A very novice question about the masthead

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A very novice question about the masthead

Postby VTDS2 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 9:33 am

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! :)
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby jalmeida51 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 10:40 am

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

John
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby GreenLake » Wed Jul 28, 2021 11:52 am

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.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby VTDS2 » Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:10 pm

Is there a reason to use dry lubricant rather than something like WD-40? Protection of the halyard?
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby GreenLake » Wed Jul 28, 2021 2:52 pm

WD-40's main strength is "water displacement". Not needed, and the residue traps dirt.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby VTDS2 » Thu Jul 29, 2021 2:40 pm

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!
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Re: A very novice question about the masthead

Postby GreenLake » Thu Jul 29, 2021 3:42 pm

Cool! Good luck.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~
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