Tightening rigging screws

[alldownwind]

Just reading the old Kemp 'Hints and Advice' mast booklet prior to re-stepping our mast. Not had this one down before, it's a double-spreader job with caps, intermediates, and two lower shrouds each side.
What has thrown me a bit is that the book says "do not use a marlin spike or screwdriver to turn the rigging screw body. This will cause cracks which can lead to failure of the rigging screw".
How else do you do it then? I don't have the screws in front of me but from memory I don't think they have a square section anywhere to put a spanner on. I can see what the book means about leverage possbily causing cracks, but can't see what else to use.
My rigging screws are a normal design with a wide slot all the way down but for a small bridge at the centre. Split pins are used in the wire terminals to jam in the slot and stop the wire turning.

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

Sounds similar to ours and there is normally a square section that will take a spanner rather than use a screwdriver etc

 

[SvenglishTommy]

The whole body of the rigging screw is probably square, so you can use a spanner anywhere to get leverage. If not then I dont really see what other option you have.

 

[Caer Urfa]

My rigging has 'enclosed' bottle screws so I have to use a screwdriver to tighten the bottle screw,the hole is no more than 4mm dia so it is not ideal and I usualy break the shaft of the screw driver.
I lock the bottle screws with lock nuts at each end.
As an structral engineer I understand the point of possible cause cracking but as you say please somebody come up with a better idea!

 

[CliveG]

If your Rigging screws are like mine and are open in the center,
There should be a small area of flat on the swagged threaded terminal to the rigging wire that will take a small spanner ( 8mm in my case with 5mm wire) I then use a large adjustable across the body of the turnbuckle part so that both legs are in the jaws.
If you use something like a screwdriver in the gap you may distort the body.

Hope that helps.

 

[Noddy]

[ QUOTE ]
the book says "do not use a marlin spike or screwdriver to turn the rigging screw body. This will cause cracks which can lead to failure of the rigging screw".


[/ QUOTE ]

Reality Check!

Are we really at the point where we cant use marlinspikes to tighten rigging screws?

Methinks there is soomething wrong with the rigging screws!

 

[alldownwind]

Thanks all so far. Going back today so will look again more closely. Certainly there are spannering flats on the wire terminals, that's how I got the things undone. I'll try spanners on the turnbuckles themselves, but I really thought they were round section.