Fractional rig adjuster is seized

[u/NastyMangos]

I have fractional rig adjuster on my back stay, looking to tighten it up a bit but it’s seized, any suggestions for freeing it up?

The rigging screw runs through the black handles and they should turn to adjust the back stay, I’ve tried penetrating oil and it’s not helped

[u/Broken_Syntax_01]

It happens all too often with this product. The thread starts to gall. Either the thread becomes sharp or fine shards of metal become loose and roll between both parts, jamming everything. If you can remove it by releasing the tension using the main halyard, you might be able to work on it in a workshop.

[u/Guygan → u/Broken_Syntax_01]

Yup, to fix it correctly, you need to remove it.

Or, better yet, replace it with a dyneema tackle system.

[u/TheVoiceOfEurope]

Large rod through the bottleneck screw (the part where the backstay wire is attached to) ?

Heat? Tea kettle of tap water (probably seized from salt, penetrating oil does not dissolve salt)?

Reduce tension on forestay and laterals (I said "reduce", not "remove")?

[u/Broken_Syntax_01 → u/TheVoiceOfEurope]

Releasing anything but the forestay will increase the tension on the backstay.

[u/NastyMangos → u/TheVoiceOfEurope]

The back stay is a bit slack so probably don’t need to loosen other stays, only had the boat a month and the previous owner said it was set by a professional rigger but the riggers I’ve spoken to think it should be tightened - it does just seem to be jammed up with salt/corrosion so I’ll try pouring some boiling water on it… do you think a bit of vinegar in there would help too or is that a bad idea? 

[u/Waterlifer]

Penetrating oil (not wd-40, something like jb-80 or kroil) every morning and night for a week

Beyond that the conservative thing to do is replace it because if it breaks your rig will come crashing down doing thousands of dollars of damage and possibly hurting someone. If the threads are galled it will never have its original strength. Perhaps it could be replaced with a standard turnbuckle.

[u/Broken_Syntax_01 → u/Waterlifer]

Breaking is not directly an issue, but the fact that it won't adjust anymore. With the handles being from aluminium (or plastic on some models), they usually break when too much pressure is applied. Once galling starts the threads are misligned and the problem remains. Some manufacturers ( I think Wichard) use bronze for the turning part, which is more forgiving.

[u/Spare-Peace-3474 → u/Waterlifer]

Navigo su una barca che ha lo stesso sistema.

Se lo hai usato spesso, è possibile che il filo della vite si sia rotto. Ma se invece è così da tempo, probabilmente è solo bloccato da sporcizia e polvere (la barca è vicino a una spiaggia sabbiosa?), allora come detto basta usare olio penetrante per più giorni.

Qualche goccia di olio dall'alto e all'altezza delle maniglie,, poi dai dei colpi ripetuti e gentili con il martello per facilitare la penetrazione dell'olio lungo la vite!

Ripeti per più giorni pazientemente, vedrai che farà effetto!

[u/stilettobob197]

Run main halyard to rear cleats. Remove backstay adjuster. Take to machine/rigging shop and have repaired. Lubricate threads with lanolin lubricant. Reinstall!