Greasing furling genoa swivel (Selden 100s)

[slawosz]

Hi,
I am doing more and more research regarding halyard genoa swivel greasing. I have own Selden grease, very thick, but I am little reluctant to use it. The bearings can not be accessed without putting the halyard down and after a while grease will get thick and sticky, preventing bearing from working. I am wondering about not using the grease at all, or using some spray lubricant. In the end, the balls are meant to move and I wonder how much greasing them will achieve that. I wonder if someone with some technical knowledge could help me in the topic?

 

[johnalison]

It helps to furl/unfurl with the halyard slack, but in the end it will need greasing. I don’t know your model but with mine it is easy enough to squeeze grease into the ball race while turning it back and forth to spread it. Any surplus that is left I wipe off with a paper towel, but in any case the rotating parts are not in contact with the sail at any point. It is similar at both top and bottom, though in my model there is the need to remove the drum every other year or so for an additional point. The unit always seems to work more easily after being freshly greased. For me it was always just an annual job.

 

[lustyd]

I had one of these exact furlers on the old boat. Factory grease lasted me 6 years and then the genny wouldn't furl at all. Dropped the sail at sea, added grease, and it was like new. I'd say grease once a year, it's an easy process. Wash out any salt and leave to dry first. The lock up was ball on ball friction, grease stops that and you don't need a huge amount. I considered this important enough that I gave the tube of grease to the new owner and bought a new one for me on the new boat. A single tube will last decades!
The Selden grease comes with the furler and doesn't get dirty or drip etc. so definitely use that.