Upside down balll bearings.

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

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www.cygnus3.com
I have to put some new ball bearings in the genoa foot. There is a race they run round with no lip and the genoa is at an angle.
It says the ball bearings should not be greased.
How can I put then in the race without using grease which would have held them in place. I have to use something that will hold them there (about 50) so I can put the cover over them and secure them but without some kind of sticky stuff they will all fall out.
Any suggestions?
 
could you use some of the "instant ice" spray that plumbers use ?


If the forestay comes to pieces (length at a time) can you remove the lowest section, and lay the stay flat on the deck, take of the furler and assemble it upside down ?


Or, what about casting a gelatine strip about 25mm deep, wrapping that round the unit, filling the race, affixing the top bit, then flushing out the gelatine with warm water.

Or honey and then warm water ?
 
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Good idea but I am in an anchorage in Mallorca. I don't want to pay 600 euros for a night in a marina.
The reason that grease is apparently not used is that the salt and dirt stick to it there for I need something sticky that washes off afterwards.
I was thinking of toothpaste. The abrasive factor puts me off but it should wash out.
 
Nostrodamus said:
I have to put some new ball bearings in the genoa foot. There is a race they run round with no lip and the genoa is at an angle.
It says the ball bearings should not be greased.
How can I put then in the race without using grease which would have held them in place. I have to use something that will hold them there (about 50) so I can put the cover over them and secure them but without some kind of sticky stuff they will all fall out.
Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Upside down, there must be a groove the balls run in somewhere.

Brian
 
Can you not use a spare halyard as a temporary forestay? Then drop the drum off and do it properly on a tray in the saloon.
I don't know the set up of course but would imagine that out of 50 balls you may lose 48.
 
Vara said:
Shaving gel, then rinse.
Click to expand...

Shaving gel sounds good.. never thought of that.
Dropping the whole lot and taking it apart means I am probably liable to loose more than a few balls.
As it is I have just discovered the only place I could find ball bearings in the Balearic's has sent 4mm balla instead of 6mm. On the invoice it says 6mm but the Spanish mm is obviously smaller than the British one. Looks like I may have to do a temporary fix with the ball bearings I managed to save which means if it is temporary I can use grease to hold them in.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
 
I used shaving foam on mine - it's just sticky enough but a jolt will still shake them loose. Still have the can on board as I have a beard and my crew uses an electric...

Talking of jolts and jerks - I always tell people you can tell my lifejacket, it's personalised. Then I show them the handle "Jerk to inflate".

Rob.
 
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