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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 2, 2008 12:32:28 GMT 10
The bearing has come loose on my C-tech. Looks like the epoxy has cracked. It doesn't slide lossely up and down the mast but it does jiggle around a fair bit.
Questions:
1. Is there a pin holding the bearing in place?
2. How should I fix this?
3. Is it safe to use in the weekend regatta as is?
Advice needed!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by aus729 on Oct 2, 2008 16:04:38 GMT 10
The bearing has a groove on the inside, and a couple of bleed holes. During installation, the ring is located, and sekaflex is injected into it, which then sticks to the mast. The small holes you see in the ring, are in effect these bleed holes, the sekaflex nibs break. I don't think the ring will move up and down the mast, but it will turn.
To fix it.
I drilled a couple of holes say, 6-8mm in the base of the ring, then use some epoxy filleted around the base and into the holes. These end up like keys in the ring, and stop it from rotating.
This worked on my mast.
You will need to fix it, as the ring will just rotate.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2008 20:23:02 GMT 10
The ring does move up the mast, this has happened to me with 2 of these c-tech masts, always when going downwind in big breeze with the vang strop load on the deck ring...
Andre's solution is worth doing.
But in addition to this I would wrap a thin strip of carbon uni's around the mast section on the top edge of the deck ring so that the tube becomes fatter at that point...then its no longer possible for the ring to blow upwards..
And beleive me they do blow upwards...we have had many instances of this in NZL
Cheers
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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 2, 2008 22:00:39 GMT 10
Thanks for the tips guys. Of course I can now see that without a pin of some sort thru the bearing the upward pull of the vang will reef it up the mast downwind.
To all those doing the Wangi Sprints, have a fun w/end. It looks like I will not be joining you.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2008 5:26:56 GMT 10
The same thing happened to one of my masts. I just bit the bullet and whacked ( and I mean whacked- you had to go pretty medieval on it) the old bearing off and glued a new one on. The trick was to use the right glue putting the new one back on. I got some awsome stuff from Matt Stechman which I think was epoxy based but with bits of elastomer in it- the theory being I believe that the elastomer stopped cracks from propogating past them. Never had a problem again. Marine shops should have it just ask for the epoxy with the elastomer (rubber) particles in it
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Post by aus729 on Oct 3, 2008 10:39:13 GMT 10
Thanks for the tips guys. Of course I can now see that without a pin of some sort thru the bearing the upward pull of the vang will reef it up the mast downwind. To all those doing the Wangi Sprints, have a fun w/end. It looks like I will not be joining you. If you go home tonight, and do what I mentioned above, you can sail tomorrow. This will stop it from twisting. You can then add the carbon strip later on. |
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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 3, 2008 19:02:13 GMT 10
The shed light's on and I am gett'n high on the vapour already. All is not lost!
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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 3, 2008 21:11:56 GMT 10
Thanks for the help guys. Got it fixed......for now. ;D
This is what Alex V said:
Hi, The Ring is glued on by injecting through holes in the sides, the inside of the ring has a large groove inside so this will stop the ring from moving up or down the mast, so its safe to use like it is.
The plastic has some expansion when hot so this is probably why it has come loose.
You could put a couple of self tapper screws in on the side wall s of the mast were the laminate is the thickest.
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Post by aus716 on Oct 3, 2008 21:12:00 GMT 10
Hi VI
My new mast landed today - Robbo and I have cut it here and there and it seems to fit, haven't seen it with a sail up but I'm happy to lend you my old C Tech for the w/e as not sailing is not an option. It's already loaded on the trailer, it's yours if you need it. I should be there early 9.00ish
Cheers
Penguin
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Post by aus716 on Oct 3, 2008 21:17:09 GMT 10
Just read your post, that's a good thing VI . You reckon you'll still know how to sail an OK? (lol)
Perhaps we should buy some spare rings from the ring master (Alex) and have them sent here for future situations?
The spare mast will be there if needed.
I'll be the one in a helmut , sorry helmet. (in German joke)
Penguin
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Post by Village Idiot on Oct 4, 2008 21:17:17 GMT 10
Rigging the boat this morning I noticed how tight the mast bearing fits in the deck. With the boom as an effective lever, this no doubt has put considerable strain on the ring/mast bond. This is the most likely cause of the prob IMHO.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2008 22:52:44 GMT 10
be very careful that the mast is not too tight at the deck as it not only pressures the bond for the ring but can contribute to a broken or cracked gooseneck as well. A few have cracked or broken due to the mast just being too tight. This can also happen if the hole in the boom gets too worn and the boom hits the mast in the gooseneck and levers it upwards as well.
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