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I found the perfect spot for the first Windex on my MacGregor 26x: at the top of the mast the pulley for the main halyard has two bolts that are the perfect distance apart to mount the Windex’s base. I was able to “break” the bolt from the nut; unfortunately, the nut started spinning as I twisted the bolt’s head. The nuts are in a channel through which the mainsail’s boltrope is threaded, and the opening is too narrow to get a box wrench or needlenose inserted to hold the nut. My thin bike wrenches with many sizes per wrench don’t have the right size on the outside to hold the nuts either. Suggestions?
P.s. I did search the board on “Windex installation” and found nothing that would help me.

A picture would help (nm - took my own ), but if you grind the heads off the screws, you can replace them.

Looking at mine, which is hanging off the garage ceiling, it would seem a thin wrench should be able to fit right in there through the bolt rope slot. Or am I missing something.

Nice picture! I must have 2 dozen wrenches and 4 needlenose pliers and none are thin enough to get through there to hold the nut. I'll go to Home Depot and/or Lowe's, but I couldn't find anything online when I searched "wrench" and looked what they had. I've had furniture that I had to assemble and sometimes they'll come with a single thin wrench, but I can't find any of those right now.

Look for 'ignition wrenches'. They're thin, with either open end and box combo, or two open ends, with one at around 90 degrees to the handle.

Those nuts are going to be standard (Imperial system) for #10 or 1/4" screws (3/8" and 7/16", if memory serves).

And pay no attention to the rusty carbon steel fasteners on that mast. I've been chasing and replacing such hardware since I got the boat.

So what are you going to use to raise your halyard? Or does the block go back on along with the windex hardware?

And I agreewith Tom... ignition wrenches should get in there with no problem.

And pay no attention to the rusty carbon steel fasteners on that mast. I've been chasing and replacing such hardware since I got the boat.

Tom
I've been doing the same thing.... inside the cabin... on deck.... the boom... what were they thinking???

What makes it really aggravating is that those into the white deck leave nasty rust stains. Bar Keeper's Friend does a pretty good job (has oxalic acid), but still - what was he thinking?

This is typical of what we ran into as support equipment engineers on the F-16 fighter. Our common solution was to purchase a standard wrench and grind it down (or bend it, or cut it, whatever is needed). So, buy a cheap wrench if you do not already have one and grind it down with a grinding wheel, a belt sander, whatever you have to use.

Re: Paul's: So what are you going to use to raise your halyard? Or does the block go back on along with the windex hardware?
I'll just get longer bolts and put the block (thank you for the proper nautical term!) right next to the mast, as the block has to withstand lots of force pulling down as the mainsail is being raised up. That way the lever arm will be as short as possible, as it is originally. The Windex base will go outside of that, as it must withstand trivial amounts of force.
For the ignition wrench suggestion, Autozone & Advance Auto Parts didn't have anything on line, Harbor Freight had these but they are too big:
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools ... 93667.html
These may be the ticket:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-10-pc-st ... 942319000P
Maybe these would work?
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/access ... rget=shelf

The other option for mounting the Windex is to drill and tap holes for a #10 machine screw on the other side of the mast.
That worked for me. Use a little loc-Tite to secure the screws.
BTW, those small ignition wrenches work well for getting at those nuts.

Tomfoolery wrote:

I didn't notice the rusted fasteners, however I did notice all that coax and tape. I'm glad to see an antenna up there where it belongs, however that connection looks sketchy.

Ted
I'm not sure what mind of windex you have. This one?
http://www.amazon.com/Davis-Instruments ... B001448IQ4

If so, why not just drill new holes on the other side of the mast.

Mine is mounted on an extension that offsets it aft of the antenna stuffs.

--Russ

Ha. This thread just reminded me why I have a cheap wrench with the sides ground flat. I couldnt remember for the life of me why I ground that thing down. I did it to get to the nuts inside the channel.

Tom,
what is the purpose of the bolt with large fender washer mounted on your chicken head?

paul I wrote:what is the purpose of the bolt with large fender washer mounted on your chicken head?

Funny you should ask - that's my Windex mount; one of two bolts.

Russ, that's the Windex!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00144 ... UTF8&psc=1
Last night I was looking through the tools I inherited from a childless uncle this spring. I found a set of ignition wrenches AND a needlenose pliers narrow enough to hold the nuts inside the channel! He built organs, spoke 5 languages, tore apart and reassembled cars (back in the 50's when they were far simpler), etc. So, he gave me one last gift that helped me out of a jamb. I'll think of him as I look up at the sky at the Windex, and smile as I know he's looking down on me from heaven.