I have a question concerning the renewal of the foot blocks on a 1985 31'. These are the blocks that serve as leads for the head sail sheets on their way to the large Maxwell winches located on the Cockpit coamings. The foot blocks are positioned on pedestals just outside the cockpit coamings aft of the winches. The sheaves in my foot blocks are badly worn with little if any "grove" left in them. Jib sheets are now jamming between the worn sheave and the frame. The sheaves look like there made out of some type of white plastic material. Hunter tells me that Merriman manufacured the blocks but they have been out of business for over 10 years. Hunter says there are no OM replacements available, so I will have to scrounge. Questions: 1. After removing the blocks, It looks as though I could press the stainless axel pin out from the top of the block frame with an arbor press and thus possibly allow sheeve replacement. Does anyone know if the blocks can be disassembled this way?? 2. If so, does anyone know if sheaves from another another manufacturer could be used as a substitute on the Merriman frames? 3. If not, does any one know of a replacement block that will slip into the current mounting screw holes on the pedestals (there are 4 of them forming the corners of a rectangle 4 cm X 10.5 cm ). I would like to avoid any surgery on the mounting pedestals if I can find an exact match? 4. If not what replacement blocks would you recommend? I carry a 130% Genny. What kinda backing plates would I use if I had to start over with different blocks? Yesterday's Dream
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
Sweet Cheeks
Bill: I think that you are looking for cheek blocks. I think you can get them from just about all the major mfg. Check out the Garhauer site and look up cheek blocks. I am not near my boat either but I looked at a picture and they are very similar. You may need to re-drill and tap a couple of holes but no big deal. I assume that this area is backed up with an aluminum plate and they are probably 1/4 x 20 screws. Hope that helps.
Bill: I think that you are looking for cheek blocks. I think you can get them from just about all the major mfg. Check out the Garhauer site and look up cheek blocks. I am not near my boat either but I looked at a picture and they are very similar. You may need to re-drill and tap a couple of holes but no big deal. I assume that this area is backed up with an aluminum plate and they are probably 1/4 x 20 screws. Hope that helps.
B
Bill Ebling
Found Them!
Thanks Steve. After searching through the Garhuaer, Shaefer, Rhonstan, Harken, and Lemar websites for substitutes, I found an exact replacement as: Lewmar Ocean Series Footblock w/Delrin Sheave size 2, Lewmar part number 19821400. They can be had through Performace Yacht Systems Annapolis MD, 1-977-379-2248, (pyacht.com) In fact this was the OM block. Hunter misquoted, stating they were Merriman blocks. All trademarks on my old blocks have been long worn away. BTW In this application they are officially called footblocks. Other than being bigger I don't know what differentiates a cheek from a foot. bill
Thanks Steve. After searching through the Garhuaer, Shaefer, Rhonstan, Harken, and Lemar websites for substitutes, I found an exact replacement as: Lewmar Ocean Series Footblock w/Delrin Sheave size 2, Lewmar part number 19821400. They can be had through Performace Yacht Systems Annapolis MD, 1-977-379-2248, (pyacht.com) In fact this was the OM block. Hunter misquoted, stating they were Merriman blocks. All trademarks on my old blocks have been long worn away. BTW In this application they are officially called footblocks. Other than being bigger I don't know what differentiates a cheek from a foot. bill
Glad you found them.
Cheeks, foots or whatever they call 'um. This is good to know. Be sure to post the complete info in this article with the part# etc. So the next guy can find it in the archives.
Cheeks, foots or whatever they call 'um. This is good to know. Be sure to post the complete info in this article with the part# etc. So the next guy can find it in the archives.
P
Pete
Sheaves
Yes, you can replace the sheaves. Lewmar sent me the part numbers. Can't find them now.... and besides I couldn't get the pin out of the old one. I bought one new one. Have been planning to replace the sheave in the old one to have a spare. Pete
Yes, you can replace the sheaves. Lewmar sent me the part numbers. Can't find them now.... and besides I couldn't get the pin out of the old one. I bought one new one. Have been planning to replace the sheave in the old one to have a spare. Pete
A
Allan Hadad
Lewmar Cheek Block Sheave Replacement
I was able to replace just the sheaves in my cheek blocks. The pin that is in them can't be pressed out. It turns out it is peened on both sides. Drill it out from the back side. The pin diameter is less than what shows on the bottom, so I used a 5/16" end mill and took off the head. Then the pin just falls out. I ordered replacement sheaves at the marine store. When they came in, I reinstalled them with a clevis pin from the back side. After bedding and screwing them back to the coaming, the clevis pin can not fall out. Now it is very easy to repair them again as the sheaves do degrade in the sunlight. Alaln
I was able to replace just the sheaves in my cheek blocks. The pin that is in them can't be pressed out. It turns out it is peened on both sides. Drill it out from the back side. The pin diameter is less than what shows on the bottom, so I used a 5/16" end mill and took off the head. Then the pin just falls out. I ordered replacement sheaves at the marine store. When they came in, I reinstalled them with a clevis pin from the back side. After bedding and screwing them back to the coaming, the clevis pin can not fall out. Now it is very easy to repair them again as the sheaves do degrade in the sunlight. Alaln
P
Peter Quackenbush
Foot Blocks
The foot blocks or turning blocks have a stainless pin going thru which is peaned over making it difficult to remove. I had made the shieve replacment about 5 years ago with the help of friend (machine shop owner). Drilled off heads of center pins (under side, pressed them out, fabricated new pins, reassembled with new shieves from rigging store, Peaned over new pins on under side to hold in place. Like new!
The foot blocks or turning blocks have a stainless pin going thru which is peaned over making it difficult to remove. I had made the shieve replacment about 5 years ago with the help of friend (machine shop owner). Drilled off heads of center pins (under side, pressed them out, fabricated new pins, reassembled with new shieves from rigging store, Peaned over new pins on under side to hold in place. Like new!
B
Bob La Salle
Harken replacement sheaves
Here's the link http://www.harken.com/co_shv-e.pdf) to the page in the Harken catalog where you can find sheaves. Seems like an awful lot of work to replace them though. Mine need to be done but I think I'll just replace the whole block.
Here's the link http://www.harken.com/co_shv-e.pdf) to the page in the Harken catalog where you can find sheaves. Seems like an awful lot of work to replace them though. Mine need to be done but I think I'll just replace the whole block.
- Status
- Not open for further replies.