TOTALLY STUCK BOOMS - HELP

[Jim Richardson]

I have two sets of booms that are in decent shape but are stuck and
can't be adjusted.

I know it was dumb of me to put them away for the winter dirty and
gritty.

They are really really stuck. I have tried lots of liquid wrench, lots
of yanking and pulling and hammering.

Does any one have any tips on how to clamp / hold the booms while
working / pulling on them. I am worried about breaking / crimping the
tubing.

Is there any way to grab them tightly yet non destructively and
hammering on them in a way that won't dent / break them?

Any other product that would help free them up. Is WD40 better?
Anything else? What will break down aluminum oxide ( the aluminum rust
that forms). Can heat be employed? Would it help or make it worse.

I am even willing to drill off the rivets and take the clew end off,
but I still can't think of a way of getting purchase on the boom
extension.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Craig (gsogh) Goudie]

If you can unlatch the catches (you didn't tell us what kind of boom you
have),
you could put the clamp over a low metal fence post, clamp it down, and
then
use a wooden or rubber mallet to bang the clew end outward from inside the
boom.

I've not tried this, it just seems like it would work.

-Craig

Post by Jim Richardson
I have two sets of booms that are in decent shape but are stuck and
can't be adjusted.
I know it was dumb of me to put them away for the winter dirty and
gritty.
They are really really stuck. I have tried lots of liquid wrench, lots
of yanking and pulling and hammering.
Does any one have any tips on how to clamp / hold the booms while
working / pulling on them. I am worried about breaking / crimping the
tubing.
Is there any way to grab them tightly yet non destructively and
hammering on them in a way that won't dent / break them?
Any other product that would help free them up. Is WD40 better?
Anything else? What will break down aluminum oxide ( the aluminum rust
that forms). Can heat be employed? Would it help or make it worse.
I am even willing to drill off the rivets and take the clew end off,
but I still can't think of a way of getting purchase on the boom
extension.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

--
Craig (Go Short or Go Home!) Goudie
Sailing the high desert lakes of Utah on my:
RRD 298, RRD TT and Cross M 8'2" with
Sailworks/Naish Sails and Rec Composites Fins
Sailing the Gorge on my: 9'1" RRD Freeride,
8'3" Logosz Squish, 8'0" Hitech IBM with
Sailworks/Northwave Sails and Curtis Fins

[Scott G]

Best way I have found to yank 'em is to hook the tailpiece over a
wooden fence post and yank the front of the boom towards yourself. If
you start with the boom tailpiece a few inches away from the post, the
impact when it hits helps nock things loose. It is the impact that
works, and the soft nature of the fence post eases the trauma.
Not sure what dissolves AL oxide best, but I have used WD40 before.
Bottom line, its only an Aluminum boom, so keep yanking til it breaks
or breaks loose.
If you get em apart, lightly sand the tailpieces with 400 grit if they
are pitted or corroded.
ScottG

Post by Jim Richardson
I have two sets of booms that are in decent shape but are stuck and
can't be adjusted.
I know it was dumb of me to put them away for the winter dirty and
gritty.
They are really really stuck. I have tried lots of liquid wrench, lots
of yanking and pulling and hammering.
Does any one have any tips on how to clamp / hold the booms while
working / pulling on them. I am worried about breaking / crimping the
tubing.
Is there any way to grab them tightly yet non destructively and
hammering on them in a way that won't dent / break them?
Any other product that would help free them up. Is WD40 better?
Anything else? What will break down aluminum oxide ( the aluminum rust
that forms). Can heat be employed? Would it help or make it worse.
I am even willing to drill off the rivets and take the clew end off,
but I still can't think of a way of getting purchase on the boom
extension.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Brian Sangeorzan]

If you're willing to take some time and experiment, here are some ideas.
Are these aluminum booms? If it is aluminum oxide that causing the jam,
then phosporic acid might work (will also remove some of the remaining
anodizing). Phosphoric is in some of the bathroom cleaners designed to
remove mineral deposits. Another possibility might be CLR - also for
mineral deposits and widely available. Yet another possibility is a
penetrant called PB Blaster, available in auto supplies. PB Blaster works
great on rust (iron oxide) - maybe it would work on aluminum oxide.

In any case, I would drizzle one of these product into the tubes and
immediatey tap the tubes with something metallic to 'ring' the tubes.
Repeat this process over the course of several hours, periodically tugging
or tapping on the extension with a rubber mallet. I would tap BOTH
directions on the extension - first in the direction to shorten the boom,
and then in the direction to loosen the boom. Try the phosphoric acid
before you try the PB Blaster, as the PB Blaster contains oil and the
bathroom products are water based. The oil will displace the water, but not
as easy the other way.

Good luck. If you're patient, one of these things should work.
Brian

Post by Jim Richardson
I have two sets of booms that are in decent shape but are stuck and
can't be adjusted.
I know it was dumb of me to put them away for the winter dirty and
gritty.
They are really really stuck. I have tried lots of liquid wrench, lots
of yanking and pulling and hammering.
Does any one have any tips on how to clamp / hold the booms while
working / pulling on them. I am worried about breaking / crimping the
tubing.
Is there any way to grab them tightly yet non destructively and
hammering on them in a way that won't dent / break them?
Any other product that would help free them up. Is WD40 better?
Anything else? What will break down aluminum oxide ( the aluminum rust
that forms). Can heat be employed? Would it help or make it worse.
I am even willing to drill off the rivets and take the clew end off,
but I still can't think of a way of getting purchase on the boom
extension.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Mike LaRonde]

use a hammer. on the inside of the tailpeice with the front end secured
around a post. there can be no give whatsoever or it won't work. You can
try a rubber mallet first but mine needed the hammer.

thats what I did on an AL boom that was stored 3 seasons, once it came
apart it was good as it was when I stuck it up there.

Post by Jim Richardson
I have two sets of booms that are in decent shape but are stuck and
can't be adjusted.
I know it was dumb of me to put them away for the winter dirty and
gritty.
They are really really stuck. I have tried lots of liquid wrench, lots
of yanking and pulling and hammering.
Does any one have any tips on how to clamp / hold the booms while
working / pulling on them. I am worried about breaking / crimping the
tubing.
Is there any way to grab them tightly yet non destructively and
hammering on them in a way that won't dent / break them?
Any other product that would help free them up. Is WD40 better?
Anything else? What will break down aluminum oxide ( the aluminum rust
that forms). Can heat be employed? Would it help or make it worse.
I am even willing to drill off the rivets and take the clew end off,
but I still can't think of a way of getting purchase on the boom
extension.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Pepi]

All ideas involving a hammer/mallet are very bad and you don't want to
try them.

The best thing to do is to use a penetrating lubricant or oil on the
stuck tailpieces. Then, with latches/pins disengaged, have one person
hold onto the head of the boom and you hold on to the tail piece.
Slowly and with as much force as you need, start twisting the the tail
piece torsionally back and forth. This may be hard at first, but is
much safer and better than whacking the boom with a hammer. Usually
you need to first use a lot of force to break the tension and get the
tubes to rotate back and forth. Slowly twist the tailpiece back and
forth until you feel you can start to pull the tail piece out without
reseizing it.

[Tsunami]

And another tip (hope you don't all know, then I'll look
stupid!)..............
Penetrating oil such as WD40 / CRC / Penetrene in *small* amounts works
wonders on stuck, salted up zippers on sail / board / quiver bags.

It's amazin how many sail bags I see that have to the bottom ripped out to
get the sail out. All they needed was a tiny squirt of WD40 and some pliers
to help pull the zipper that first 2mm......

Post by Pepi
The best thing to do is to use a penetrating lubricant or oil on the
stuck tailpieces. Then, with latches/pins disengaged, have one person
hold onto the head of the boom and you hold on to the tail piece.
Slowly and with as much force as you need, start twisting the the tail
piece torsionally back and forth. This may be hard at first, but is
much safer and better than whacking the boom with a hammer. Usually
you need to first use a lot of force to break the tension and get the
tubes to rotate back and forth. Slowly twist the tailpiece back and
forth until you feel you can start to pull the tail piece out without
reseizing it.