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Those furler bearings won't last forever...
Replacing Schaefer Bearing and adjusting head stay
by Bill Miller
As much as we all like to fly with an open jib, sometimes it's nice to bring it in (like when docking). My furler bearings got so bad it required two people to furl them, I knew I had to do something. I called Schaeffer and they said that the lower swivel could be purchased for $85 special deal to Catalina owners. Plus new screws. Three years ago I had gone through this thing (almost) to tighten the head stay. So I have scanned the Schaeffer manual for this.
Follow these steps carefully. When you get to Step 8 you will then loosen the head stay so you can remove the Clevis pin. Remember to mark the threads on the turnbuckle so you can return to the same setting.
Remove one clevis pin that holds the lower swivel to the head stay. Now remove it.
Getting boat over dock. I borrowed the rigging dock for a few hours.
Steps 2 and 3. Pull torque tube up out of the way and tape it or temporally tighten the 4 allen screws. I Used a towel on the deck to keep the parts together.
Steps 4, 5 and 6. Here you see the lower swivel in all its glory. Now loosen the turnbuckle until you can easily remove the head stay pin. Notice the pin below the swivel? Remove that also. Then you can slide the lower swivel off the head stay and put on the new one. Actually this is the new one. But you get the idea.
Now to put it all back together. I used “never seize” compound on the threads so the screws will come out easily in the future.
Several years ago when I tightened my head stay I used this so disassembly was easy. Not Step 10. This gave me trouble. When you put the halyard on the foil to hold it it may have dropped down and inch or so under load. Slide the up until you can screw in the pin. But not to far. The foil rests on this pin until you can tighten the holding clamp.
Reassembly goes fairly easy. Leave the stainless cage slightly loose so you can adjust it later when the line is back in the drum. You do not want the line rubbing on the cages. It Is easily adjusted. Once head stay is put back up and tightened then go to Step 9.
Attaching torque tube to lower swivel. Four screws.
The new and the old.
Notice the white label that points to the newly added flushing hole of which there are two. Old bearing was almost seized and full of corrosion. You see the head stay turnbuckle on the foredeck.
Almost Done. Make sure the line comes into the drum at 90 degrees. Now you must roll up the line (clockwise) before you put on the sail. Put on sail and roll it. I like 2 or 3 turns of the sheets around the sail to make sure it does not unfurl. Now check to see how many turns you have left on the drum. I removed extra turns so I can see the flushing holes. Too many turns and the flushing holes will be covered when you are done.
Remember when you bury your bow into a sea or wake it is wash down time.
That is about it. I did it all myself so I was slow and deliberate as I did not want to drop parts over the side. It can be easier if you have two people to help out.
Bill
Miller
#1901 Magic III
Westerly, RI
USA