Mast Hinge Pin

[eze2bme]

OK ... know this is kinda trivial, but, the hinge pin on my mast keeps trying to work its way out of the hinge halves. I haven't caught it all the way out so far ... does anyone have an answer to keeping it in place? I was thinking about removing the top hinge and having a threaded hole put in it so I could run a ss set screw in tight to the pin ... but threading this thick piece of stainless won't be easy! I hardly ever lower the mast ... in fact only once in two years ... and that was to change the steaming light bulb. Would a little silicone smeared on the pin hold it in after the silicone dries?? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks guys ... hope that all have a great 4th holiday!

 

[MikeP]

These occur to me and are in the order of my preference:

Pull the pin out about 1/2 inch, put some Loctite stud-locker on that portion of the pin. Tap it back in place

Get a longer pin, drill a hole through it near each end and put a washer/cotterpin on each side.

Drill a hole through the hinge somewhere and into the pin. Insert a tapered pin in the hole.

Drill a hole completely through the hinge and pin. Safety wire through the hole or use a small bolt/self-locking nut.

Using 5200, glue some sort of small "obstruction" onto the deck on either side of the pin so it can't slide out.

 

[jim rosenthal]

What size is the pin? They are available from Fastpin with a little spring-loaded bump on the end that keeps it from pulling out? I may have some info on a source for this if you post the pin dimensions, I had this problem a few years back with something else.