profurl p31 upper swivel

[efulmar]

My profurl P31 upper swivel is a bear to raise, seeming to bind on the spar. Getting progressively worse. Any advice on 1) cleanng or lubing the spar, and 2) how and with what to replace the plastic inner bearing surface. Profurl say they have no spares, and will not tell what the bearing material is. Getting so bad that only a winch and heavy shaking will raise the sail. Thanks for any advice.

 

[srp]

What shape is the spar section? If it is circular, with a corresponding circular section bush, you could get a local engineering company to machine a new one. I would use Vesconite (see www.vesconite.com for a uk agent).
If it's not a circular bush that can be machined then you might be able to file or sand the inside to open it up a bit. It sounds as though it's made of nylon or some similar water-absorbing plastic which has swollen. The other possibility is that it is just caked up with dirt - a good clean with wd40 or a silicon based spray might help.

Another Profurl thread here

 

[rhumlady]

I have a P31 which does this on one section of the spar!!! It was at the top but I now have it as the second one and can assist it by hand. I tried to increase the inside diameter of the bearing with no joy and I have tried cutting compound on the section which, along with polish and ptfe spray lubricant does help a bit but It is still a sod to get past this section. there isn't much difference in the size of the sections either. I keep my eye on the for sale sections to see if anyone is selling but no joy so far.