DaySailer.org Forum

Hello!
Just picked up my 25th anniversary edition 1984 DS2 this week.
Going over all the rigging before I hit the water, I came up with a very embarrassing novice question:

Are the pulleys inside the masthead supposed to spin freely?

Mine seem stuck in place, and before I try to free them I figured I should check if they're supposed to be that way!

The pulleys inside of your mast head are called sheaves or block sheaves and should turn freely.

John

They can be replaced, if needed.

If you find them held in place by what is essentially a long rivet that is flush with the masthead, you can gently drill or punch those out and getting new sheaves, hold them with a stainless steel clevis pin. There is a size that is a perfect fit, and is held in place by a split ring (or cotter pins). DR Marine sells the sheaves.

But you can check first if you can get them to spin again (using a dry lubricant perhaps?). And whether they are otherwise undamaged.

Is there a reason to use dry lubricant rather than something like WD-40? Protection of the halyard?

WD-40's main strength is "water displacement". Not needed, and the residue traps dirt.

Thanks for everyone's help. A generous application of dry lube got things moving and revealed that there was a ton of sand built up inside the sheaves (assuming someone dragged the mast down a beach?) but now they are spinning freely and things are lining up for my maiden voyage this weekend!

Cool! Good luck.