After placing my posting I decided that it was unfair to have made such a post without first contacting Harken about my trouble. So I did the second best thing; contacted them after making the post.
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<br>They told me to bend the cage fingers on the furler.
Or to send it in for repair (I pay postage) and that they would bend the fingers themselves if that is what it needs. If they decide that it is a bearing failure, they will replace it.
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<br>Now, this is the important part. The sheaf on the top of my mast; the micro cheek block. (#233) The block has a Breaking Strength of 1200 pounds and a Safe Working Load of 200 pounds.
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<br>Definitions:
<br>Breaking Strength - the point at which it will bust apart.
<br>Safe Working Load - the maximum load before it begins to destroy itself; bearing stop turning, etc.
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<br>Now take into cosideration the load that is being applied to the block. First of all you have a sail with battens that weighs say 30 pounds. Ad to that, the friction of the sail luff to sail luff groove when the sail is at 99% hoist. That is some 29 feet of luff rubbing on two sides against the edge of the luff groove. Add to that the friction caused by the sail's luff that is binding around the underside of the entry opening in the luff groove. Now multiply by 2 because the halyard is making a 180 degree bend around the block, doubling the amount of load placed on the sheaf.
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<br>It looks as though the block(s) may have failed due to being overworked.
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<br>GARY<br><br>
