Gooseneck Nut Comes Undone

[daga]

I have a Selden Mast and Boom assembled by All Yacht Spars. I recently replaced the t-bar which had been bent but was unsure how to reassemble it. Anyway, the nut at the bottom of the t-bar constantly works itself loose. I can't see how this is happening: the t-bar doesn't move and neither does the bottom of the gooseneck fitting against which the nut is tightened. See attached image.

What do you use? A split washer? Locktite?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

[Lepke]

Don't see an image, but a stainless nylon stop nut should do it.

[brownoarsman]

Though this is something you should check often. Found a nyloc backed out to the end of the bolt before so even that is not foolproof. I think it was a lot of slatting in the main that may have done it.

[daga]

Maybe drill a hole and insert a splitpin?

[SailingFan]

Originally Posted by brownoarsman

Though this is something you should check often. Found a nyloc backed out to the end of the bolt before so even that is not foolproof. I think it was a lot of slatting in the main that may have done it.

Can you tell me what you mean by "slatting in the main" because I don't know that term yet. I have a feeling I should though..

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by daga

.

What do you use? A split washer? Locktite?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Split washers might make you feel good, but I think are pretty useless. I'd try blue loctite before taking more drastic measures.

[brownoarsman]

Originally Posted by SailingFan

Can you tell me what you mean by "slatting in the main" because I don't know that term yet. I have a feeling I should though..

A slatting mainsail is more often experienced on a cat (in my experience). As an example, going over waves, especially in light winds, can change the orientation of the mainsail to the wind and cause it to backwind or lose its wind a little and drift back to center. When the boat reorients to its original position, the mainsail fills again and slams back to its prior position. Repeated cycling of this is what I thought might have affected the gooseneck, though in light winds we would play the sheet to brake this behavior. Usually we would just take it down though as it's super annoying and not good for the equipment.

[Jim Cate]

Had a similar problem, kept defeating Nylocks and lock washers and even blue loctite. Finally drilled and safety wired the bugger. Problem solved.

Jim

[Emmalina]

Have a locknut on mine ! Never moves

[UNCIVILIZED]

If there's enough thread length on the fitting, you might try putting 2 nuts onto it, & jamming them against one another. Along with using Blue Loctite. It would even be tempting to machine 2 thinner nuts to use to try this with, if you're short on room for 2 standard width nuts.

When it comes to Blue Loctite in this application, after fully cleaning the threads in the nuts, & on the shaft, mechanically, & chemically. Paint the threads completely with Loctite, instead of just using a few drops. It adds quite a bit more grip to things that way.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by UNCIVILIZED

If there's enough thread length on the fitting, you might try putting 2 nuts onto it, & jamming them against one another. Along with using Blue Loctite. It would even be tempting to machine 2 thinner nuts to use to try this with, if you're short on room for 2 standard width nuts.

When it comes to Blue Loctite in this application, after fully cleaning the threads in the nuts, & on the shaft, mechanically, & chemically. Paint the threads completely with Loctite, instead of just using a few drops. It adds quite a bit more grip to things that way.

Looking at daga's picture, it doesn't appear that there's enough thread left to add a jam nut. If blue Loctite doesn't work, you could try the red. If you ever have to remove the nut, the red Loctite bond will break when heated with a gas torch. I think that's an easier solution than machining two jam nuts or drilling holes in a stainless steel nut.

[Rorzech]

Cobalt drill bits work really well , make sure you use a centre punch first.

[dszerlag]

Was delivering a brand new 54 Jeanneau up the east coast this spring, three days in found the lock nut on the deck and the bolt about half way out the gooseneck. Weird as it was checked before we left. Something I will definitely keep an eye on in the future.

[Cadence]

You might try the old way and use a center punch on the threads just below the nut. Not to excess so you can still remove it if need be.

[BobFord]

I have the same problem with the same fitting. Nyloc didn't work and now on Locktite.
However, sounds like something more mechanical will be the solution ! Thanks for the thread !