Proctor masthead question

[Akestor]

Hi everyone!
I need to replace the front masthead sheaves but unable to find their shaft.
I can clearly see the shaft for the rare sheaves which I am pointing on the pic, but there is no visible shaft for the front sheaves.
Could the small stainless cover on the starboard side covering the shaft? Anyone with previous experience on this?

 

[aslabend]

The ends of the shaft on my proctor mast are covered by two similar looking covers (one each side).

 

[Daydream believer]

Could the small stainless cover on the starboard side covering the shaft? Anyone with previous experience on this?

With all due respects----Surely , with only one screw holding it, the obvious thing would be to take it off & look for yourself
With one broken screw, if it is a holding plate, then it would need attention anyway

 

[aslabend]

With all due respects----Surely , with only one screw holding it, the obvious thing would be to take it off & look for yourself
With one broken screw, if it is a holding plate, then it would need attention anyway

With all due respect the op might not be sitting next to his mat right no and maybe putting together a plan of attack... :¬)

 

[Daydream believer]

With all due respect the op might not be sitting next to his mat right no and maybe putting together a plan of attack... :¬)

Fair comment- but a screwdriver instead of a camera might have saved some soul searching
Will be a real bummer if it is corroded in & cannot be just knocked right through though

 

[Akestor]

The ends of the shaft on my proctor mast are covered by two similar looking covers (one each side).

That makes sense- removing 2 covers and taping the shaft out. In my case, there is only one cover that I'll have to remove by breaking the screw which is welded because of electrolysis. The question is how I am going to pull the shaft out from one side, plus that one sheave is seized on the shaft. Well, at least we now know this plate is holding the shaft that's something

 

[Akestor]

With all due respects----Surely , with only one screw holding it, the obvious thing would be to take it off & look for yourself
With one broken screw, if it is a holding plate, then it would need attention anyway

Sure I am going to attack the thing, just wanted to gather additional info before that

 

[Boathook]

If the shaft is hollow get a long drill and drill through the far mast wall. You will then know where the shaft is and can then enlarge the hole and drive the shaft out. Just a case of then making another cover to cover the new hole. I would possibly use pop rivets for the covers rather than screws.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have exactly the same issue with my Proctor mast. The thing which looks like a cover isn't - it's a flange on the end of a stub axle. The sheave run on it with a tufnol bush. Here's a set of parts from my old Jouster's Proctor mast:

If I can't shift the one on my current mast with penetrating oil and percussion I plan to drill a hole to the other side of the axle, as Boathook suggests, then drive it out with a pin punch.

 

[Akestor]

I have exactly the same issue with my Proctor mast. The thing which looks like a cover isn't - it's a flange on the end of a stub axle. The sheave run on it with a tufnol bush. Here's a set of parts from my old Jouster's Proctor mast:

If I can't shift the one on my current mast with penetrating oil and percussion I plan to drill a hole to the other side of the axle, as Boathook suggests, then drive it out with a pin punch.

Do you mean drilling through the solid shaft from the flange side and reaching the opposite mast wall? In that case, isn't going to be hard to find the center of the shaft blindly?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Do you mean drilling through the solid shaft from the flange side and reaching the opposite mast wall? In that case, isn't going to be hard to find the center of the shaft blindly?

No, sorry. I mean drilling through th opposite wall to get to the end of the shaft. Not easy, and I hope I don't have to do it.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have exactly the same issue with my Proctor mast. The thing which looks like a cover isn't - it's a flange on the end of a stub axle.

This is the same for my Proctor mast. Had mine apart a couple of weeks ago, came out easy enough, but if it didn't your plan of drilling the mast the other side should be sound.

 

[captainboo]

Mine were like yours with only one access plate. The shafts were hollow tubes. Due to the loading on the sheaves one had bent slightly and could not be pulled out due to the slight bend. Had to calculate where the other end was and drill a new hole to allow me to drive out the shaft. Replaced with new solid shaft and new bushings in the sheaves.

 

[Akestor]

Mine were like yours with only one access plate. The shafts were hollow tubes. Due to the loading on the sheaves one had bent slightly and could not be pulled out due to the slight bend. Had to calculate where the other end was and drill a new hole to allow me to drive out the shaft. Replaced with new solid shaft and new bushings in the sheaves.

How was it possible to drill at the correct spot from the other side? The only way I can think of is to measure the X, Y position of the center of the cover plate and hope to drill the correct spot.

 

[captainboo]

How was it possible to drill at the correct spot from the other side? The only way I can think of is to measure the X, Y position of the center of the cover plate and hope to drill the correct spot.

Measured from different places using a straight edge across the top of the mast to get the distance down and across the sheave boxes to get the distance across. Drilled a small initial hole to verify the position then carefully enlarged with a dremel to the required size.

 

[Akestor]

Finally, that was easy! Heated the flange at 400 C with the heat gun, immediately spilled cold water, and the single screw unseized. Sheaves are in bad condition and will machine new with bigger aft sheaves as the halyards will go internally. Cut the slots as Selden suggests with some additional distance
.