destroyed the engine control lever!

[John Denney]

Well you were all correct! It was impossible to remove the engine control lever without breaking it.

I ended up using a Dremmel tool to cut it away from the shaft it sits on and that allowed removal of the actuating shaft and the entire gubbins that controls the combi unit. The allen key was rock solid and would not budge. With the unit now on the workbench and after copious amounts of WD40 I tried to drift the backing plate off the shaft. No luck. I then placed it in the vice with and tried to push it out but all I did is break the aluminium (spell check is telling me that aluminum is correct but we all know I am right!) backing plate. So it is now well and truly buggered!
I have posted some pics....

Has anyone found a suitable way of replacing the lever or does it need a complete new system. I am hoping Steve Birch may find a spare somewhere but looking for an alternative in case he cannot. I guess this must have happened to others.

I have managed to find a second hand Navik (a long drive to Gosport to pick it up!)and I have ordered a new set of sails. Thank God for Visa. In fact that might be a good name for the yacht - I still think ICTINUS sounds like a medical problem!

Any ideas gratefully received.....

John

 

[johnadenney]

pics
Yahoo! Groups
1089340/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc
pic 2
Yahoo! Groups
3413126/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=21&count=20&dir=asc

 

[bruceblumenstein]

John,
Some things just don't cooperate when it comes to reverse engineering an assembly. Man designed it to be put together secretly under a code of silence.
Now you have some cool parts to look at. I was planning to do some work on mine before your post. Thanks for breaking ground and testing the system. If you build a new housing from scratch and can incorperate the shaft, gear..etc. keep maintenance in mind.

I could use that gear if you decide to go anouther way, just in case mine is a lucky save coming appart and all. Should I even attempt now that you have an idea of how it was supposed to gently disassemble? -Bruce

 

[pjacobs55]

John,
Good score on the Navik! I love mine.
Here's a video of it in operation:

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
www.sintacha.com

 

[tomfentonvega2977beowulf]

Peter, what is the blue pad just abaft the mainsheet?

 

[johnadenney]

You are welcome to what left when I have solved the problem. I am
leaning towards a complete replacement but not sure were to get one
from as yet!

 

[johnadenney]

I have found a guy who sells replacements.. a miracle i think..
sounds like he keeps loads of old morse control gear.

sales@...,
Jim
Auto Marine - Morse Controls
10 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hampshire. PO5 1JG
Tel; 02392 825601

A really nice chap who has posted me a new one.

?150... though!!

 

[johnadenney]

sorry - forgot to say its called a D2 and it was intended for use on
large agricultural water spraying/ irrigation machines. Its from the
USA so if you need one go and find a friendly farmer!

 

[pjacobs55]

Hi Tom,
That's the heli-pad for when the Admirable flies in ;-)
Seriously .... the lower one right behind the traveller is the locker lid, and the upper one against the rear of the cockpit combing is the propane locker. There're some pictures of the locker construction at

https://picasaweb.google.com/pjacobs55/PropaneLockerDetails#

if you're interested.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
www.sintacha.com

 

[tomfentonvega2977beowulf]

Thanks, Peter. Comprehensive photos, and a very fine job. I like the idea
of the Admirable's helipad, because my Admirable has a bonier backside than
I and is constantly, and quite rightly, pointing out that the cockpit
combing is not comfortable to sit on and the Cockpit locker lids are too
low, even with a three inch cushion, to see forward adequately. I suppose I
vaguely thought that you might have found the answer, but I couldn't see
how you could steer from a position due aft of the tiller, and the
mainsheet car. I have seen pictures of the AVGB wooden seats for the
cockpit combing. Does anyone have any experience of them? Are there any
other solutions to the problem of the helming position, apart from
developing as I have a backside that accommodates itself to the combing? Tom

 

[pjacobs55]

Now that I've simplified the backstay tensioner I find the box a great place to sit when motoring. I keep the mainsheet off to one side and the tiller upright. I can even see over the dodger.

Peter #1331 'Sin Tacha'

 

[brockhaus77]

On the topic of raising one's backside: I use the wooden seats that fit on top of the coaming for maneuvering in tight quarters (going out and into the marina) since that way I can see ahead really well. They are quite comfortable if not too far heeled over. Once underway and out in the clear, I usually just put a couple pillows on top of each other on the benches to give me enough height. Sitting inside the cockpit is definitely more comfortable while heeled, with better bracing options, and feels more safe. (BTW, pillows covering the whole length of the cockpit seats can be custom-ordered from a variety of "house and garden" places, e.g. Lowe's - you get the same sunbrella cover but lower prices than from a "marine" source).

Anyway, I do like my wooden seats - I got them from Steve Birch (don't know whether he still carries them).

- Sebastian (VegaLyra 1060)