That makes the difference from normal to stiff furling 

I have already dismantled completely and clean everything and applied new grease 

But the grease I used (Fomblin) made it stick initially from turning 

So today I pulled the trigger 

First I drilled a hole 4,3mm in diameter 48mm up from bottom of the drum

Then I treaded it to M5

I use grease on the drill and when I made the treaded hole 

This prohibiting aluminium from entering into the drum 

Remember its a bearing at the bottom so you can’t drill lower 

Then I used a break clean spray can 

By tapeing the end of the straw of the spray can that helps build pressure inside to have the sealing pop out without damage them

(Look underneath in the first photo and you see the black seal hanging out at a angle)

Remember its full with dirty grease so I used plastic wrap around to not get any grease on the boat

Repeat same process at the other seal by holding the fist one in place while pressuring it from the spray can 

(Both my seal went out easily but if they are stuck some penetrating oil at the edge between aluminium and the outside of the seal helps)

This is a job that needs a extra hands 

A lot of cleaning and I let it dry out 

Then apply dry grease and reseal those sealing top and bottom 

Put a short M5 and washer to seal the hole 

This time it’s not sticky to begin turning 

Interesting approach!

What do you mean when you say ” to have sealing pop out without damage them “ ?

The rubber rings pop out?

And you put them back when you say “ reseal them top and bottom” ?

Regards,

Peter

At first I hold the bottom one in place so the top pop out

Then I push it back only a little and hold that position 

When applying pressure the bottom creep out

Then flush the brake cleaner out first att the top

Inside is a delrin bushing that keeps it in centre 

The grease made that stick to the outside of the drum

You can clearly feel when it’s free from the old grease 

Under that seal sit a c clip that are probably rusted 

I found that only remove what you can by a small screwdriver and then put a thin layer of grease over it is enough 

Then I clean the bottom bearing by putting the top seal back 

And giving it a little pressure 

It’s getting a lot easier once they loses for the first time 

Hope this clarifies 

This can be done without removing anything from the boat

But it’s still better to get it done if the mast is down 

The top seal you can get upp the forstay to get room onto the c-clip but the one in the bottom only slides down precisely to let the grease out 

This is definitely worth as the drum is so expensive and not as light turning from factory as it get this way 

I guess it will get a new coat of dry grease every second year 

This I can follow up over time