Spring for Forespar Whisker Pole?

[Rick Webb]

I've got a whisker pole that the spring around the pin on one end broke. The spring came out in several pieces so I can't measure it.

The pin it 5 5/16" long and has a diameter of 7/16" and 5/16" where the spring is called Forespar waiting on a reply to my email they asked me to send.

I have no model or part numbers and the end that has the broken spring does not look like anything in the current catalog.

I could buy a new end but spending almost $200 to replace a $3 spring is sorta silly.

Hoping someone else has been down this road before and has some insight.

 

[Leeward Rail]

 

[rgranger]

SS springs from McMaster

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[FastOlson]

When I replaced one of those on a ForeSpar spinnaker pole many years ago, WM was able to order one up for me. You might check with ForeSpar.

 

[Rick Webb]

 

[dLj]

How is the spring held in? Does it go around that smaller diameter and where does it stop?

I can't tell details of where the spring resides from the photos. Got a caliper?

dj

 

[jaysweet]

I thought you were asking "[Should I] Spring for [a] Forespar Whisker Pole". If you've got the money: sure!

 

[Rick Webb]

When I replaced one of those on a ForeSpar spinnaker pole many years ago, WM was able to order one up for me. You might check with ForeSpar.

Thanks
Did you replace the spring or the whole end?

 

[FastOlson]

Thanks
Did you replace the spring or the whole end?

Just the spring (both ends), and I did have to cleanup the aluminum where the spring seats against a cast-in 'shoulder' ... took a bit of puzzling out, but the cost of a new pole was very motivating. Ours has the self-latching jaws with the trigger piece. Observing the inside corrosion in the aluminum where it bears against the end of the spring, I recall slightly milling it out true, and then sliding in a SS "stop piece" that I ground down from an SS nut, into a round tube shape -- then gently pressed it in.
The spring, back then was about 75 cents...... and my labor had no value!

Ever since, I liberally spray both jaws with "MacLube" once a season or more.

 

[Rick Webb]

Just the spring (both ends), and I did have to cleanup the aluminum where the spring seats against a cast-in 'shoulder' ... took a bit of puzzling out, but the cost of a new pole was very motivating. Ours has the self-latching jaws with the trigger piece. Observing the inside corrosion in the aluminum where it bears against the end of the spring, I recall slightly milling it out true, and then sliding in a SS "stop piece" that I ground down from an SS nut, into a round tube shape -- then gently pressed it in.
The spring, back then was about 75 cents...... and my labor had no value!

Ever since, I liberally spray both jaws with "MacLube" once a season or more.

Thanks again
It was a bear getting the pin out. Thought the spring would fall right out once the pin was out it was jammed in there and broken in several places it was a little bit of work too. It'll work great again as soon as I find a spring.

 

[jssailem]

"[Should I] Spring for [a] Forespar Whisker Pole". If you've got the money: sure!

Met a Hunter owner decided on selling his boat. He has a new Forespar whisker pole. H took it off the boat, saying “This is going with me. I’m not selling it with the boat.” Must have gold trim inside.

 

[Rick Webb]

Wonder what happens if I stack up all the broken pieces of the spring now that it is all cleaned out well. It won't be like new but perhaps well enough. I'll try that tomorrow, I think.

 

[RitSim]

stacking the broken pieces will only jam things up.

 

[Sailor Sue]

Rick, I think I have the spring you need. I'll check the dimensions later this weekend when I get home.

 

[Rick Webb]

Rick, I think I have the spring you need. I'll check the dimensions later this weekend when I get home.

Awesome!
Thanks

 

[Rick Webb]

Just the spring (both ends), and I did have to cleanup the aluminum where the spring seats against a cast-in 'shoulder' ... took a bit of puzzling out, but the cost of a new pole was very motivating. Ours has the self-latching jaws with the trigger piece. Observing the inside corrosion in the aluminum where it bears against the end of the spring, I recall slightly milling it out true, and then sliding in a SS "stop piece" that I ground down from an SS nut, into a round tube shape -- then gently pressed it in.
The spring, back then was about 75 cents...... and my labor had no value!

Ever since, I liberally spray both jaws with "MacLube" once a season or more.

Probably prudent to remove the pin and spring periodically certainly if it starts to bind at all. When I forced all the pieces of the spring out I was amazed at the amount of crystalized corrosion residue that came out with the spring.
That was after I thought I had cleaned it out well when I pressed the pin out.

 

[jssailem]

Rick,
Like a conscientious skipper, when you returned from sailing or cruising you always gave the boat and hardware a fresh water shower to wash away the salt spray and reduce the chance of surface corrosion.
Before grabbing that return to port adult beverage.

 

[Rick Webb]

Received the spring from Sailor Sue in the mail this afternoon.
It is exactly correct.
Thanks so much.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Just for the next guy looking I measured the spring with my high dollar Hobo Freight plastic caliper and came up with these measurements:
13/32" OD
5/16" ID
2.5" Long
1.5" Compressed Length
1/32" Wire Diameter