CDI roller furler problem

[justsomeguy]

One person's solution for the torque links:


Called CDI this morning. Very nice people. The torque links are no longer available but the gentleman was familiar with my problem and he had the following suggestion. The links are 4" long. Normally they break in the middle of the joint resulting in two 2" pieces. He suggested that I drill a hole and install a pop rivet 1" from the top of the bottom piece of the section in question and use the 2" piece to join the sections together. Not perfect but a solution.

 

[louisstubb]

Looks like that is the way I will have to go regarding the torque links. I may have found a local who has some foil parts.
Thanks for the information.

 

[justsomeguy]

That, or bite the bullet. Hope it works for you.

 

[caguy]

I don't have pictures but I can take some as soon a I can access my boat.
The items are the same as those shown in post #10 of 12-07-2013.
Do you have access to these type of parts?
My reefer was damaged and one of the foils (Luff extrusions) was bent. The torque inserts were also twisted.

Those were pictures of the ones that are in my current foil. I cut them in half and they are working just fine. As mentioned I applied some plastic duct tape to the joints to keep them from pulling apart while installing them on the forestay. Someone sent me a
a set hoping they would fit but they did not. If you post some detailed pictures I will see if they match yours (if I can find them).
As posted earlier you can get more mileage out of the ones you have by welding two sections together and using the torque you do have on the remaining joints. An 8 foot section of foil is not that unmanageable.
I have a new neighbor in mast-up storage who does professional repairs and races catamarans. He makes many of his own parts out of carbon fiber. The way he explains it it does not seem that difficult to mold new parts. I would think that even molding them out of resin or epoxy with chopped fiber would do the trick. That, I do know how to do and it would not be that difficult. Next time I have my foils down I will take stock of how many of them are actually cut and look into welding every other joint. Though as mentioned before the joints with the cut torques are working just fine after 4 years.

 

[louisstubb]

I think that I will remove the short section (about 8") of damaged foil and sail with it slightly shortened.
The torque links are another thing. I have been told that links can be made from an epoxy called J-B WELD a steel reinforced epoxy putty. Do you know anything about this?
I shall try to replace one with this approach. If not successful I shall try your suggestion to cut the parts in two and readd the dimple.
Thanks for very helpful information

 

[Chris Patterson]

Who is this J.B.? And what is he welding? Hmmm..

Yeah man, you can get JBweld at the liquor store. Every country boy I know has used it to fix the still..