hydraulic backstay pump

[ErikKiekens]

The hydraulic backstay pump on my UFO 34 is driving me crazy. I brought it to a local hydraulics specialist because it was leaking. He returned it with new seals which stopped the leak. But now the bloody thing won't build up pressure any more. I believe there used to be a small steel ball (2-3 mm) under the pressure relief valve, which is now missing.
So, as it happens so often, we have to do everything ourselves. (Do you have the same experience?)
The model is a Trident 200 and was probably fitted when the boat was built in the late seventies. I suppose it's UK made.
Can any of you help me with a drawing of the pump, or contact details of those who produced it? Or, a drawing of any hydraulic pump so I can understand how it's supposed to work?
Thanks
Dr No

 

[cagey]

Cant help with your question but had up until a few years ago a hydraulic tensioner that I thought was the dogs and lavished much money and time on it until a rigger was doing a survey for me and ins co and in passing mentioned a flaw in this type of backstay. Scared was I so I checked with friendly surveyor and then with trusted friends in boat maintenance and they agreed that in the right conditions ( making the mast pump) if the hydraulic failed you would lose the rig, lots of ifs in there but going to windward and cranking forestay back is one thing but running with a following sea and the mast surging is another. I swopped to mechanical and was surprised that control and ease of use was improved, almost failsafe and cheaper. All on Sigma 362 MH twin spreader and I hate badly set sails.
I know this hasn't answered your question but it may be another perspective on problem, incidently go on garhauer USA site they do backstay blocks that are the dogs. Order early tho their kit is brilliant but their del is whenever
Keith

 

[ErikKiekens]

OK thanks for your reply
If I don't get the thing working soon without much cost, I will turn to manual (as on my 3 previous boats). I have always preferred the simple and obvious. That's already difficult enough to maintain and repair.
Erik

 

[ShaunG]

I also have a hydraulic backstay on my half tonner, I had the pump and the rams rebuilt last year by stay tenisioner services http://www.staytensioner.com/ It took me months to find them and the guy that runs the company made the parts originally for another company, i am not sure if he made the trident 200 but he really knew his stuff, full rebuild of the pump and 2 rams was about £250, they now work fantastically

 

[30boat]

I have a 16/1 purchase on my Fulmar that will bend the mast to an alarming degree.Very much safer and simpler than anything hydraulic in my opinion.And cheaper too.It can apply a 900kg load easily .

 

[ex-Gladys]

Back when Noah was sailing the Ark, and I was living in Plymouth one of the early Whitbread races finished and I went to eyeball the likes of GB3 in Millbay... A crew member passing his gear to his father commented on creases in the side deck "where we got a bit overenthusiastic with the hydraulic backstay tensioner"....