My Hood Sea Furl (model 700, 800 or 900, not sure)had lots of friction when furling and unfurling the genoa. Finally, it pretty much froze up. I unwrapped the genoa by hand and lowered it to the deck and found that the Halyard Swivel Assembly (the swivel attaching to the halyard to the head of the sail) is not swiveling AT ALL. I could not turn the swivel by hand. How can I fix the swivel? The only instruction in the manual is for general maintainence - it says to remove the swivel annually and soak in soapy water. Removing the swivel looks like a bigger job than I know how to do. Thanks.
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A lot depends on whether
your upper swivel is worn out/broken or just dirty and in need of cleaning. Some upper swivels have a derlin or nylon bearing on their inner surfaces that contact the foil and allow it to rotate around it. These can, and do, wear out. The Pomapanette site (see link), which sells Hood products, used to sell these bearings. However, replacing this bearing requires removing the the upper swivel from the foil and that means disconnecting the forestay. While this is not a particularly hard job, it does require going aloft to disconnect from the top of the forestay and also using the headsail halyard as a temporary forestay -- things can get complicated quickly at this point so be sure you are up for such a task before starting it. If the upper swivel ring bearings (typically there are two sets, one on top,one below the swivel) internal to the swivel are just dirty, try to wash them out with as powerful a fresh water hose as you can find. Then use a tooth brush or something similar to try to clean out the bearings. Look at your owner's manual (or look it up online) to determine what type of grease (if any) is recommended for lubing this bearing. My Furlex, for example, uses a heavy-duty grease similar to what I use on my winches. Not sure how old your system is, but upper swivels take a lot of punishment in normal use and wear out....as does everything on a boat. It may be a good investment to just buy a whole new upper swivel.
your upper swivel is worn out/broken or just dirty and in need of cleaning. Some upper swivels have a derlin or nylon bearing on their inner surfaces that contact the foil and allow it to rotate around it. These can, and do, wear out. The Pomapanette site (see link), which sells Hood products, used to sell these bearings. However, replacing this bearing requires removing the the upper swivel from the foil and that means disconnecting the forestay. While this is not a particularly hard job, it does require going aloft to disconnect from the top of the forestay and also using the headsail halyard as a temporary forestay -- things can get complicated quickly at this point so be sure you are up for such a task before starting it. If the upper swivel ring bearings (typically there are two sets, one on top,one below the swivel) internal to the swivel are just dirty, try to wash them out with as powerful a fresh water hose as you can find. Then use a tooth brush or something similar to try to clean out the bearings. Look at your owner's manual (or look it up online) to determine what type of grease (if any) is recommended for lubing this bearing. My Furlex, for example, uses a heavy-duty grease similar to what I use on my winches. Not sure how old your system is, but upper swivels take a lot of punishment in normal use and wear out....as does everything on a boat. It may be a good investment to just buy a whole new upper swivel.
Sticking Furler
James, I had the same problem with my Sea Hood furler.. I read the instructions and it said the same that it would get easier with use. However, I have torn head sails due to a bad furler. What I did was use Sailcote McLube dry lubricant and worked it into the bearings. The furler worked great last summer, I have yet to launch but I would not hesitate to do the same. Barry
James, I had the same problem with my Sea Hood furler.. I read the instructions and it said the same that it would get easier with use. However, I have torn head sails due to a bad furler. What I did was use Sailcote McLube dry lubricant and worked it into the bearings. The furler worked great last summer, I have yet to launch but I would not hesitate to do the same. Barry
Try to clean it there.
Pour hot water and soap in it. Try to work it back and forth slowly and easily. Try some of every type of stuff you can think of. WD-40, nut buster, oragne juice for the citric acid, and keep working it back and forth. It'll probably free up. I think the hood furlers have Delrin balls in them and they are ment to operate dry, no grease. If you take it apart, the little balls will go everywhere. Been there, done that. Take it apart inside a plastic bag. http://www.pompanette.com/pompweb.nsf/a0e2253b23a1a536852567ae003c83a9/e7ce00e1ab4c3952852567b3001e6cae?OpenDocument&Start=1&Count=200&Expand=14
Pour hot water and soap in it. Try to work it back and forth slowly and easily. Try some of every type of stuff you can think of. WD-40, nut buster, oragne juice for the citric acid, and keep working it back and forth. It'll probably free up. I think the hood furlers have Delrin balls in them and they are ment to operate dry, no grease. If you take it apart, the little balls will go everywhere. Been there, done that. Take it apart inside a plastic bag. http://www.pompanette.com/pompweb.nsf/a0e2253b23a1a536852567ae003c83a9/e7ce00e1ab4c3952852567b3001e6cae?OpenDocument&Start=1&Count=200&Expand=14
Thanks, I'll try hot soapy water first...
Thanks very much. The Hood manual says the swivel has Torlon balls which it claims are "self lubricating". Yea right. In any case, the manual says some lubricants will "enlarge" the balls and affect their operation. Does anyone have experiance with Torlon? and would you still reccommend trying lubricants? Maybe just as a last resort?? Thanks again.
Thanks very much. The Hood manual says the swivel has Torlon balls which it claims are "self lubricating". Yea right. In any case, the manual says some lubricants will "enlarge" the balls and affect their operation. Does anyone have experiance with Torlon? and would you still reccommend trying lubricants? Maybe just as a last resort?? Thanks again.
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