Headsail roller reefing dismantled itself

[Impaler]

Happily sailing past Pennan at the weekend and my headsail decided to lower itself. Mmm sez I to myself maybe the halyard's bust.
Tiller pilot on and hauled down the sail to find that the bit that slides up and down the foil had unscrewed itself. The swivelly bit with the halyard was up the top of the mast where it should be and the bit attached to the sail was still attached but now in my hand.
Anyway, off came the sail and homeward bound I continued.
Yesterday I used a wire coathanger cut and bent into a 3 pronged hook tied to the spinnaker halyard with some light string tied on. In less than 5 minutes the swivelly bit with the halyard attached was pulled down the foil, deep joy.
The slidy up and down the foil assembly had unscrewed itself hence the drama. It's a Plastimo system, otherwise excellent.
If you have one next time you haul the headsail down take time to check that it's all screwed up tightly.
A locking screw would be a good idea.

 

[earlybird]

That can happen, at least on the older Plastimo gear, if the bent shackle that attaches the halliard is put on the wrong way round. IIRC, the installation instructions note the correct way.
To coin a phrase.... how do I know???

 

[Impaler]

That can happen, at least on the older Plastimo gear, if the bent shackle that attaches the halliard is put on the wrong way round. IIRC, the installation instructions note the correct way.
To coin a phrase.... how do I know???

Ah, so if all else fails read the instructions?

 

[VicS]

Ah, so if all else fails read the instructions?

Yep http://www.plastimo.com/pdf/S-Series(english).pdf if you have mislaid your copy.

The bent shackle is important to prevent this happening but the halyard swivel on the smallest model is different and does not use one.. if anyone has one and is wondering why they don't have a bent shackle.

The correct lead of the halyard over one or other of the diverter types may also be a factor.

Have you lost all your balls ? or are they still all there.

 

[VicS]

Some pictures in this thread http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199170

If I find Refueller's original thread I post a link but I think it was posted under one of his previous user names.

I don't like his solution which involves another bit of string .. but he was happy with it so that all that matters I suppose

 

[TQA]

Loctite [red] is your friend.

 

[Impaler]

Those pics show exactly what happened, the balls are all contained in a race so no worries there. I think the shackle is on the wrong way, another little jobby and I fit a grub screw or use some Locktite next time.

 

[pappaecho]

Happened in my SeaLord 25 years ago. Loktite sorted it with no problem

 

[rotrax]

Ah, so if all else fails read the instructions?

Yes-RTFM!