Moses fuselage to mast screws keeps coming loose

[taiguy]

I've noticed that both of my bolts connecting my moses fuselage to carbon mast come loose after a single session. One of them, usually the front bolt, is only finger tight, and the rear bolt is not much better. This is after cranking down on them before going out.

After polling several friends on the beach, 2 of them said they see the same issue, and 1 of them said his always stay tight.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I tried looking for stainless lock washers but they're slightly too big for the fuselage bolt hole.

[Sbrinckman]

already a topic on this.

viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2403884&p=1064903 ... s#p1064903

[taiguy]

already a topic on this.

viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2403884&p=1064903 ... s#p1064903

thanks, didn't see that earlier. from the quick read it doesn't sound like there's any real solution

[joekitetime]

I have had the same annoying problem.

However, I've never had anything come apart, even after 3 back to back sessions on the same day.

If I leave the foil attached to the board and tighten it after a session, it seems to stay tight. But that only lasts 1-2 weeks before I take it apart.

Otherwise, yes, after every session that front bolt gets a tad loose!

Annoying!

[salvino]

Easy solution. Tighten both and then push down (board and foil are upside down) on front leading edge of front wing. As you do this, tighten the front screw a bit more. This always keeps both my screws nice and tight.

[OzBungy]

viewtopic.php?f=196&t=2403884&p=1097736 ... 5#p1097736

I put my screws in but don't make them tight, just screwed in with finger pressure on the wrench. I then take the back end of the fuselage, pull up and tighten the front screw, then push down and tighten the back screw. I have about 350 and 500 hours on my foils and they stay comfortably snug.

[Foil]

This has been a minor problem for years
All moses masts all current fuses, (but unknown if race fuse and havock mast is the same)
I was driven mad by this annoying loose front bolt mystery,
and can tell you there was nothing I did not try, even adding grub screws through the side of the the fuse to clamp up the neck of the front securing bolt, all manner of washers, screw lock blue and red, no grease, arghhhh!
solution was more than easy, and has worked faultlessly since

board upside down mast attached
wingset fully assembled separately
ensure connection points are spotless
place wingset in place and listen for that clean sound of a good connection, no gritty crunchy sounds of trapped sand.
check washers are in place and screw up evenly, ideally use a high quality T handle allen head driver like this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Teng-Tools-T ... 0048076962
tighten to a good pressure only using 3 fingers on the bar,
the next step need to be done with either the wing covers left on or use a dry clean cloth in both hands to prevent transferring skin oil or sun tan oils to the wing surfaces.
grab both wings firmly and rock your weight back and forth over the wing set a few times,
you will then find that when you try and retighten the mast screws using the exact same force as before they will both tighten up just slightly more,
very satisfying,as its this simple routine that keeps the little buggers good and tight, 100% of my sessions

[nothing2seehere]

Can you use a little tefgel? Worked like a charm on my alu foil on the mast to plate screws that used to loosen. It stops the galvanic(?) reaction primarily for the alu to steel but also adds a little friction to the screw threads so stops screws loosening.

[Robsw6]

+1 I have always used tefgel on my Moses foils & have never noticed a problem. I slot it together, with clean surfaces & tighten the bolts using a torque wrench set @ 8NM - just to avoid damage - I take the mast off almost every session & as a matter of course, check tightness each session. If you want it to stay tight & don't disassemble, you could possibly use threadlock - but not sure how this reacts with salt water.

[gmb13]

This has been a minor problem for years
All moses masts all current fuses, (but unknown if race fuse and havock mast is the same)
I was driven mad by this annoying loose front bolt mystery,
and can tell you there was nothing I did not try, even adding grub screws through the side of the the fuse to clamp up the neck of the front securing bolt, all manner of washers, screw lock blue and red, no grease, arghhhh!
solution was more than easy, and has worked faultlessly since

board upside down mast attached
wingset fully assembled separately
ensure connection points are spotless
place wingset in place and listen for that clean sound of a good connection, no gritty crunchy sounds of trapped sand.
check washers are in place and screw up evenly, ideally use a high quality T handle allen head driver like this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Teng-Tools-T ... 0048076962
tighten to a good pressure only using 3 fingers on the bar,
the next step need to be done with either the wing covers left on or use a dry clean cloth in both hands to prevent transferring skin oil or sun tan oils to the wing surfaces.
grab both wings firmly and rock your weight back and forth over the wing set a few times,
you will then find that when you try and retighten the mast screws using the exact same force as before they will both tighten up just slightly more,
very satisfying,as its this simple routine that keeps the little buggers good and tight, 100% of my sessions

This is the way. You can also whack the fuselage with a hard rubber mallet. Or Ride for a couple of minutes and retighten once. then they will stay put. Basically its the head of the mast settling into the fuselage when under use.



--
Gunnar