Bone head move... Pulled the pin on the masthead sheave and as I was about to pull it out it slipped part way down the mast. The mast is resting on a couple sawhorses. The mast is 42'. Any good ideas on how to retrieve the sheave?
Masthead sheave
- Thread starter FlimFlamII
- Start date
Pick up the butt end and slide it back?
+1 for Stu.
Why can't you pick up the butt end and let it slide back to the head again?
If the inside is aluminum it should slide easy enough, assuming there isn't anything in the way. If there is something in the way, rotate the mast to avoid the obstruction and get it sliding again.
Plan B: buy a new sheave?
+1 for Stu.
Why can't you pick up the butt end and let it slide back to the head again?
If the inside is aluminum it should slide easy enough, assuming there isn't anything in the way. If there is something in the way, rotate the mast to avoid the obstruction and get it sliding again.
Plan B: buy a new sheave?
How far down?
I assume this happened while it was still upright. How far down did it go? Can you see it with a flashlight? Do you own a Dachshund? Is it trained? I think I would consider using a halyard to drag something just big enough through the mast to catch the sheave and pull it out. Maybe a small towel with a knot in it. Be sure to attach it very well so that it does not come loose and be sure to attach a line to the other end of the halyard so that you can drag it back.
I assume this happened while it was still upright. How far down did it go? Can you see it with a flashlight? Do you own a Dachshund? Is it trained? I think I would consider using a halyard to drag something just big enough through the mast to catch the sheave and pull it out. Maybe a small towel with a knot in it. Be sure to attach it very well so that it does not come loose and be sure to attach a line to the other end of the halyard so that you can drag it back.
take a line that is already going the whole length of the mast and tie another "messenger" line to it so you can get it back after your done. tie a shirt or some other such cloth to the end of the line and pull it through. Should catch the sheave and slide it along till yo can get a hold of it.
These guys may help.
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/search.php?kw=sheave
All U Get
Did you get the old one out yet?
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I have not had any luck getting the sheave back up to the masthead. I figure it will 'fall down' when we got to step it. Trying to drag a rag up the inside did not work. Since the sheave pin does not go all the way through the mast there must be a vertical internal piece. I'm guessing the rag/line knot are getting hung up on internal vertical piece. At it's present location, we can't raise butt end more than about eight feet.
I'm planning on replacing the sheave anyway but now I'm trying to figure out what size I need. The pin is 8mm. The mast was built in 1980.
I'm planning on replacing the sheave anyway but now I'm trying to figure out what size I need. The pin is 8mm. The mast was built in 1980.
I have not had any luck getting the sheave back up to the masthead. I figure it will 'fall down' when we got to step it. Trying to drag a rag up the inside did not work. Since the sheave pin does not go all the way through the mast there must be a vertical internal piece. I'm guessing the rag/line knot are getting hung up on internal vertical piece. At it's present location, we can't raise butt end more than about eight feet.
I'm planning on replacing the sheave anyway but now I'm trying to figure out what size I need. The pin is 8mm. The mast was built in 1980.
I'm planning on replacing the sheave anyway but now I'm trying to figure out what size I need. The pin is 8mm. The mast was built in 1980.
Do you have concerns that the sheave might lodge in a position that will catch/abrade intenal halyards or electrical wires?
One thought: Buy five 10' lengths of say 3/4" PVC pipe. And the joining coupling fittings. Glue up to make a 50' ramming rod? Maybe by feel you can sense when the end comes up to the sheave and push it out? Before inserting, maybe bevel the 90 degree edges of the pvc joining fittings to a more subtle angle to avoid the couplings from getting irrevocably stuck on something inside the mast such a protruding bolt (say) like around the spreader.
If not already in the position with forward end of the mast facing down towards the ground, then maybe rotate. The sheave might then stay in the downward curved "trough" as it is pushed.
Whoops forgot to ask if the mast head sheave fitting piece is removed? If not, probably no opening up their wide enough to enable the PVC rod to go in.
Think this through first!
One thought: Buy five 10' lengths of say 3/4" PVC pipe. And the joining coupling fittings. Glue up to make a 50' ramming rod? Maybe by feel you can sense when the end comes up to the sheave and push it out? Before inserting, maybe bevel the 90 degree edges of the pvc joining fittings to a more subtle angle to avoid the couplings from getting irrevocably stuck on something inside the mast such a protruding bolt (say) like around the spreader.
If not already in the position with forward end of the mast facing down towards the ground, then maybe rotate. The sheave might then stay in the downward curved "trough" as it is pushed.
Whoops forgot to ask if the mast head sheave fitting piece is removed? If not, probably no opening up their wide enough to enable the PVC rod to go in.
Think this through first!
Some masts will have a bracket crossmember that intersects the mast at the spreader attachment point. That could explain the obstruction you are encountering. Your sheave is probably lodged above that. May be that the only way out is to unstep the mast. Unfortunately it's not magnetic, so that option is off the table...
The mast is off the boat and has been horizontal so I'm pretty sure the sheave is up towards the top. What I'm thinking of is to just replace the sheave and let the old one 'fall out' when we step the mast. I now looking for a source for a new sheave. The best I can guess is the old sheave was about 46mmOD 8mmID and the opening is about 11.5mm. Any ideas for a replacement source?
can you and one more person stand that mast up on land and let the sheave fall out and be done with it you already have cables on it so stand it up put the bottom against something that will not move and then the 2 of you start walking it up till e sheave falls out to the bottom ....we had to measure a flagpole one time that was laying down and that's how we did it for some reason they wanted to know how tall it was would have been a lot easier if they had wanted to know how long it was:Liar:
Success! Working on a hill and using a couple tall ladders we were able to get enough of an angle on the 43' mast to get it to toll down to the bottom. Tapping the mast with a rubber mallet also helped.
It's a non standard sheave so now back to Zephyrwerks for another sheave...
Thanks for all the suggestions.
It's a non standard sheave so now back to Zephyrwerks for another sheave...
Thanks for all the suggestions.