Easylock Racing clutch question

[camelot_pdx]

My recently acquired boat came equipped with Easylock Racing clutches. The handles face forward (toward the bow) when in the down position. Is this correct? Seems to me they should be facing aft. I have been having a heck of a time figuring out how to feed the main and jib halyards into their designated clutches. I appreciate any insight.

[Torolaj]

Forward is correct. Make sure the handle is all the way back and the cam (not sure of the proper term) is all the way up before feeding the line through.

[bobconnie]

If ya have the handle all the way aft, and you still can't get the line thru, then you have to big of line for the clutch you have! Did you by chance fit larger line then it had??

[psk125]

Some clutches lock with the handle aft, some with the handle forward. You can change to another kind if you like, but it is a big hassle to remove the old ones, fill the holes and then drill new holes and bed the new fitting properly. We have both forward and aft-locking clutches on our boat- installed at different times by different owners. When they give out, we're going to try for less confusion by making them all the same.

[Kestrahl]

Originally Posted by camelot_pdx

My recently acquired boat came equipped with Easylock Racing clutches. The handles face forward (toward the bow) when in the down position. Is this correct? Seems to me they should be facing aft. I have been having a heck of a time figuring out how to feed the main and jib halyards into their designated clutches. I appreciate any insight.

If they are the same as some of the easylocks on my boat then to release them you have to pull the handle up, push the button on the top forward to lock the cam and then push the handle forward again. I don't know what this Danish company were thinking when they called them Easy, my girlfriend is Danish and gets confused with them. Their later clutches are more "normal" and are good for the fact you can replace the spring when it breaks. Unlike certain Spinlocks where you basically have to buy a new clutch.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, camelot_pdx, & Torolaj.

As Torolaj indicated, all Easylock Rope Clutches are designed to be mounted with the handles forward, to minimize the possibility of inadvertent release.
➥ http://www.rigrite.com/Hardware/Rope..._Stoppers.html

[jkindredpdx]

I want to mount a clutch vertically on the side of my coaming... would this have a negative effect on the operation of the clutch?

[goboatingnow]

BTW, anyone come up with either LED illuminated line IDs on teh handles of clutches or maybe a luminescent one to ID lines, Spinlock told me they were going to offer it, but never did.

Dave

[sestina]

They are rubbish clutches. Had them on my X-yacht; Easyslip would be at better name. Replaced with Spinlock.

[Ringmaster]

That's funny. I have Easylocks on my Express 30 and they haven't slipped in 20 years. A friends newish X382s Spinlock clutches slip like crazy.