Prism 4D repair help

[Ed Ang]

Need to replace a leading edge ferrule i broke in half. One end of the ferrule seems to be glued... Will I damage the spar using a heat gun? Prism 4D LE spars are out of stock everywhere I looked. Thanks for any helpful hints.

(Sorry for crap pic)

[Tim P.]

Had the exact same thing happen to me a couple of years ago. Ferrule broke but the spars were fine. I used a heat gun to loosen the glue from the ferrule and spar then used a pair of pliers to pull the ferrule off. Replaced the aluminum ferrule with rolled steel pins of the proper size found at the local hardware store, using the spar as a guide for size.

Good luck!

[Ed Ang]

Thanks Tim.  I'll go with a heat gun. I didn't want to melt the spar or make it worse. (Spars are hard to find). I prob turn a new farrule on my lathe out of zinc rod or alum if my shop has some. 

The steel roll pin was a good idea bud.☺

[John Barresi]

Do take some measure of care with the heat, the carbon in the spars is fused with a resin that can also soften and torque.

Work a bit at a time, feel your way in.