Help with ProFurl head sail furler

[ifoxwell]

Took the boat out for the first time yesterday and the head sail furler was harder to operate than it should be, and felt notching in use

Its been standing for possibly 2 years so is there any thing in particular I should be looking at?

Thanks

Ian

 

[johnalison]

Have you greased the relevant bits? I don't use a Profurl myself but assume that lubrication is necessary. The alternative is that your halyard is too tight. I always furl/unfurl with the halyard slack and tighten it when sailing, which makes a great difference.

 

[sarabande]

There's a possibility that if the unit has been stationary for 2 years that brinelling (indentation) has taken place in the races as the unit vibrates in the wind.


Can you detach the genoa, and then rotate the unit under slight manual tension ? If brinelling has occurred than you should be able to sense the rumbling and 'jumping'.



A useful prior post on the similar topic

Help, Profurl Furling drum lube

 

[Clancy Moped]

Bearing in the top swivel?

 

[LoneHort]

One of my winter projects was to fully refurb my 2 profurl LC42 furlers. I got new lipseals and timken bearings from Bearings, Chain and Power Transmission Product Suppliers - George Lodge and Sons Ltd and replaced them. I also drilled 2 holes in each unit , top and bottom to allow me to top up the grease in years to come. Good as new now.

 

[Kelpie]

I recently rebuilt my Profile lower drum. Wasn't too difficult, it's all standard sizes of bearing, circlips, and seals. Cost about £20 for the bits. Wish I'd done it sooner!

 

[Refueler]

Bearing in the top swivel?

I had Profurl system and I like it except for one aspect .... the halyard was the furling line. That meant that the top of the alloy extrusion has a sheave wheel in it for the line to go up (hauling up genny) then down again via a second groove to lock off at base before turns on the drum.
That top sheave is prone to crud sticking ..... I used to regularly up and down the genny to keep that freed up.
The line can also get stuck in the groove with salt and crud ... and the odd up / down can free that as well.

I liked the Profurl ... but sold it on after my forestay pulled out of the stemhead ... and I reverted back to hanked. Guy I sold it to - I passed on my tips and he used it for years on his Westerly Tiger ...

 

[ifoxwell]

Thanks guys, next time I can get to the boat i'll take a look at everything suggested.

 

[LadyInBed]

A useful prior post on the similar topic

Help, Profurl Furling drum lube

I posted this on the other thread by mistake so here it is again:
It looks like the site has been revamped
Profurl link is now Maintenance Log for Syzygy » Replaced Profurl furler bearings and seals
The link above points to Profurl Bearings
where the main details are.
I'm interested because the bearing at the top of the furler is rough on my Profurl

 

[Roberto]

I have a 42 Model, do not underestimate the stiffness of the circlips, I'd say very very difficult possibly impossible to remove with those supermarket-circlip pliers with removable tips, actually the greatest expense for all the job were the two circlip pliers, internal and external, by memory they were about 25cm long (size #2 or #3 I cannot remember)