Help removing pin for brass bow roller

[sailingdoc]

I have an ‘86 Ericson 30 with a bronze bow roller mounted in an aluminum (?) housing. The roller itself is distorted so that one of the side faces is warped enough that the roller doesn’t roll easily because it gets wedged against the inside of the side of the housing. I can force it around with a wrench. The roller is held in place with a pin - also appears to be bronze - that has a small amount of side to side play but it but doesn’t project beyond the housing itself.

I can’t figure out how to get the pin out to remove and repair or replace the roller. I’ve tried tapping it out from both sides but it doesn’t budge. I tried to see if it somehow unscrews as it does rotate freely. That doesn’t work either.

I can’t seem to find a new version of this to examine.

Makes it very difficult to raise anchor.

Has anyone had any experience with this kind of hardware? Looking for a way to disassemble without having to try to cut it out.

Thanks,

Mike

[Jim Cate]

Some photos, including close-ups would help a lot.

Jim

[Captn_Black]

Yea, photos would be great, although personally my next move would be to try a butane torch to loosen things up a bit. Bronze expands at the same rate as steel - https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/l...ents-d_95.html
But the part is smaller, and softer, so if you can heat the bronze up it may move more easily once it cools down after being squashed up against the steel.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by Captn_Black

Yea, photos would be great, although personally my next move would be to try a butane torch to loosen things up a bit. Bronze expands at the same rate as steel - https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/l...ents-d_95.html
But the part is smaller, and softer, so if you can heat the bronze up it may move more easily once it cools down after being squashed up against the steel.

Edit - Brass and bronze I mean, sorry. But yea, I would try some heat.

[sailingdoc]

Can’t get back to the boat for a few more days but here’s a drawing that describes what is going on.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by sailingdoc

Can’t get back to the boat for a few more days but here’s a drawing that describes what is going on.Attachment 215798

Given the materials used, they probably made it with a press-fit. You're going to have to use a similar method to get it out. Without using a tool shop it could be done aboard by using a good c clamp. Build a "bridge" over the pin on one side, to allow it to be pressed out, one end of the clamp sits on top of the bridge, so it must be suitably strong, 1 1/2" wood should do. The the other end of the clamp will be over the other end of the pin. Cut a suitable sized piece of SS bar to go between the clamp and the pin, so the the bar pushes it out as you clamp it down. In the later stages of the process you could offset the clamp a bit and add a longer piece of bar to allow it to be pushed all the way through.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by sailingdoc

Can’t get back to the boat for a few more days but here’s a drawing that describes what is going on.Attachment 215798

Originally Posted by sailingdoc

....... The roller is held in place with a pin - also appears to be bronze - that has a small amount of side to side play but it but doesn’t project beyond the housing itself.

I can’t figure out how to get the pin out to remove and repair or replace the roller. I’ve tried tapping it out from both sides but it doesn’t budge. I tried to see if it somehow unscrews as it does rotate freely. That doesn’t work either.
..............

Has anyone had any experience with this kind of hardware? Looking for a way to disassemble without having to try to cut it out.

Thanks,

Mike

Just to be sure - the pin has some side play meaning it is moving within the side cheeks of the housing yet the pin does not protrude from the cheeks????

Normally it should have some retaining mechanism otherwise it would move out on it's own accord in normal use.

It is doesn't have any retaining mechanism then I think the cheeks must hold it in place which means the cheeks must be able to be split apart ????

Or has something broken off and the pin is bent which is preventing it's removal??

[Captn_Black]

However, my 2 cents is that none of those materials are suitable for a bow roller. Buy a stainless steel one.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Captn_Black

Given the materials used, they probably made it with a press-fit. You're going to have to use a similar method to get it out. Without using a tool shop it could be done aboard by using a good c clamp. Build a "bridge" over the pin on one side, to allow it to be pressed out, one end of the clamp sits on top of the bridge, so it must be suitably strong, 1" wood should do. The the other end of the clamp will be over the other end of the pin. Cut a suitable sized piece of SS bar to go between the clamp and the pin, so the the bar pushes it out as you clamp it down. In the later stages of the process you could offset the clamp a bit and add a longer piece of bar to allow it to be pushed all the way through.

Hmm... if it was a press fit when new, it is going to be a super massive press fit now given the materials (Al) of the housing and brass/bronze pin.

[Captn_Black]

You could also just drill the pin out and replace it with a nice big part-threaded ss bolt. Would make it stronger too.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Hmm... if it was a press fit when new, it is going to be a super massive press fit now given the materials (Al) of the housing and brass/bronze pin.

Aye, might as well be welded by now.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Captn_Black

You could also just drill the pin out and replace it with a nice big part-threaded ss bolt. Would make it stronger too.

This is likely the only way towards success. If you do this, make sure to drill a small hole down the axis of the pin and an intersecting one to the surface of the pin... and put a Zerk fitting in the end. Being able to easily lube this bearing is a big help in maintaining free rolling and easy anchoing.

Jim

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by sailingdoc

Can’t get back to the boat for a few more days but here’s a drawing that describes what is going on.Attachment 215798

Your diagram shows the roller binding at the top of the fitting, for a quick and dirty temporary or short term fix can you "convince" the cheeks of the fitting to open up a little and prevent the binding ?
Long term I think I can see a new roller assembly in your future.

[Captn_Black]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

This is likely the only way towards success. If you do this, make sure to drill a small hole down the axis of the pin and an intersecting one to the surface of the pin... and put a Zerk fitting in the end. Being able to easily lube this bearing is a big help in maintaining free rolling and easy anchoing.

Jim

Agreed. And I think it is a waste of time trying to do it en-situ, better to have it clamped to a bench so he can better eyeball the drilling angle. Assuming he doesn't have a drill-press. I'm assuming I don't need to state the importance of a punch for centering the initial hole.

[boden36]

It is possible that the axle was slid into place and retained with some kind of anaerobic locker. If this is the case and you heat it enough it may just tap out with a drift.
Alternatively, is there a grub screw somewhere in the roller that may be hidden by crud?