Hi there !
I have 2 universal joints for my windsurf boards,
they are the kind where the safety rope comes inside the top part of the joint on one side and come out on the other side
I want to replace this safety rope.
I can access the bottom of the u joint to cut the knots of the safety rope to free the bottom.But for the top part, it seems nearly impossible to slide in the new rope from one hole to let it come out from the other hole.
I saw on line other types of U joint where the safety rope is going through easily accessible holes on the top part which makes it easy to replace the rope, but for my u joint the rope runs inside the top part.
I can find tonnes of videos on Youtube on how to replace the tendon, which is very easy, but no instruction on how to change this rope.
Has any of you ever done this ?
many thanks for your help.
JB Yao Can
you need to take the tendon out of the mast base and then inside the two plastic pieces you will be able to access the ropes
hi mate, thank you for your answer. Unfortunately removing the tendon does not help as the safety rope does not go through the tendon hole. The safety rope goes runs in between the top of the plastic bit and the bottom of the metallic bit (the one that goes into your mast extension).
I have tried to find a way to dismount the metallic bit from tue plastic bit, there is nothing that could be unscrewed.
thank you for your answer.
due to the blog rules, I can't post pictures or send you links.
However if you go to the Neil Pryde website, in the windsurf category, then base category you will find the 2 u joints i have (1 of each type).
You can see that the safety rope is coming in the top part of the base through a hole, then come out on the other side of the top part of the base through another hole.
it is impossible to push the new rope in one hole to let it run through and come out on the other hole, it is blocking inside. So i suppose that I have to dismount the top part. But then i have no idea on how to dismount it. For the base with a metal top bit, there is nothing that i can unscrew. For the base with the plastic top part (not the metal one), i can see a bolt inside when i look from the top, but i can't male it loose as it is spinning freely.
For the 2 bases top part, when I look from the bottom there is a metal part with 2 holes, maybe for a 2 pins tool. But i have never encountered this kind of tool.
Is there any specific tool to use ?
Hi guys, I have put the picture of the upper part of the U joint seen from the bottom as my avatar picture (as I can't upload pictures in the forum). You can see the 2 holes through which the safety rope run through. If I run the safety rope in one hole, it won't come out from the other hole, it is blocking inside. So I need to dismount the base. But I have no tool to handle this 2 pins kind of screw that you can see in the picture.
Do you guys have any idea on what to do ?
There is no way I am using these 2 mast bases without a proper safety rope, so I will be forced to dispose of them if can't find a way to replace the ropes, which would be a shame.
I have managed to run a thin thread from one hole to the other by sucking hard on one hole to force the thread through. But then the thread can't let me pull the new safety rope through as it is using probably another path inside the part.
Hello, JB,
Thanks for the photos etc.
I've looked at the NP website and found that my base is the same as shown, but my base is at least 4 years old, so NP MAY have changed the rope diameter. On my base the rope diameter is ABOUT 3mm, as measured with a digital vernier caliper.
To measure the hole diameter on your base, you could get a set of small drills and find out which one mates with the hole in your base.
At a yacht shop, they should have different sizes of line. You might care to take the base and the rope to them and ask what line you actually have, in terms of diameter AND breaking load. You might select a smaller line that goes easily through the hole, but has a high breaking load.
Given that tendon UJ's have a life and many tendons begin to break at the bolt holes (which cannot be seen without dismantling), you might care to research Seabreeze to see if your UJ tendon is approaching its usable life. Note that if you remove the bolts in the UJ tendon to inspect the bolt holes, when you reassemble the bolts, you need to put a drop of Loctite 263 onto the thread of the male bolt, to stop it loosening on the water. Loctite 263 can be bought from automotive parts stores and hardware stores.
If it sounds too complicated, suggest you replace the UJ.
Hope this helps.
Hello!
thank you very much for our detailed answer.
I have the new safety rope, i have tried also with thinner ropes but it does not go through, there is no way but dismounting the part.
Which tool would you use to remove this kind of 2 pins bolt that you can see on my avatar picture ?
Hello, JB,
After reading your latest post, I started to dismantle my NP UJ and found that it was more difficult than I remembered. The rope goes up inside the cone-shaped items located on the top and bottom of the tendon and I think that you do not have the tools to do the whole job (a vice, lockjaw pliers, 2 x 2.5mm Allen hex keys and Loctite as a minimum).
Given the above, I recommend that you buy 2 x new UJ assemblies.
Hope this helps.
