|
Nick Newington
  
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
Nick,
I thought all A-54s had a cover where you made one, but maybe it was later model 54s. I do have an issue about the cover I have seen on 54s and that is there is not a good seal around the circumference of the end-cover to the motor/gearbox housing.
I believe that there is no way that sealing this will create too much heat.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
  
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
Nick Newington
Hi Bill,
So the GRP cover was always there. I took it off and bedded it back with silicone. The odd thing is that the front end was left open for spay to go straight in. I decided to glue on a pvc fabric and try and make it as close to water tight as possible but with the drain hole. We shall have to see, but I think it will help especially as the gear is well covered in grease. In heavy rain it is possible some water might come down the shaft but again I think not really.
I will cut open the pvc front to have a look after I have been out sailing a while and report. This is the before photo.
Ironically the worm gear on this was fine but a bit of an eyesore and a mess.
Nick
S/Y Amelia Aml 54-019
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 23 Sep 2020, at 16:18, CW Bill Rouse < brouse@...> wrote:
Nick,
I thought all A-54s had a cover where you made one, but maybe it was later model 54s. I do have an issue about the cover I have seen on 54s and that is there is not a good seal around the circumference of the end-cover to the motor/gearbox housing.
I believe that there is no way that sealing this will create too much heat.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
<IMG_3990.jpeg><IMG_3991.jpeg><IMG_3992.jpeg>
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
Nick,
Maybe I was not clear...I was talking about the forward-facing cover that you fabricated. I think all the 54's I have seen have a loose-fitting cover on the forward end...maybe yours was lost, or maybe Amel did not have one for the early 54s.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
Hi Bill,
So the GRP cover was always there. I took it off and bedded it back with silicone. The odd thing is that the front end was left open for spay to go straight in. I decided to glue on a pvc fabric and try and make it as close to water tight as possible but with the drain hole. We shall have to see, but I think it will help especially as the gear is well covered in grease. In heavy rain it is possible some water might come down the shaft but again I think not really.
I will cut open the pvc front to have a look after I have been out sailing a while and report. This is the before photo.
Ironically the worm gear on this was fine but a bit of an eyesore and a mess.
Nick
S/Y Amelia Aml 54-019
On 23 Sep 2020, at 16:18, CW Bill Rouse < brouse@...> wrote:
Nick,
I thought all A-54s had a cover where you made one, but maybe it was later model 54s. I do have an issue about the cover I have seen on 54s and that is there is not a good seal around the circumference of the end-cover to the motor/gearbox housing.
I believe that there is no way that sealing this will create too much heat.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
<IMG_3990.jpeg><IMG_3991.jpeg><IMG_3992.jpeg>
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
Nick,
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
Nick,
Maybe I was not clear...I was talking about the forward-facing cover that you fabricated. I think all the 54's I have seen have a loose-fitting cover on the forward end...maybe yours was lost, or maybe Amel did not have one for the early 54s.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
Hi Bill,
So the GRP cover was always there. I took it off and bedded it back with silicone. The odd thing is that the front end was left open for spay to go straight in. I decided to glue on a pvc fabric and try and make it as close to water tight as possible but with the drain hole. We shall have to see, but I think it will help especially as the gear is well covered in grease. In heavy rain it is possible some water might come down the shaft but again I think not really.
I will cut open the pvc front to have a look after I have been out sailing a while and report. This is the before photo.
Ironically the worm gear on this was fine but a bit of an eyesore and a mess.
Nick
S/Y Amelia Aml 54-019
On 23 Sep 2020, at 16:18, CW Bill Rouse < brouse@...> wrote:
Nick,
I thought all A-54s had a cover where you made one, but maybe it was later model 54s. I do have an issue about the cover I have seen on 54s and that is there is not a good seal around the circumference of the end-cover to the motor/gearbox housing.
I believe that there is no way that sealing this will create too much heat.
Bill
|
|
|
CW Bill Rouse
Amel Owners Yacht School
|
|
|
|
Address:
720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550
|
|
|
|
<IMG_3990.jpeg><IMG_3991.jpeg><IMG_3992.jpeg>
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
Nick Newington
Thanks Bill, mine never had a cover.
Great I am on the right track.
On 23 Sep 2020, at 16:47, CW Bill Rouse < brouse@...> wrote:
Nick,
| | CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School | | | Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 | |
| |
Nick,
Maybe I was not clear...I was talking about the forward-facing cover that you fabricated. I think all the 54's I have seen have a loose-fitting cover on the forward end...maybe yours was lost, or maybe Amel did not have one for the early 54s.
Bill | | CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School | | | Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 | |
| |
Hi Bill,
So the GRP cover was always there. I took it off and bedded it back with silicone. The odd thing is that the front end was left open for spay to go straight in. I decided to glue on a pvc fabric and try and make it as close to water tight as possible but with the drain hole. We shall have to see, but I think it will help especially as the gear is well covered in grease. In heavy rain it is possible some water might come down the shaft but again I think not really.
I will cut open the pvc front to have a look after I have been out sailing a while and report. This is the before photo.<IMG_3987.jpeg>
Ironically the worm gear on this was fine but a bit of an eyesore and a mess.
Nick
S/Y Amelia Aml 54-019
On 23 Sep 2020, at 16:18, CW Bill Rouse < brouse@...> wrote:
Nick,
I thought all A-54s had a cover where you made one, but maybe it was later model 54s. I do have an issue about the cover I have seen on 54s and that is there is not a good seal around the circumference of the end-cover to the motor/gearbox housing.
I believe that there is no way that sealing this will create too much heat.
Bill | | CW Bill Rouse Amel Owners Yacht School | | | Address: 720 Winnie, Galveston Island, Texas 77550 | |
| |
<IMG_3990.jpeg><IMG_3991.jpeg><IMG_3992.jpeg>
I recently serviced both main furling and outhaul gears and motors. I found the aluminium shaft on the furling motor very difficult to remove. It was soaked 48 hours in diesel and then pressed out with a hydraulic press, but it took a lot of pressure. Eventually it came free. Whilst the outhaul shaft came up and out with some gentle taps, being stainless steel! I think that this mast furler should be pulled apart more often to avoid the aluminium seizing in place, maybe every two years, just drop it, move the shaft up and down, check the gear box and lip seal. Alternatively have a stainless shaft made.
Fortunately I had a spare gear box on board as one was in very poor shape with bad corrosion on the aluminium. However all went well and both are back and fully functional with new shaft seals. Although I now do not have a spare aboard. Something that I would like to have if I go off the beaten track.
I decided to make a cover out of some PVC I had kicking around to protect the boom furling one from the elements, as shown in the pictures. There is a drain hole at the bottom of the GRP cover in case some water gets in. It is quite small maybe 8mm. It could be widened to say 12mm if required.
Has anyone tried this? If so was it a success or does it just deprive the gear box of ventilation?
Nick back in the UK with Amelia ashore in Leros, Greece
AML 54-019
|
|
|
My "middle aged" A54 has the front cover that you guys reference. I drilled a few additional holes in the bottom of the rest of the cover. The original Amel setup has one small hole and when I opened up all of the covers to service the outhaul motor/gearbox, there was some water pooling. I do believe that water can readily enter from the top near the shaft. Specifically if it runs down the outhaul rope track. When we give the boat a good freshwater wash, water definitely streams out of the holes I drilled. -- Scott 2007 A54 #69 SV Tengah http://www.svtengah.com
|
|
|
