Harken C14526 Operating manual

Please read these instructions carefully before installing, servicing, or operating the equipment.
This manual may be modified without notice. See: www.harken.com/manuals for updated versions.
PLEASE SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
LOCKING CAR AND TRACK SYSTEM
Switch Battcar 32 mm
Installation and Use Guidelines – Intended for specialized personnel or expert users
5271 03-19
Locking car
C13807 shown
WARNING! Strictly follow all instructions to avoid potential
hazards that may kill or hurt you and others. See www.harken.com/
manuals for general warnings and instructions.
Lock track C14526 shown
Headboard plate - C9250 Shown
IMPORTANT! Use only Harken
approved headboard plate.

2 Locking Headboard Assembly
Master pawlSlave pawlSlave pawl
Wider pocket
General description - Locking mechanism - Locking headboard system consists of locking car, lock track and
headboard plate. The car has multiple pawls that lock into pockets in the lock track. Return springs keep the pawls
retracted into the car for hoisting and lowering. Once the sail is hoisted to the correct height, pulling the trip line
moves the control link, leveraging the pawls' control arms simultaneously engaging the pawls into the lock track
pockets. Easing the halyard seats the pawls and the halyard and trip line can completely ease. Halyard should be
eased when car is locked.
The master pawl and corresponding pocket are wider than the slave pawls. Because all pawls are connected by the
control link they cannot engage into the sockets until the master pawl engages in the wider pocket.
The weight of the sail keeps the pawls engaged, so trip line and halyard can ease. When the halyard is tensioned
the return springs push on the pawl triggers to retract the pawl into the car.
Return springs
Slave pawl Slave pawl Master pawl
Control link
Pockets in lock track
Trip line
Control arm
Underside of car
Lock track
How it works
Top of mast

Locking Headboard Assembly 3
General description - Locking mechanism continued - The trip line connects to plungers that compress springs
when the trip line is pulled. The energized springs operate the control link. Once the sail is hoisted so the pawls
are just above the pockets, the locking procedure starts. When pulling the trip line and lowering the sail, the
energized control link levers the pawls to find the pockets. Continuing to lower the car engages the pockets.
Installation, Proximity sensor The locking
car has provisions in the slider bearings for
a magnet so that proximity sensors can be
used at full hoist and at the locking car reef
locations. Any of the slider bearings can
house the magnet allowing for flexibility of the
sensor mount location. A light press-fit holds
the magnet in place. Use a block of wood
and mallet to tap the magnet in place. In use,
a light indicates that the sail height is in the
correct position with locking car pawls raised
higher than the lock track pockets. Pulling
the trip line while the car is lowered energizes
the pawls to engage into the locked position.
Alternatively use marks on the halyard.
Note: The sensor magnet is supplied by
Harken. The proximity sensor is not supplied.
Compression springs relaxedPlunger
Trip line relaxed
Trip line tensioned
Compression springs energized
Trip line bridle
Slider
bearings
Magnet
(Body shown translucent for clarity)
(Body shown translucent for clarity)
Installation - Track mounting guidelines.
Mount lock tracks at locking car locations at full hoist and at each reef. Use all fastener holes.
How it works / Installation guidelines

4 Locking Headboard Assembly
Installation - Trip line
1. Trip line runs in sleeve in the sail luff. Choose Dyneema®uncovered 12 strand core for the trip line so that is
slides easily in the sleeve.
2. In the lower portion, just above the reef tack fittings, provide 1 to 1 1/2 m (3' to 5') gaps in the sleeve for access
to the trip line. A leader line can splice to the trip line and exit out the sleeve gaps just above each reef tack location.
This allows the tensioning above the reefed sail folds.
3. Secure the top end to the headboard car trip line bridle. Use a shock cord between the spectra line and the
headboard plate to reduce unintended tensioning of the trip line. Test to make sure the trip line can overcome the
shock cord to engage the pawls.
Leader line
Gap in sleeve
Leader line
Trip line in sleeve
Shock cord
Installation guidelines
Dyneema is a registered trademark of DSM IP Assets B.V. L.L.C

Locking Headboard Assembly 5
Using the system
Headboard plate pivot pin lock - The pivot pin locks to the car using two retractable spring plungers. Use a
small strap, zip tie or line to get under and lift the arm. Rotate the arm to lock it out. The pivot pin can then be
removed.
Locking car at lock tracks - Position sail at correct position so the pawls in the locking car are raised higher
than the pockets in the lock track. The proximity sensor and/or the mark on the halyard should be set to
indicate the proper correct position.
Pull trip line and ease halyard a small amount so the master pawl engages in the master pocket. Maximum
load on the trip line should be no more than 10 kg. IMPORTANT! - Verify that pawls are engaged!
Release the trip line and carefully ease the halyard making sure the system is correctly locked.
Reduce the load on the halyard and put in about 300 mm (12") of slack in the halyard. IMPORTANT! -
Providing slack to the halyard is important so the trip line is not accidentally tensioned. Damage to the
system can result, making it difficult to lower the sail.
The purpose of the slack is to compensate for tension on the halyard caused when the mast straightens when
sailing downwind especially on masts with a lot of prebend. This can raise the car a small amount and partially
disengage the pawls. Going through waves can further tension the halyard as the mast swings around a bit. If
the halyard tensions, the control link and pawl arms can deform causing the pawl to stick out a bit making it
difficult to release and lower the sail.
Locking car out of lock tracks - Tension the halyard slightly and hoist a small amount. The pawls flip out of
the pocket and into the car. Ease the halyard slightly to check.
Note: There is a spring
plunger on each side
Pivot pin
Use

6 Locking Headboard Assembly
C13807 Locking Car - Replaceable components Part # Qty
1 Plunger H-78344 2
2 Pivot pin H-78333 1
3 Trigger body fastener - M5X10 A4 SS FLAT SHCS HFS946 4
4 Retractable spring plunger HCP2148 2
5 Trigger body H-78338 1
6 Pawl pivot pin H-78334 3
7 Pawl return spring HCP2174 6
8 Slave pawl, narrow H-80661 2
9 Master pawl, wide H-80659 1
10 Compression spring HCP2146 1*
11 Trigger slide H-78342 1
12 Control link H-78341 1
13 Trip line 1.75mm Dyneema®HCP1438 1
14 Slider bearing, short H-78339 9
15 Slider bearing, long with cutouts for pawls H-78340 1
23
45
6
7
8
8
9
1
10
11
12
13
Parts List
14
15
Dyneema is a registered trademark of DSM IP Assets B.V. L.L.C
*Spring is 500 mm long and is cut to be two (2) 165 mm springs.

7 Locking Headboard Assembly
C14084 8T Locking Car - Replaceable components Part # Qty
1 Plunger H-78344 2
2 Pivot pin H-78964 1
3 Trigger body fastener - M5X10 A4 SS FLAT SHCS HFS946 4
4 Retractable spring plunger HCP2148 2
5 Trigger body H-78965 1
6 Pawl pivot pin H-78334 2
7 Pawl return spring HCP2174 4
8 Slave pawl, narrow H-80661 1
9 Master pawl, wide H-80659 1
10 Compression spring HCP2146 1*
11 Trigger slide H-78342 1
12 Control link H-78966 1
13 Trip line 1.75mm Dyneema®HCP1438 1
14 Slider bearing, short H-78339 6
15 Slider bearing, long with cutouts for pawls H-78963 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
10
11
12
13
Parts List
14
15
Dyneema is a registered trademark of DSM IP Assets B.V. L.L.C
*Spring is 500 mm long and is cut to be two (2) 125 mm springs.

Locking Headboard Assembly 8
Use 3 mm hex key to remove four screws
holding trigger body assembly in place.
Maintenance
Lift trigger body assembly.
Push pivot pin out of main body and remove
pawl from the underside. Remove master and
slave pawls.
Car flipped to show
underside. Remove pins
and pawls.
Be sure to retain pawl return springs.
Trigger body assembly
IMPORTANT! - All parts must be inspected,
cleaned and serviced regularly.
Servicing locking mechanism

Locking Headboard Assembly 9
After cleaning parts, put a small amount of
grease in the spring sockets. Lightly grease
entire pawl pivot pin.
Maintenance
Clean and inspect all trigger body assembly.
Be sure to inspect knots on end of trip line.
Replace trip line as necessary.
Lightly grease pawl arms.
Grease holds springs in
place.
Lightly grease pivot pins.
Inspect trip line
and knots.
Lightly grease
pawl arms.
To assemble trigger body assembly, pull on
trip line and place lower end on the car body.
Install four screws using a drop of blue
Loctite®.

Locking Headboard Assembly 10
Maintenance
Servicing slider mechanism
Occasionally the slider bearings on either end
of the car may need replacing. To remove a
slider, use a large zip tie or similar plastic item
to pry the slide away so it can slip off the car
end. Slider bearings have a raised boss that
mates with the recess in the car. See image
below.
Raised boss
Servicing bushings in headboard plate. IMPORTANT! Use only Harken approved headboard plate.
Bushings in headboard plate must be inspected and in good working condition. Replace if there is any visible
wear.
Headboard
Plate Used with Bushing Part # Qty
C9250 C13807 HCP1804 14
C10622 C14084 HCP1804 12
Delrin is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates.