Furlex Headsail top swivel

[xcw]

I have a Furlex 304S furling headsail on my 2014 Bavaria 41. The top swivel is damaged and needs replacing. Doe anyone know if this can be done with the mast in place or does it need stepping?

 

[mrming]

On my smaller Furlex 200S the swivel is attached to the head of the sail, and comes down when you drop the sail. Have you tried taking the sail down yet? Perhaps yours is the same.

Edit - looking at it more closely, although you can get the swivel down, it looks like it’s captive on the furler, and that you would have to remove the forestay to change it.

 

[pandos]

You should be able to take the drum off and open the end of the forestay and slip the swivel off without dropping the mast.

Use the halyard to take the weight of the foil.

When you get the swivel down you might find that it just needs a clean or some new balls, you can do this without taking it off the foil..

 

[Concerto]

It is highly likely with a unit that is 11 years old, the original grease has gone hard and needs cleaning out and re-placing. I did this on a much older Furlex and it went from almost impossible to rotate to moving freely. Remove your sail and the dismantle the swivel. Do this over a muck bucket to stop dropping any parts overboard like the ball bearings. After applying new grease, then use some shaving foam to assist in holding the ball bearings in place during reassembly. Once assembled wash the foam away. Refit the genoa and the job is done.

Alas my Furlex is now at the end of its working life after about 35 years and is being replaced along with the standing rigging this winter.