Tightening Shroud Turnbuckles

klassi1 · Post by **klassi1** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:59 pm

Does anybody have any tips for tightening the shroud turnbuckles on a C-22? Believe they are the originals and they are exceedingly hard to tighten.

PS. Took the nieces out today. They had a blast. Little sailors in the making. But I really need to tighen those loose shrouds...

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:07 am

Perhaps a touch of marine grease on the threads would help?

parared · Post by **parared** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:12 am

Hmm, I find myself with a similar query. My forestay has a turnbuckle that won't turn. The stop nut at the top looks frozen. So, say I attach the jib halyard to the forward chainplate, then exert myself trying to get that nut to move. If the turnbuckle snaps, or becomes damaged, am I SOL, having to drop the mast to change out the forestay? Or is there some way to cut the forward turnbuckle off, and attach a new one?

Alanhod · Post by **Alanhod** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:59 pm

Hi,

My turnbuckles on my C-22 have a ring clip through them.

There is a hole drilled through the threaded post and nut.

The clips were made of questionable metal, some were just cotter pins. I replaced them with stainless ring clips.

I need to remove those clips through my turnbuckles and they turned just fine once the pins are pulled.

Well they were a little crusty the first time I used them. I hit them with WD40 and then greased them. They work fine now once I pull the new ring clips.

Thanks
Alan

klassi1 · Post by **klassi1** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:21 pm

No cotter pins (I will add something once they are adjusted). I have the most trouble getting a good grip on the brass nut inside the turnbuckle to turn it. I can turn the nuts on top. I'll try more WD40. Any tool recommendations other than persistance?

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:50 pm

Klassi1, are the turnbuckles like the ones on this page ?

http://mauriprosailing.com/Merchant2/me ... e=JOHOBJJT

Or like these ?

http://mauriprosailing.com/Merchant2/me ... de=JOHSSTT

tgentry · Post by **tgentry** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:18 am

Brass nut inside the turnbuckle???

Klassi, how about a picture? I'm very confused about what you have.

klassi1 · Post by **klassi1** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:25 am

EE,
I wish I had those turnbuckles. They are easy to adjust. Mine has a threaded post on the wire end, a locknut above the turnbuckle, a bronze knuckle within the turnbuckle. The turnbuckle itself attaches directly to the chainplate w/a pin. I'll take a picture today.
Thanks.

Gus · Post by **Gus** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:00 pm

If yours are factory original, the nut should be in top of the stay, and a finger nut inside the turnbuckle, but without a picture its kinda hard to tell.

klassi1 wrote:No cotter pins (I will add something once they are adjusted). I have the most trouble getting a good grip on the brass nut inside the turnbuckle to turn it. I can turn the nuts on top. I'll try more WD40. Any tool recommendations other than persistance?

klassi1 · Post by **klassi1** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:00 pm

Here is a picture of the turnbuckle. Worked on them for about an hour tonight. Used 2 vise grips, angled pliers, and WD40. They are better but not quite as tight as I want them.

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EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:04 pm

Wow, Gus - great long distance call there. You got it exactly right !

Gus · Post by **Gus** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:39 am

Oh I feel your pain! Those things are a pain in the ass. I got mine lose with penetrating oil. Best bet, untie the nut all the way up so you can work the thumb nut with a bit more space.

Gus

EmergencyExit wrote:Wow, Gus - great long distance call there. You got it exactly right !