I recently purchased a 1984 Hunter 25.5. I was planning on replacing the rope clutch. It is a double with red and green handles. The identity on it is "EasyLock" and the manufacturer (or at least the name stamped on it) is "Sophus Berendsen, Danmark A-S". I assume this is original equipment. I can't remove it as 3 of the 4 screws/bolts won't budge and I dont want to really force it since the nuts are between the cabin top and the headliner. I really don't want to cut a hole to access them. Long story, but I would, at least want to replace the working parts. Is this old clutch the same as the EasyLock1 or EasyLock Mini? None of the footprints (bolt holes) line up with either. I would certainly appreciate any advice. Many thanks, Rich O'Rourke
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Clutch
Replacement parts of the clutch were available up to around ten years ago. I recently decided to rebuild my clutch (same model), but have had no luck finding the parts needed and have been looking (not too hard) for about a year. If parts can be found, a rebuild might save some grief. I am fairly certain my clutch is mounted with tapped holes in the glass (no nuts below) and it is firmly bedded. That was the method used to mount the blocks tha direct the halyards to the mast. You may be able to remove the old one fairly easily once the bond that has formed between the bolts and glass is broken. You may want to contact Hunter to see if they can provide information on how the clutch was installed originally and provide some advice. Let me know what you end up doing and what you learned. It may make my life a little easier.
Replacement parts of the clutch were available up to around ten years ago. I recently decided to rebuild my clutch (same model), but have had no luck finding the parts needed and have been looking (not too hard) for about a year. If parts can be found, a rebuild might save some grief. I am fairly certain my clutch is mounted with tapped holes in the glass (no nuts below) and it is firmly bedded. That was the method used to mount the blocks tha direct the halyards to the mast. You may be able to remove the old one fairly easily once the bond that has formed between the bolts and glass is broken. You may want to contact Hunter to see if they can provide information on how the clutch was installed originally and provide some advice. Let me know what you end up doing and what you learned. It may make my life a little easier.
Same Clutch
I have the same clutch on my H27. I cant find parts. There is a metal plate imbedded in the fiberglass that is tapped for the screws.
I have the same clutch on my H27. I cant find parts. There is a metal plate imbedded in the fiberglass that is tapped for the screws.
Rich, I had the same problem on my clutch.
You won't find a clutch with the same bolt pattern as the old easylock so you might as well cut the bolts off and drill and tap new holes in the aluminum plate. I had one bolt siezed up. I drilled the head off and then cut the bolt flush with the deck once I got the old clutch off. Your better off with a new clutch anyway. The new clutches today with the push button lock are way better than the old easylock. Good Luck Ted
You won't find a clutch with the same bolt pattern as the old easylock so you might as well cut the bolts off and drill and tap new holes in the aluminum plate. I had one bolt siezed up. I drilled the head off and then cut the bolt flush with the deck once I got the old clutch off. Your better off with a new clutch anyway. The new clutches today with the push button lock are way better than the old easylock. Good Luck Ted
Oh for the hatred of Salt Water
You have one choice remove the old rope clutch toss it in the trash. Go buy a triple rope clutch and do this for each side. This will allow you to run more controls to the cockpit. Ther is no rebuild kit for this and if ther was it would not be very good because of being an old design. The is an alumium plat in the glass for whice you can drill and tap threads for the new bolts/screw's. Buy a good rope clutch. CLiff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
You have one choice remove the old rope clutch toss it in the trash. Go buy a triple rope clutch and do this for each side. This will allow you to run more controls to the cockpit. Ther is no rebuild kit for this and if ther was it would not be very good because of being an old design. The is an alumium plat in the glass for whice you can drill and tap threads for the new bolts/screw's. Buy a good rope clutch. CLiff H 28.5 "Red Dog"
I rebuilt mine.
On my H34, I have 11 (yes eleven) of them. Cost was then a factor. On the 34, they are NOT tapped into the plate, but rather through bolted with nuts. That helped in the dreaded, hateful saltwater lockup. I painted the handles with 'plastic' paint but them saw and ad for the new Krylon plastic paint. I can hear the kitty purring.
Anyway, these clutches are good and rebuild-able, with the usual caveats. Not too much corrosion, or broken stuff, skipper knows how,,, you know, caveats.
On my H34, I have 11 (yes eleven) of them. Cost was then a factor. On the 34, they are NOT tapped into the plate, but rather through bolted with nuts. That helped in the dreaded, hateful saltwater lockup. I painted the handles with 'plastic' paint but them saw and ad for the new Krylon plastic paint. I can hear the kitty purring.
Anyway, these clutches are good and rebuild-able, with the usual caveats. Not too much corrosion, or broken stuff, skipper knows how,,, you know, caveats.Easy locks
On my 28.5, I got rid of my original Easylocks because they chewed up the lines too much. The replacement larger Spinlocks were easy on the halyards but the holes did not line up. I filled the old holes with Marinetex and drilled and tapped new holes after relocating the clutches in alignment with the cabintop winches. I added turning blocks at the mast base, multiple line organizers leading to smaller size rope clutches for the reef lines. Both the larger halyard clutches and smaller reef size clutches are side by side in front of the cabintop winches. If the bolts were frozen or corroded into the aluminum plate, the heads should be drilled out, the Easylocks removed and discarded and the bolts twisted out with visegrips.
On my 28.5, I got rid of my original Easylocks because they chewed up the lines too much. The replacement larger Spinlocks were easy on the halyards but the holes did not line up. I filled the old holes with Marinetex and drilled and tapped new holes after relocating the clutches in alignment with the cabintop winches. I added turning blocks at the mast base, multiple line organizers leading to smaller size rope clutches for the reef lines. Both the larger halyard clutches and smaller reef size clutches are side by side in front of the cabintop winches. If the bolts were frozen or corroded into the aluminum plate, the heads should be drilled out, the Easylocks removed and discarded and the bolts twisted out with visegrips.
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