DownWest
Well-known member
After Stemar's thread about trying to fix his furler and deciding to convince the boss that a new one was the better solution..
Today I was looking at the Trapper's furler, prior to stepping the mast. The top swivel was very stiff, while the bottom drum was locked solid.
Having heard that the bearings were plastic and without grease, I thought that pulling them to bits and a little clean would do it.
Well, how wrong can you be... I undid the top swivel cover with a filter chain wrench. There are two steel ball races in there and both were solid and heavily greased. Undid the four bolts holding the bottom drum together and found the same.
Spent two hours cleaning and finally freeing the races, first with thinners and releasing fluid, then holding the outer race in the vice, gripping the inner race with mole grips and tapping them to get some movement. After a bit of this, they started moving and finally turned easily. More cleaning then reasembled the units with water proof grease and she is ready to go tomorrow.
Time being short, this was the only way, if I could free them. But I looked on line and found the drum bearings at €13 each and the top swivel at €9 each, so way cheaper than a new system. I think this is a 609.
We should have looked earlier, as the boat has been sitting for eleven years? But other things got in the light. Basicly, one needs to check everything. Now we have a bad continuity on the engine harness to the cockpit panel.... What fun.. But we can start the engine by shorting the starter contacts, so will be moving tomorrow.
If anybody wants to know the bearing sizes for the furler, just ask. I will be ordering a set for next winter's lay up.
DW
BTW, this is not my boat, just got involved helping out a friend. Did not realise how long it had been parked, thought it was more like 7yrs. Bad enough.
Today I was looking at the Trapper's furler, prior to stepping the mast. The top swivel was very stiff, while the bottom drum was locked solid.
Having heard that the bearings were plastic and without grease, I thought that pulling them to bits and a little clean would do it.
Well, how wrong can you be... I undid the top swivel cover with a filter chain wrench. There are two steel ball races in there and both were solid and heavily greased. Undid the four bolts holding the bottom drum together and found the same.
Spent two hours cleaning and finally freeing the races, first with thinners and releasing fluid, then holding the outer race in the vice, gripping the inner race with mole grips and tapping them to get some movement. After a bit of this, they started moving and finally turned easily. More cleaning then reasembled the units with water proof grease and she is ready to go tomorrow.
Time being short, this was the only way, if I could free them. But I looked on line and found the drum bearings at €13 each and the top swivel at €9 each, so way cheaper than a new system. I think this is a 609.
We should have looked earlier, as the boat has been sitting for eleven years? But other things got in the light. Basicly, one needs to check everything. Now we have a bad continuity on the engine harness to the cockpit panel.... What fun.. But we can start the engine by shorting the starter contacts, so will be moving tomorrow.
If anybody wants to know the bearing sizes for the furler, just ask. I will be ordering a set for next winter's lay up.
DW
BTW, this is not my boat, just got involved helping out a friend. Did not realise how long it had been parked, thought it was more like 7yrs. Bad enough.
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