Lubricating Roller Furling Foil

[WanderingStar]

My furler has an aluminum luff foil on the headstay. It squeaks when I unroll the sail. Any way to lubricate it without taking it down or (worse) disassembling it?

[tommays]

What brand may give a better answer as my Profurl for example has a plastic bushing at ever section of foil and the ball bearings on the unit are good or bad

[WanderingStar]

Sorry, Harken.

[CalebD]

John,
Depending on which model Harken furler you have (Unit 0,1...etc) you can download the manual from Harken: Headsail Handling Manuals
This is a normal maintenance item so it is good that you are looking into it.
They probably recommend their own proprietary lube ($$).

[WanderingStar]

Thanks. I'll reread it. Last time I was looking at maintaining the furling drum itself.

[knothead]

Originally Posted by WanderingStar

My furler has an aluminum luff foil on the headstay. It squeaks when I unroll the sail. Any way to lubricate it without taking it down or (worse) disassembling it?

As soon as I read this post I was thinking "Harken". I bet it's one of the older ones. The squeaking is almost surely coming from the drum. Almost all of them do it.
I would try rinsing it out really well with warm water from a hose and then after it dries, spraying it with something like WD 40 in and around the drum. Use the straw and get in all the spaces that you can.
You shouldn't need to take it apart but if you wanted to, it's pretty easy and should really be done once in a while anyway just to keep the screws from seizing.
The whole drum assembly can be removed from the headstay by raising the torque tube, loosening the locking collar, lowering the locknut and star washer and then simply unscrewing it from the stud.
Make sure to release the tension by easing the backstay/s first. Then tie a halyard forward.
Coat all the screws with a little Lanacote when you put it back together.

[WanderingStar]

Thanks Knot. I did rinse the drum. It probably is an old unit, the boat was built in '68.