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Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging #174410
04/09/09 09:21 PM
04/09/09 09:21 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 59
Orange County, CA, USA
JJD Offline OP
journeyman
JJD  Offline OP
journeyman

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 59
Orange County, CA, USA
I know I have seen the technique used to remove and reinstall the internal downhaul described in here, but I can't find it.
The cover on the currently yellow-green line that exits the mast, loops up through the block on the sail and drops down to a cleat on the other side of the mast has stripped after more than 3 seasons of use. I need to replace it. can someone point me to the procedure? My 2006 Blade has a bolt about 60 inches up the mast that holds the upper hardware.
I'm presuming that I have to remove the mast base as well.
Thanks in advance for helping me with this.
John


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Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: JJD] #174422
04/10/09 06:53 AM
04/10/09 06:53 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 118
Pensacola, FL
C
Cab Offline
member
Cab  Offline
member
C

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 118
Pensacola, FL
It is very straight forward and easy. I used 7/64 Amsteel for the internal lines and 5mm swiftcord for the line you pull. I think the 7/64 Amsteel reduces friction in the system a lot. The downhaul eases much easier. The general steps were:
1. Pull diamond wires off of spreaders.
2. Remove rotator arm.
3. Remove mast base.
4. Remove spacer tube and washers for rotator arm.
5. Remove bolt about 4 feet up the mast and pull downhaul out of mast.
6. Draw simple diagram of how the lines run. It is not complicated at all.
7. Cut new lines to the same length as the old ones. You can change the length of the line you pull on. I tried a little longer but after sailing cut it back to about the original length.
8. Run new lines per diagram.
9. Find something long and thin that you can cut a small groove in the end. A broom stick would work well.
10. Wedge the mount for the internal blocks into the groove and slide it into the mast until you can put the bolt back in.
11. Put everything else back together making sure you keep the lines running nicely. Not twisted or wrapped around anything.


Chris
Trident F16
Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: Cab] #174425
04/10/09 07:15 AM
04/10/09 07:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Timbo Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Timbo  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Chris, are you coming to Gulfport next weekend, and will you be Uni?


Blade F16
#777
Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: Cab] #174428
04/10/09 07:31 AM
04/10/09 07:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,525
pgp Offline
Carpal Tunnel
pgp  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,525
"10. Wedge the mount for the internal blocks into the groove and slide it into the mast until you can put the bolt back in. "

I used an ice pick to center the mount (on my boat this is a hollow tube).


Pete Pollard
Blade 702

'When you have a lot of things to do, it's best to get your nap out of the way first.

Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: pgp] #174430
04/10/09 07:48 AM
04/10/09 07:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 548
MERRITTISLAND, FL
Matt M Offline
addict
Matt M  Offline
addict

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 548
MERRITTISLAND, FL
If you take out the upper bracket, sliding it back in place with a pole either wedged or taped on the end works fine as described above.

The 2 blocks on the upper bracket are just turning blocks, all the line ties are on loose floating blocks. if the lines are not broken, you can just feed new lines through the sytem, by tapeing the new line to end of the old and pulling through, retie at the end and replace the base. You can even replace the line that comes out through the mast without removing the base if you fish the block out through the hole in the base plate. To get both you have to take off the base.

M

Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: Matt M] #174449
04/10/09 01:51 PM
04/10/09 01:51 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 465
Oxford, UK
pdwarren Offline
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pdwarren  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 465
Oxford, UK
Another way to tackle this: undo the nut on the top bolt, and carefully tape a long piece of thinnish rope end-to-end with the bolt. Pull the bolt through so you've got the rope running through the mast where the bolt used to be. You can now pull the downhaul system out of the mast, re-rig it, and when you come to reassemble simply pull the rope tight then slide the bolt back through.

Paul

Re: Blade Internal Downhaul Re-rigging [Re: pdwarren] #174451
04/10/09 02:59 PM
04/10/09 02:59 PM
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 59
Orange County, CA, USA
JJD Offline OP
journeyman
JJD  Offline OP
journeyman

Joined: May 2006
Posts: 59
Orange County, CA, USA
laugh
Thanks to all for the responses. Now going outside to get cracking on the refit.
John



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