[kellysails]

Details:
Main halyard 1/2" polyester double braid, 3 years old, Spinlock XTS clutch, full batten main, 540 sq feet.

Problem:
Once I get my main tightly set, when I release off of the winch I loose about 3" of halyard back through the clutch. I have cleaned the clutch teeth with alcohol, very clean. There is some wear in the line and I tried to smooth it out with steel wool as advised from my yard. I still get the same slippage.

Ideas?

 

[Bill-Rangatira]

what type of line?

 

[kellysails]

what type of line?

Not exactly sure of the Brand, maybe Samson LS, looks like it. Polyester double braid, highly likely core is polyester also. Not likely the highest end stuff. It it has very little stretch though.

 

[sailingfool]

Does the clutch hold when you are setting a reef? If yes, maybe the line cover is worn, try taking up a few inches of halyard at the head and see if a fresh cover section holds or not?

 

[kellysails]

Does the clutch hold when you are setting a reef? If yes, maybe the line cover is worn, try taking up a few inches of halyard at the head and see if a fresh cover section holds or not?

OK, that is brilliant and simple, why the hell didn't I think of that, doh!

Sometimes I get too close to a problem to see the obvious.

It does not slip when any reef is set.

 

[theonecalledtom]

How did the teeth look? You could be nearing a clutch rebuild. These are straightforward but potentially expensive and depending on your clutch setup you may need to invest some time dismantling banks of them to get to the problem area.

 

[kellysails]

How did the teeth look? You could be nearing a clutch rebuild. These are straightforward but potentially expensive and depending on your clutch setup you may need to invest some time dismantling banks of them to get to the problem area.

I have (9) of these clutches and when compared to the one that slips they all look the same as far as bite of the teeth. I cleaned the teeth off very carefully with alcohol. They are only 3 years old.

 

[Jeff_H]

I typically have a sacrificial cover on my main halyards where they pass through the lock. I buy a length of line several sizes larger than the halyard and stitch the core of the bigger line to the end of the halyard and then work the cover over the halyard until I get to the location on the line that sits in the clutch with the halyard raised plus a little for stretch. I tuck the ends of the sacrificial cover into the halyard cover and stretch the sacrificial cover snug, tuck the other end and the stitch though both so they work together. This cuts down on wear and eliminates slippage. That same cover also sits at my mast sheave when the sail is down eliminating chafe up there as well.
Jeff

 

[blt2ski]

My main sail spin lock is also loosening up vs my other 12 or so spinlock clutches. I figure it is time for a rebuild personally.

Depending upon the version. You might want to get the next size smaller innards. Like mine have the ability to be from 10-16mm, along with 8-14mm in size or something like this.

Marty

 

[kellysails]

My main sail spin lock is also loosening up vs my other 12 or so spinlock clutches. I figure it is time for a rebuild personally.

Depending upon the version. You might want to get the next size smaller innards. Like mine have the ability to be from 10-16mm, along with 8-14mm in size or something like this.

Marty

I have 8mm - 14mm capacity on my clutch, and with my 1/2" 12.5mm line it should be perfect.

I am going to hack off 8 inches of halyard from the head of the main. That should get me another 2-3 years. I have enough halyard to do this at least twice more. By then it will be time for a new halyard and I will find a line with better abrasion protection.

Thanks everyone for the great insights!