of the chemical make up of Teflon which is a DuPont trademark I believe. If what you have is a dry Teflon lubricant it would be fine but if it leaves any sort of wetness at all it will just attract dust and muck which will eat your bearings!