Bolt for mainsail track cover loose

V

Vega1447

.
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Hi.
The bolt that holds the cover/gate on the mainsail track above the
gooseneck that allows mainsail slides/slugs to be removed has worked loose.
I'm not clear whether the bolt was originally screwed into a captive nut
inside the mast or whether it was simply screwed into a hole in the
aluminium mast.

Perhaps the first as I have had the mast up & down a few times and could
have shaken something loose when transporting it.

I've temporarily used some epoxy to secure the bolt (and the cover) in
place.

Any suggestions for a better long term solution?

Maybe some kind of expanding bolt or one of those patent wallplug for
thin walls that expand inside the hole and grip from the inside when
bolt is tightened?

Thanks

John V1447 Breakaway
 
V

Vega1447

.
Oct 19, 2019
921
Albin Vega 27 Limerick
Full marks for brevity... :)

But bolt (and corresponding hole in mast) is I reckon 6-10mm diameter.

Not sure my rivet gun is up to the job?

Thanks

John V1447 Breakaway
 
R

rchrdcoe

.
Dec 11, 2007
179
- - port st. lucie,fl.
Or go to your local hrdwr or auto parts store and get a heli-coil kit. everything you need to repair the stripped out thread.
Richard
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
Drill several smaller holes in different locations and rivet. Or buy a bolt
of the correct size and tap the existing hole to match. A lot of strength is
not required for this item.
 
V

vegatern

.
Oct 2, 2005
465
Mine had worked loose as well. The threads just stripped out and I did what Brian suggests; tap for the next larger bolt.
Craig Tern 1519
 
W

winslowbuoy

.
Jan 31, 2009
122
When my mainsail gate screw failed, or rather the thread in the mast became
worn, I tapped the hole to take a larger bolt. The larger bolt had already been
drilled through and tapped to take the original screw
You need to file the most of the head off bolt to match the profile of the mast
and ensure the gate closes. Mine doesn't quite and occasionally causes a hiccup.

Mike
________________________________
From: Brian Stannard brianstannard@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, 3 August, 2010 1:20:58
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Bolt for mainsail track cover loose

Drill several smaller holes in different locations and rivet. Or buy a bolt
of the correct size and tap the existing hole to match. A lot of strength is
not required for this item.
 
B

bobnlesafloat

.
Oct 31, 2019
163
As Brian noted earlier, there's not a deal of load on the gate - when the sail's up and drawing, all of the slides will/should be located within the aluminium track.
When we had the same problem on Spring Fever, as a 'temporary' fix I got a big self tapping screw, cut it down to about 3/4" long and rounded off the cut end (to avoid any damage to the wiring/VHF cable) and fixed the gate with that. That temporary fix has now been going six or seven years and many thousands of miles, though we've got slab reefing, so this screw only ever gets released/tightened a couple of times each season; if you've the original roller reefing, it may be that you need to release slides to shorten sail? If so, I'd probably go for the 'patent wallplug' option.
 
T

tim_klynn

.
Feb 12, 2008
337
You could also try a rivet nut, and reuse the same bolt (if you can find a rivet nut that matches the thread).http://www.enfasco.com/Frame4.htm
 
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