[jarcher]

Hi All...

The sheaves in my mast head are made for wire and are worn. I am hoping to switch to line halyards, but have not been able to find new sheaves. These measure:

diameter: 3.5 inches
width: 11/16 inch
axle hole: 3/4 inch ID, with a bushing that has a 3/8 inch ID hole

There is no hint on it who the manufacturer is, and I don't know who made the mast. There is a lagel on the mast, but it is partially covered. It looks like the company name starts with an a and ends in ar, and are in Connecticut. But then again, that label ma have nothing to do with the mast manufacturer.

I have googled incessantly. If anyone can suggest a supplier who has odd sizes I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[jarcher]

I was able to find a place that has a 3.5 inch OD, 9/16th wide, 3/8 inch ID axle. That would leave a little over 1/16 inch on each side, or more likely 1/8 plus the existing play.

I plan to use 5/16th halyards. That would seem to make it impossible for the halyard to get stuck next to the sheave. I think.

Would this work?

 

[scottyt]

mail your old ones to me and i will turn them on my lathe to fit rope. it will only take me an hour or less, the only issue might be anodizing if they really need it, which i bet just gets worn off any way

 

[jarcher]

mail your old ones to me and i will turn them on my lathe to fit rope. it will only take me an hour or less, the only issue might be anodizing if they really need it, which i bet just gets worn off any way

Wow, you can do that? Thank you! They are pretty beat up, let me post a picture in the next post...

 

[scottyt]

heck i could make new ones in about 45 mins a piece if i had the AL, but the biggest i have on hand is about 1.5 inches, the scary part is the AL would cost about 5 bucks for 3 or 4 of em

edit sorry it would cost about 10 bucks
online metal supply

 

[jarcher]

Well here are some pics of the existing ones:

http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1808.JPG
http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1809.JPG
http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1810.JPG
http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1811.JPG
http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1812.JPG

This one is on my desk here, not the greatest light...

http://www.jims-scampi.com/masthead/IMG_1818.JPG

Do you think they can be saved?

EDIT: Ha, I just tried to roll it across the desk, it didn't like that!

 

[scottyt]

not a problem, the bushing looks decent, the rest is just a wire brushing, and a few mins on the lathe to change the profile. you might loose 1/16 inch in diameter, in the bottom of the groove and a few thousands thickness just to clean em up.

the big thing is the bushing, if its solid and not all scored on the inside. and thats not even that big of a deal for new made sheaves where i could select the bore size. bronze oil impregnated bushings

the problem is if i made them from scratch it would cast about 30 per to even make it worth it for me. yes its 3 bucks in material, but close to an hour each.

but send em to me and i will reshape em for about 10 bucks including shipping them back

 

[dvpamenter]

Not wanting to take the work from Scotty, but try rigrite.com. They have sheaves in lots of sizes etc.
Don

 

[knothead]

I'm also not suggesting that you don't take advantage of scotty's generous offer but here's a link to a company that makes sheaves.

Zephyrwerks - The Sheave Factory

 

[eolon]

I'm also not suggesting that you don't take advantage of scotty's generous offer but here's a link to a company that makes sheaves.

Zephyrwerks - The Sheave Factory

I used Zephyrwerks for a large halyard sheave that I couldn't find anywhere else (5,25" dia., .500" wide). Ed made an absolutely gorgeous sheave out of black Delrin with bronze bushing. It cost $95.

Best Regards,

e

.::.

 

[knothead]

I used Zephyrwerks for a large halyard sheave that I couldn't find anywhere else (5,25" dia., .500" wide). Ed made an absolutely gorgeous sheave out of black Delrin with bronze bushing. It cost $95.

Best Regards,

e

.::.

Yeah, they aren't cheap. But what is these days?

 

[brak]

Zephyrwerks products are worth every penny. FWIW

 

[jarcher]

Thanks, I did check RigRite's web site. I'll call them tomorrow just in case, but they didn't list anything exactly the same. Very close, they have them 1/8 inch narrower then I need.

And thanks for the link to Zepher works, if Scott ends up not being able to refurbish them I'll definitely check them out. Right now though, I would prefer not to add $400 to this project if I can avoid it.

I was finally able to get the bottom sheaves out today, after hours with PB Blaster, heat, and lots of tapping. These seem more ordinary, 2 inches diameter, .5 inch wide with a 3/8 inch axle.

So with Scott's kind help, it looks like I'll be able to pull this off (knock knock).

 

[brak]

RigRite does not answer any questions on the phone. They really don't have much of a "customer service". They are good if you know exactly what you want - otherwise "fuggedaboutid".

 

[jarcher]

RigRite does not answer any questions on the phone. They really don't have much of a "customer service". They are good if you know exactly what you want - otherwise "fuggedaboutid".

Hm, maybe I'll take a ride down there. They are about 20 minutes from where I live by car...