Easylock Rope Clutch handle replace

[chitradurga]

I need to replace the middle lever on an old Easylock Mini triple. I assumed that the replacement was simply a matter of taking off the c-clips, removing the axis pin, and lifting out the broken handle, but I'm not having any luck removing the broken handle from its SS cradle or frame. Without the axis pin in place, the handle can be lifted up ~1 cm from its resting position, but that isn't enough to pop it out of the cradle. What's the best way to remove the broken handle and install the new one?

All lines removed from the clutch, all three levers in the open position, and correct replacement part (Rigrite NF 33503H) at hand.

 

[Bosman]

Based on this photo, you might have to remove the outer casing as well, in order to replace the handle. I have the same rope clutches on my boat, do post how did it go. This information might come handy at some point.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

If you are talking about the style of lever picture here, once the C-clips and the pin are removed it should lift off easily. You may need to pry it up with a screwdriver or lubricate the inside of the face plates. Insert a small piece of wood under the lever, then wedge your screwdriver between the lever and the piece of wood. You should then have the required leverage without damaging anything. Good luck to you.

 

[chitradurga]

Bosman: I haven't found the fix yet. Images on the web for other Easylock clutch triples show the handles removed from intact cases, which leads me to suspect that the handles can be extracted without further disassembly. And, yes, I'll certainly post the answer when I find it.

 

[chitradurga]

Claude: It's a slightly different handle (see image), but I did try to pry it out. No luck. As I remarked in my response to Bosman, one finds web images of the same brand and model of rope clutch with the handles removed without significant effort or disassembly beyond the c-clip and pin. Makes me suspect that there's a simple trick to removing them.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Claude: It's a slightly different handle (see image), but I did try to pry it out. No luck. As I remarked in my response to Bosman, one finds web images of the same brand and model of rope clutch with the handles removed without significant effort or disassembly beyond the c-clip and pin. Makes me suspect that there's a simple trick to removing them.

Looking at the image we can see a sort of hook in front of the main body where the axis pin lies. Could this hook catch onto something. Have you tried pushing forward (or back). Have you tried placing it in different position before trying to lift out ? And can anybody at Rig-Rite help you ? Good luck

 

[chitradurga]

Many thanks to Bosman and Claude for your helpful advice. The brute force method won in the end. Remove c-clips, slide out the axis pin, pull the broken handle and its SS cradle up (it'll move ~1 cm), and use two large screwdrivers to pry out the handle. To install the new one, keep the cradle in the same position, rock the handle base into the socket, and replace axis pin and c-clips.

An alternative method is to remove the rope clutch triple from the deck, disassemble, pop out the old handle and insert the new one, reassemble and rebed the clutch. As my wiser and more experienced friend remarked after he explained this approach, "yeah, right, now gimme two big screwdrivers."

 

[Bosman]

I am glad this worked! As I mentioned earlier, this information will be very handy in the future, should I, or any other member of the forum, be in the situation needing the handle replacement.

 

[jabberw0ck]

I am well aware this is a very old post... but just in case you get the notification, or someone else knows...

I have a broken lever as well, but with the below pictured setup with two 4-rope clutch banks next to each other. How much harder is this going to make getting the axis pin out? Impossible? Is there a c-clip at each end of the pin? Enough room in between the two units to get it out (I could take the pins out of both if it's easier). I'm not at the boat for several weeks unfortunately and this is the only angle picture I could find, trying to plan out my projects and buy parts before I return to the boat.

 

[jssailem]

Looking up the clutch online, it appears RigRite has what you need.

Easylock Rope Clutches

The images show circ-clips on both sides of the clutch body holding the pins in place. You have a pair of 4-gang clutches. Based on the images of the clutches and pins, they appear to have a circ-clip on the pins as they exit the clutch body. That indicates to me that you are likely going to need to unbolt the clutch body from the deck to be able to access the circ-clip hidden between the two clutches.

Gives you a great opportunity to refresh the caulking used beneath the clutch.

 

[jabberw0ck]

Looking up the clutch online, it appears RigRite has what you need.

Easylock Rope Clutches

The images show circ-clips on both sides of the clutch body holding the pins in place. You have a pair of 4-gang clutches. Based on the images of the clutches and pins, they appear to have a circ-clip on the pins as they exit the clutch body. That indicates to me that you are likely going to need to unbolt the clutch body from the deck to be able to access the circ-clip hidden between the two clutches.
View attachment 237570 View attachment 237572 View attachment 237571
Gives you a great opportunity to refresh the caulking used beneath the clutch.

Thanks. Yeah I found the rig-rite product I need. Because the circ-clip is right at the end of the body, and it has a slight indentation cutout, I’m hopefully that I may be able to remove and reinstall a clip just with the clearance between the clutches. It seems like that would have been a good consideration in the original design, you’d hope they thought of setups where it may sit flush along the side of something. If not a very small needle-nose pliers, maybe a surgical hemostat. I ordered a few extra circ-clips from rig-rite in case one or two get lost in between the clutch blocks or go flying.

anyway, anyone who’s done it have input on if you think I might be successful with this approach. I’m not going to be at my boat for several more weeks.

 

[jssailem]

I understand the "Hope" element of your statement. Looking at the image you posted, I am doubtful about your success. Yes, it is crazy that when installing the clutches, they did not think of servicing them. They probably thought it was cooler to have them up tight and neatly together.

 

[jabberw0ck]

I understand the "Hope" element of your statement. Looking at the image you posted, I am doubtful about your success. Yes, it is crazy that when installing the clutches, they did not think of servicing them. They probably thought it was cooler to have them up tight and neatly together.

I’ll try to remember to report back

To be clear, when mentioning the design, I was thinking about the designers of the clutch block, not the boatbuilder. Builders will do all kinds of weird inconsiderate things, even the good ones that get most things right. But that recess molded into the plastic gives me a little hope that the Easylock designers realized their product might be installed flush with another one or something else on the side, and provided a liiiitle channel at least.

 

[jssailem]

It is a designer's nightmare. Trying to outthink the boat builders and boat owners.