Oooerr, what now

[Scillypete]

As the top rivets on my gooseneck fitting were showing signs of pulling a bit loose I drilled them all out and removed the fitting and look what I found.

Now how the hell do I fix that and put the fitting back in the same position as it cannot go much lower.

 

[Poignard]

An encouraging word

Mine was like that before it snapped in two.

 

[ean_p]

have a plate welded on.....

 

[Fantasie 19]

have a plate welded on.....

..not sure how easy it would be to weld if it's aluminium (???) - so same'ish idea how about a metal plate pop riveted over the affected area to give you a clean surface to re-attach to?

 

[Scillypete]

..not sure how easy it would be to weld if it's aluminium (???) - so same'ish idea how about a metal plate pop riveted over the affected area to give you a clean surface to re-attach to?

Sounds like the answer I'm looking for . . . thanks

 

[philip_stevens]

Ask at Nike if they can weld a patch over the wasted area. They should be able to do it.

 

[DanTribe]

Nasty!
It looks like electrolysis, so whatever happens, slap on some yellow goo next time.
A welded on plate would be 1st choice but a rivetted one may be OK.
Lateral thinking. How easy would it be to end for end the boom? The dodgy bit would then be in an area of less stress.
At least you found it now and not on the high seas.

 

[vyv_cox]

Welding a reliable patch on elderly, corroded aluminium as thin as a mast wall would be quite an achievement. I guess not impossible, but every professional mast repair I have ever seen was a riveted joint, either a complete sleeve or a substantial part of the circumference. As said, needs sealant between patch and repair and don't forget that water comes down the inside of the mast, so the rivets need to be sealed as well.

 

[wooslehunter]

Make sure any bare ali is protected, especially where different metals touch. Zinc-chromate paste is good. Duralac is a trade name.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

If that's the original gooseneck fitting from the builders or spar makers I'd be inclined to check the spreaders or any other attachments as well just in case they forgot the zinc-chromate on them as well.

 

[William_H]

Mast repair

I would not recommend welding. This will inevitably damage heat treatment of the mast at a critical point.
As said rivet on a large patch preferably from metal from a broken mast. Then rivet the goseneck back onto the mast and patch. Don't worry I think the mast will be fine for a long time. But do check the spreader bases and refit with lots of Duralac. good luck olewill

 

[rosssavage]

BIG sleeve or patch riveted on to spread the load - lots of rivets too. You almost want to think of it as joining two mast halves together - I would almost go so far as suggesting double sleeving. You have lots of material missing and some cracking evident too. Essential to stop drill those cracks. Relatively easy repair really, but deff err on the side of oversize patch to prevent flexing and help to spread the load....

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

One other solution that I would consider would be to replace the bottom part of the mast, say, the bottom 2 metres or so. If you can find a piece of mast extrusion that matches the one you have you would cut the mast back to sound metal, fit a long and substantial internal sleeve, and use flush rivets for fastening the lot together This used to be a common method of construction in the sixties and the seventies. The mast on my Centurion 32 was built like that from new.

However, even if you take this route, a thorough inspection of the spreader attachment area is a must.

 

[Scillypete]

If that's the original gooseneck fitting from the builders or spar makers I'd be inclined to check the spreaders or any other attachments as well just in case they forgot the zinc-chromate on them as well.

Don't think they forgot the Duralac as there are traces of yellow all around, but maybe they were a bit tight with it, who knows. Its a Z-spars rig 19 years old now.

thanks for all the advice from everyone lots of useful stuff there, just need to get on and fix it now.

 

[Heckler]

As the top rivets on my gooseneck fitting were showing signs of pulling a bit loose I drilled them all out and removed the fitting and look what I found.

Now how the hell do I fix that and put the fitting back in the same position as it cannot go much lower.

I would clean it up well, slather it with Durulac, and pop rviet a patch of alloy sheet on top. I would mark up the position of the holes and redrill the patch in the same position for the kicker and use longer rivets. Saves weakening the mast any more by drilling anymore than needed extra holes nearby.
Stu

 

[pete]

If it is possible I would remove the mast base cap and slide 2 alloy oversized shaped alloy strips up to the correct height and rivet them into position and then rivet the fitting back on the outside using zinc chromate paste and monel rivets.
There may be obstructions in the mast but I think it would provide a much stronger attachment than fastening the plate on externally.

Pete