Masthead sheaves

[John Gardner]

On a recent visit to the top of the mast to drop a runner to feed in a new jib halyard, I noticed that the two sheaves on the forward side of the mast were seized or nearly so.  I couldn't be sure of the material - plastic or aluminum.  After a bad experience once before when I greased a plastic spacer in a winch, that then swelled and became hard to turn, I am very cautious now about what I lubricate and how, so I didn't yet apply any oil to the sheaves.  Can anyone tell me what is the material of these two sheaves?

John Gardner

[Stu Jackson]

John, most likely plastic with bushings.  Catalina Direct (obvious website name, no space) has replacement sheaves, as does, I think, Garhauer, plus CY.

[Ron Hill]

John : The mast head sheaves are plastic with an Al bushung. 
I wrote a Mainsheet article about 10 years back about removing the mast, the mast head and replacing those old sheaves with ball bearing sheaves from Garhauer marine.  A thought

[John Gardner]

Thank you.  John