Replacing cam on Spinlock XT clutch

[tudorsailor]

I have a bank of 4 Spinlock XT clutches. The second one in needs a new cam. I see that there is a service kit I can buy. I cannot see any instructions online. Has anyone experience of replacing the cam? Will I have to dismantle the whole bank of 4 to get to one?

Thanks

Tudorsailor

 

[pvb]

I cannot see any instructions online. Has anyone experience of replacing the cam? Will I have to dismantle the whole bank of 4 to get to one?

See here. The whole bank will come apart when you remove the fixings.

 

[jwilson]

I have a bank of 4 Spinlock XT clutches. The second one in needs a new cam. I see that there is a service kit I can buy. I cannot see any instructions online. Has anyone experience of replacing the cam? Will I have to dismantle the whole bank of 4 to get to one?

Thanks

Tudorsailor

Did this last week. Yes, you have to split up the bank of clutches. If you can get a screwdriver to the side you should be able to do it without unbolting the clutches from the coachroof/deck, though it is certainly much easier if they are off.

In my case taking the bank off the deck was necessary as I could not get at the side screws. This involved taking down the headlining in the heads, and the shower screen that separates the heads compartment into two areas.

 

[sarabande]

so, another five minute job, then ?

 

[tudorsailor]

Did this last week. Yes, you have to split up the bank of clutches. If you can get a screwdriver to the side you should be able to do it without unbolting the clutches from the coachroof/deck, though it is certainly much easier if they are off.

In my case taking the bank off the deck was necessary as I could not get at the side screws. This involved taking down the headlining in the heads, and the shower screen that separates the heads compartment into two areas.

I have easy access to both sides of the bank. Is this then relatively simply job? My quandry is the next time on the yacht is when we sail off from Spain to Sicily. I wonder how long this job might take and if there is potential to easily lose a spring or screw and then be unable to use a clutch.

Thanks for your help

TudorSailor

 

[jwilson]

I have easy access to both sides of the bank. Is this then relatively simply job? My quandry is the next time on the yacht is when we sail off from Spain to Sicily. I wonder how long this job might take and if there is potential to easily lose a spring or screw and then be unable to use a clutch.

Thanks for your help

TudorSailor

The springs are captive inside the wedge-shaped cam assemby that you get as a service kit. The smallest bits you could lose are the nuts on the end of the long machine screws that go through the sides.

With the block of clutches off the deck it was about a five minute job to put in the new cam assemby and clean the others up. Putting the boat back together afterwards was much longer.

The service kit does not include the tiny rubber piece that fits in the lever: if these are lost the clutch will not stay fully open. One of mine was missing and I expected a spare with the service kit along with the £33 cam assembly. I need to ring Spinlock tomorrow. Fortunately these can (with difficulty) be fitted without taking off the clutch.

 

[tudorsailor]

Not so simple.....

So finally on board complete with Service kit. Easy access to underside of the clutch bank. Undid the nuts for the pair of clutches that I need to remove. Discovered that the clutches were installed with bucket loads of sikaflex. As a result I cannot lift the clutches up. Tried putting nuts in the end of the screws so I could use the birmingham screwdriver but they will not budge.

I have been advised that I now need a head gun to heat the screws so that they come out of the grip of the sikflex

Aaaagh

Tudorsailor