Jammed older Profurl headsail furler

[neilpride]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

thanks Neil... wasn't sure! But I still wonder if it was a sudden failure or gradual decline (like my memory!)

Jim

Could be a sudden failure due a bad repair, i mean those 2 tiny allens tend to work outward, we use Loctite médium in the foils sections so the screws stay tight for a while, otherwise they work loose and block the swivel if you want to drop the sail...

[Oceanride007]

My Profurl is 28yo, Observed it once, in my opinion if you think its the bearings. Bearings can be taken off insitu, but may need specialist to disassemble from housing.
Method that worked for me.
Sail removed. Mast tensioned forward by other halyard.
The lower aluminium foil must be suported by another halyard.
Note position of screws on turnbuckle for restoration.
Remove the drum, 4 captive screws. and 3 grub screws to the lower foil extrusion, careful of these screw, one grub is a special shape.
The two side plates may need to be removed, to access the turnbuckle to ease the tension on forstay. Possible problem with upper cap screws also special (mine were seized), that go thru the lower aluminium bearing housing, just below the drum.
Foil sag may be a issue, I tensioned it down via the anchor roller and a winch on the mast. This will help assembly as well. Restrain assembly forwards by another rope as you have to let the down tension go, both bearing assemblies can go past the turn buckle.
My bearings were fine, but a neighbour had to send his bearing assembly away.

Rigger working with me did something up top, don't know what, perhaps the upper tube has a support.

Thats it, but if you haven't found problem, any further work on foretay the forestay and extrusion assembly has to come down to dissasemble, (that job requires care) and check the carbons that run on the SS forestay, a pair of carbons per section, I only replaced the lower pair of carbons and because this is accsessible, I was able to do it insitu.

[double u]

on old profurls the 2 special screws holding the lowest extrusion to the drum could come slightly loose, the foil would slide down a few cm & jam the whole thing. the way to check: pulling strongly upwards on the lowest section

[SVTatia]

Good Old Boat March/April 2017 had an excellent article on how to rebuild an old Profurl using parts he got at an auto parts store.

[Caribsailor]

I owned a Fountaine Pajot cat with a Profurl for 23 years. When mine jammed up I replaced and greased the lower drum bearings. Over the years I greased the bearings by drilling a small hole in the upper shaft seal. Every so often I would grease it with a pointed attachment for my grease gun. The lower swagged fitting on the forestay is exposed to salt water and can fail. I replaced it with a swageless fitting that I could install myself. load it with grease on assembly. A bit of work on 10mm cable, but worth it.

Karl of Cochi

[AA3JY]

Had a similar problem..very difficult to furl and unfurl..to a point I had to use the wench to furl. Used PB Blaster followed up using Boeshield..now smooth as silk👍