Hey,

My mast extension is stuck in my mast. It is set at 0cm, so not much to grab hold of. Should I put the extension in a vice and use a boom to twist the mast?? Any tips appreciated!!

Thanks

Given the same predicament, I would be doing something similiar to what you have described.
(But no doubt someone will think of a reason why you should not do it that way)

i would wack the extension in a vice and then just get like 15-20 blokes to twist the mast. This is how i get two piece masts apart so i asume it would work.

Bubs

I would be tempted to put some form of lubricant down the mastbase, something like olive oil. Then I would leave the mast in the sun or heat it up for a while. The heat should expand the mast faster than the metal mast base. I would then douse the mast base in cold water to shrink it.

Possibly some more lubricant could go after this dousing the mast base. Then as above stick the base in a vice and twist.

I would use dishwashing detergant as lubricant over oil. Not sure it makes a difference but this is what i have used to get stuck masts apart and it works well.

Bubs

[edit]: Dishwashing detergant also washes away with water eventually and oil doesn't. (i think)

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bubs said...
[edit]: Dishwashing detergant also washes away with water eventually and oil doesn't. (i think)

Oil washes away with dishwashing detergent

if your mast extention is the classic cup style you can hold the mast in a vise, put a screw driver through the clip holes on the extension and just screw it out, done this before words great, if you don't have a vise use a few mates..

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P.C_simpson said...

if your mast extention is the classic cup style you can hold the mast in a vise, put a screw driver through the clip holes on the extension and just screw it out, done this before words great, if you don't have a vise use a few mates..

Be real careful if you do this as fibreglass and carbon masts are not designed to take compressive forces in this manner. You will almost certainly hear small cracking noises as you tighten up the vice and this will be small cracks forming in the mast which can seriously weaken it and result in structural failure later on,.... when you least expect it. This is why masts often break at the point where the boom clamps onto it.
The mast base in the vice should be reasonably safe as they are usually a composite plastic material which can tolerate some distortion without permanent damage.

yer i thought the not over tightening the vise would have been common sence, thanks for adding that pweedas, the mates way would be better, but waytocold might not of had any mates, didn't want to hert anyones feelings....