Removing headstay turnbuckle without dropping the mast

[DStegs49]

I have a Legend 37 and my Hood LD 810 came apart and I lost all of the bearings in the upper race. How do I release the tension on the front stay to remove the pin from the turnbuckle. I backed off on the split aft stays 50 turns and the upper shrouds by 30. I hooked two halyards to the cleat and toerail to pull the mast forward BUT.... not enough tension was relieved and I couldn't pull the lower pin out of the turnbuckle. I really don't want to have the marina do it for obvious rea$$$$ons so I am seeking info. Do I have to back off ALL the turnbuckles to get it loose? Might be my only choice...for a calm day, unless someone has had to do this before and can suggest something.

 

[Ron-Anne]

Just did the same thing to re-route the endless line, it was initially installed with one wrap too many, long story short, I relieved the tension on all the shrouds then loosened the tension on the forward turnbuckle and finally, took the pin out, all this after using the jib halyard to "replace" the fore-stay.

 

[DStegs49]

I thought I might have to do that. I think I have an additional problem though. I can't get the drum high enough to get to the turnbuckle to loosen the tension. One of the plastic screws on the drum is broken so I might have to drill them out first. Thanks for the loosening info.

 

[Ron-Anne]

Drill a small hoe in the 1/4" plastic screw, get an easy out at your local auto part store (or tap a small screw driver in the hole) and the plastic screw will back out, as for the furling drum, I used a second halyard to lift the drum and hold it out of the way. Good luck