Rebuilding Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster?

Hello All,
I noticed oil at the top of the Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster today. Its seeping out the seal on the piston/rod where it slides in and out. I assume this is a problem that will only get worse and needs to be addressed. Will this fail suddenly or can it wait a bit? It doesn't appear to leak down once set. I don't suppose they can be DIY rebuilt? I have rebuilt plenty of hydraulic cylinders, components in a previous life.... Or is this a specialist thing? Ballpark on rebuild cost? Recommendations? Thanks, RT

Take a look at this exchange (http://my.boatus.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=54109&PN=1) from another forum. A local shop may be able to help.

Navtec Rebuild

I had the same problem with my hydraulic adjuster (leaking top seal). In my mind, its a weak point in design as the top seal degrades over time from UV exposure, and eventually fails. There is no DIY rebuild kit available from Navtec. I had to remove it and send it off site for rebuild / testing. I understand that some people have made a "cone" to place around the piston rod to protect the seal. but you must make sure it doesn't cause any binding, etc. I haven't done so yet, but plan to do so to extend the life of the seal. Perhaps there's a coating or some other solution others know about that would also help. I'd be interested if this is the case. Let me know if you need info on where to send it... Good Luck

Joe
35-III
"Tenacious" # 262

should be around $300 and take 2-3 days for the rebuild and load test with a local Navtec authorized shop.
Chris

Now that you mention UV damage, I think I'll spray some 303 on it. I had mine rebuilt a few years ago by West Marine, but I did it over the winter and it involves packing and mailing it.

Vang choice

A Navtec integral BS adjuster was stock equipment on our boat. It was not holding pressure when I bought the boat in '94. I had it rebuilt and it failed again in a few years... (sent it off to Svensens in SF, as they were susposedly the best factory-authorized service center for Navtec at the time.)
I finally sold it cheap for "core value only" and replaced it with a Sail Tec BS adjuster, from observing the same brand work so well for a friend on his E-33.
So far, so good.

Loren in PDX

Navtec went into the shop this morning for rebuilding. Should be 2-3 days at $200-$300, as posted/expected. Thanks, RT

Harken tensioner

It looks like Harken sells a winch handle operated tensioner for about a grand (one boat unit). I suppose that would be harder to deal with than the vang version that Loren uses.

Loren Beach said:

...replaced it with a Sail Tec vang, from observing the same brand work so well for a friend on his E-33.
So far, so good.

Loren in PDX

Click to expand...

Loss of pressure in Navtec hydraulic backstay

Reading the above, it looks as though this disease is catching. My 7 year old Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster suddenly seems unable to maintain its pressure - and I can only pump it up to a very low setting. Can anyone tell me a good place in the Annapolis area to get this fixed?

Chesapeake rigging did ours... nice work, did it in 3 days total, $300.

I've also had really good luck with Atlantic Spars & Rigging- Marc McAteer. Nice guy, appreciates the business, good work-- I was really impressed with their customer service.

Chris

Fawcetts can help you get it to Navtec for service too.

navtec backstay adjuster

Many thanks.

...And the Navtec hydraulic boom vang too!

I just read this thread as I noticed that my Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster is leaking a bit too. But I wanted to share with others my experience with my Navtec hydraulic boom vang as well. I have a 1981 E-36RH and the boat's big controls are all hydraulic. Last fall the fitting on the boom end of the adjuster cracked off under load. I called a rigger who told me that I would need to replace the end of the adjuster and it involved taking the thing apart at a cost of perhaps $600 plus his labor! I went on ebay and found a perfect fit Sparcraft rigid boom vang and got it for a remarkable $250. My only other cost was the purchase of a small Ryobi hand grinder from Home Depot as the tangs at the base of the mast and on the boom were 1/8th of an inch thicker than the jaws on either end of the vang. I assembled a 6:1 purchase assembly out of old blocks and I am in business. The only issue now is how do I seal off the dead hydraulic hose coming out from the base of my mast?

I am going to have to do something about the hydraulic backstay adjuster as well. If in fact the seals can be replaced for under $300 I will do that, otherwise I may replace the thing with a totally mechanical system with cascading blocks.

Any suggestions?

Steve Schwartz
E36RH Glory Days

Another 36 RH owner

You can just pull the old hose out. I replaced all of the hoses on mine about 4 years ago, it just runs up through the mast and out to the vang. You can get a cap for the pump unit in the cockpit and remove the hose completely, that way if someone were to turn it to the vang position and start pumping nothing would happen and you wouldn't lose any oil. Those units are setup to supply four different cylinders and two are already blocked off.

Robert

Navtec Hyd Adjuster

I had the same problem......leaking top seal......YUP...nothing lasts Forever...

I took it to the local Navtec repair service in Ft. Lauderdale, who in turn had to send it to Palm Beach.......about $350 with shipping and Tax.....

To try and hold back future problems and insure some longevity I went to my local Canvas shop and had a cover made that covers the entire unit including the turnbuckle to which it is attached.......

I find that the black of the unit absorbs heat......salt air deposits salt on the shaft, and since there is a lubricant it also attracts dirt and debris......

What I did....my thoughts....and $.02 worth.....

A PVC plumbing end cap of the correct diameter to fit over the cylinder of the hydraulic unit can be drilled for the piston rod diameter and then slid on before the rigging toggle is threaded onto the end of the piston. The result is a little "sun hat" for the top of the unit. The rebuilder stated that the reason the seals fail is UV exposure. The PVC cap works great. The other suggestion was to clean/wipe the piston rod periodically with WD40, etc. to clean dirt, salt, etc. off it and clear the seal. Works for me. RT

Recommendations for someone in the Chicago area?

Anyone know of someone in the Chicago area who can overhaul my Navtec backstay adjuster? I'm having the same seal issue as everyone else. I found two sources to buy the seals kit, but they both send it out, and I can't afford to be without my backstay for the next 2-3 weeks! I'm hoping to find someone to whom I can bring the backstay and the kit and get it done in a few days... Thanks! -BVE

Backstay Adjuster

billve said:

Anyone know of someone in the Chicago area who can overhaul my Navtec backstay adjuster? I'm having the same seal issue as everyone else. I found two sources to buy the seals kit, but they both send it out, and I can't afford to be without my backstay for the next 2-3 weeks! I'm hoping to find someone to whom I can bring the backstay and the kit and get it done in a few days... Thanks! -BVE

Click to expand...

I had mine rebuilt this spring. I looked up a local hydraulic repair shop, and they were able to replace all the elastomers and seals within a couple of days, for just over $100.00. But,during disassembly, they found some bad scoring on the shaft, so they made a shaft and rebuilt the assembly in just over a week, and added $100.00. So, for just over $200.00, I had a local shop rebuild my integral adjuster in short order.
One of the things that helped the shop was to include a copy of the service manual, Which I found on-line.
CTO

how timely

My Navtec failed yesterday. Oil came out on top, then dripped down the transom ... won't hold any pressure at all.
May I ask for a pointer to the service manuals?
thank you!
Zoran

Navtec Service Manual

Here you go......http://www.sailtec.de/pic/upload/navtec_hydraulik_service_manual.pdf
CTO