Furlex 300S: Problems and Servicing?

nigelmercier

nigelmercier

RIP
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Live in Kent, boat in Canary Islands
www.bavariayacht.info
Repost from a while back, got no replies ...

I've got problems with my Furlex 300S. The first is that there are four loose screws I can't see how to tighten them. See Selden Parts List. The screws are marked B4, top left of Page 7, they are behind the rim of part B8.

Secondly, there seems to be a lot of play in the bearings, and again I can't see how to tighten them. I also can't see how to break them to clean them. Ideally I'd like to do a full service.
 
I cannot comment from personal experience I have the 200S and have not dismantled it that much. However, having looked at the diagram and having some insight into Furlex thinking, it looks to me as if there are four holes in the top of part B5 that I would suspect are for the B4 screws. you may have to align the screws with the holes yourself which is typical of Furlex.
 
The screws are the ones in the narrow gap between the black cap and the swivel right in the middle of this picture...

6255187a6fd66d663407cf60bda314f5_zps1d127a6b.jpg~original
 
I've serviced mine. Let's see what I can remember.

The halyard swivel is easy, you simply align the two notches and press grease (Furlex grease appears to be calcium grease) into the gap. The boat came with a tube of original Furlex grease, which has a rimmed nozzle that fits perfectly into the gap, making this easy, but a syringe full of grease would do just as well. You may want to flush out the dirty old grease first (see below).

For the bottom part, first I took the drum off, which splits into two halves. I then (the rigger showed me this bit), undid the screws in B1 (black plastic bit). This lets the entire bottom swivel slide up (ensure alignment of the shaped top hole in B1 and the foil - then apply gentle thwacks until it goes up) onto the foil extrusion and out of the way, giving you access to the integral forestay bottlescrew (optional upgrade B47 - may not be present) as well as exposing the swageless terminal. That'll also get you access to the inner bearing races. You should be able to pop B1 off the top of the rest of the upper assembly to get to those screws you want.

I did not take any of the Furlex bearing races apart (although I did on the "Furlin" in-mast system, which had the same ones - make sure you do it over a bucket to catch them all, and count them). The Furlex ones didn't seem to need it, I hosed them down with acetone based degreaser (Jizer can), then washed it out with water, let it dry for a day and injected fresh grease while turning by hand. This did wonders and what previously was a struggle to furl now rolls up with a gentle tug from one hand.

The bearing races are slightly loose and I believe they are meant to be. Same on the Furlin.
 
Study the exploded diagramme carefully. Those ball bearings will fall out if you remove the round locating clips and lift the races. I did mine on the bench at home when the mast was down so all balls were caught safely on a towel.
 
I now have the exact same problem. I crossed Biscay and found one screw B2 on the foredeck and the other screw B2 missing.

When lifting B1 it exposes B3, however the screws B4 are obviously also loose on my furler, but I cant get to them because they are hidden behind B8, the tack ring.

It seems like the tack ring B8 should be able to lift easily to expose Screws B4. Was it B8 that was lightly tapped to expose the screws?

Much appreciated

Stuck in Coruna
 
Jaco.niekerk@hotmail.com said:
I now have the exact same problem. I crossed Biscay and found one screw B2 on the foredeck and the other screw B2 missing.

When lifting B1 it exposes B3, however the screws B4 are obviously also loose on my furler, but I cant get to them because they are hidden behind B8, the tack ring.

It seems like the tack ring B8 should be able to lift easily to expose Screws B4. Was it B8 that was lightly tapped to expose the screws?

Much appreciated

Stuck in Coruna
Click to expand...

Hi
I am stuck in Nydri, Greece with the same problem.. Loose B4 screws.
Were you able to tighten them without major surgery?
I do hope someone here can help.
Pat
 
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