Turnbuckle jaws

[JonMulloy]

I've got a 1993 23.5. I don't know a lot about rigging, but I'm not sure of the condition of my turnbuckle jaws. Is the spread in the jaw a problem? What about the slight kink in the bolt? Also, if I need to replace them, how do I know what to measure to get the proper replacement. Thanks.
Jon

 

[kloudie1]

Looks like those have been victimized by bending during putting up the mast.. They are standard parts and for your boat and judging from the picture, they are most likely 1/4" X 28 threads per inch, left hand threaded. Those should be replaced.. They are available on this site .. Ya need to measure for diameter and verify thread as left or right.. A left hand thread will screw into a nut or turnbuckle end turning it counterclockwise when looking into the toggle end.
http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?14324/Threaded Toggle Jaw

 

[JonMulloy]

Kloudie1
Thanks. You are correct about the cause. All 4 have a little kink or gap between the jaws or both. Can I assume all would be either left-hand or right-hand thread?

 

[kloudie1]

Jon, That is probably the case but I wouldn't order 4 without verifying..The picture of yours is left hand threads. When you look at the picture, note the threads on the left side are "higher" than the ones on the right..slope is left-to-right.. That is a left hand thread. If ya have a right hand thread bolt laying around, look at it the same way and you can see that one has the threads sloping down, right-to-left; that's a right hand thread.
Note: when ya install the new ones, screw 'em in the same amount as the top ones are before ya hook 'em back up...

 

[JonMulloy]

Kloudie1,
They are all left hand. The diameter is 3/16" though. Thanks for the help
Jon

 

[JonMulloy]

Also the turnbuckles say Navtec on them and have the number 5 stamped on the upper toggle.

 

[kloudie1]

You are welcome, Jon.. glad to help. I did bend the ones on my brand new Spirit 23 back in 1978 when I put the mast up for the second time.. No internet back then .. a bit more difficult for a novice sailor to find the right answer .. It is not mandatory to buy NavTec replacements, since they are pretty much standard.. but if ya can find the exact replacements, go for it !

 

[Pete R]

Kloudie1,
They are all left hand. The diameter is 3/16" though. Thanks for the help
Jon

Mine are 1/4-28 LH, so make sure to double-check.

 

[JonMulloy]

Pete
Hey must be. I can't find anything smaller than 1/4". I might need stronger bifocals.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Jon;

In the future always remember the size wire. Also what you read, you will need to know whether left or right hand. The cause is due to mast raising. When raising, always look at the shroud chain plates to make sure the turnbuckles are not binding particularly before the mast is all the way up and also if there is additional tension on raising as a shroud or line could be caught.

Generally the turnbuckles are 1/4 by ? FOr some reason, I thought fine thread was 32 and not 28 but what the heck, my mind is going. Remember the wire size.

crazy dave condon