sasailor
New member
Releasing seized Piston Hanks
Thought I would share this with the list while it is still fresh in my mind. Thanks for the advice to the list – here is what I have learned from experimentation over the last few days. Background – the hanks were so covered by salt accumulation that in some instances you could barely make out the actual shape of the hank
1. Soak the hank in a bucket of warm water first – at least 5 minutes per hank
2. Then attack vigorously with a brush with firm plastic bristles. This removes the loser stuff and if you are lucky you begin to discern the shape of the hank.
3. The take a toothbrush soaked in lemon juice or vinegar (I found the juice better) and carefully apply to the hank – I avoided getting it on the sail in principle – do not know if it would damage the sail but best not to find out the hard way.
4. Rinse and by now you have the very hard bits left – scrape off with the back of hacksaw blade and repeat the lemon juice procedure.
5. Now attack with a brass bristled suede brush (the small variety – I think you should be able to get them over there) this will get rid of the majority of the residue – rinse again.
6. Work at hank with pliers until you get it pulled back and address the working parts with more lemon juice and the brass brush – at this point it pays to be vigorous – get it to go in and out a lot to release the gunk in the tube.
7. Leave to dry or dry with a towel and you begin to see the residual stuff this can then be removed with 1000 grade water paper.
8. Give light coating of penetrating oil.
9. This takes about 30 minutes per hank - by the way it works on clews as well.
10. Have a drink and think about what you would like to do to the previous owner’s private parts with the suede brush once it has been excessively damaged.
Have A GREAT Christmas and New Year – you can guess what I will be doing – have 4 sails to go.
Tel +2731 267 0646
Cell +278234 22 33 6
Durban South Africa
Thought I would share this with the list while it is still fresh in my mind. Thanks for the advice to the list – here is what I have learned from experimentation over the last few days. Background – the hanks were so covered by salt accumulation that in some instances you could barely make out the actual shape of the hank
1. Soak the hank in a bucket of warm water first – at least 5 minutes per hank
2. Then attack vigorously with a brush with firm plastic bristles. This removes the loser stuff and if you are lucky you begin to discern the shape of the hank.
3. The take a toothbrush soaked in lemon juice or vinegar (I found the juice better) and carefully apply to the hank – I avoided getting it on the sail in principle – do not know if it would damage the sail but best not to find out the hard way.
4. Rinse and by now you have the very hard bits left – scrape off with the back of hacksaw blade and repeat the lemon juice procedure.
5. Now attack with a brass bristled suede brush (the small variety – I think you should be able to get them over there) this will get rid of the majority of the residue – rinse again.
6. Work at hank with pliers until you get it pulled back and address the working parts with more lemon juice and the brass brush – at this point it pays to be vigorous – get it to go in and out a lot to release the gunk in the tube.
7. Leave to dry or dry with a towel and you begin to see the residual stuff this can then be removed with 1000 grade water paper.
8. Give light coating of penetrating oil.
9. This takes about 30 minutes per hank - by the way it works on clews as well.
10. Have a drink and think about what you would like to do to the previous owner’s private parts with the suede brush once it has been excessively damaged.
Have A GREAT Christmas and New Year – you can guess what I will be doing – have 4 sails to go.
Tel +2731 267 0646
Cell +278234 22 33 6
Durban South Africa
