New kicker tang.

I've just got one and know how to fit it. It should take the strain but I'm
not convinced that it won't bend and slightly distort the immediate rear base
wall of the mast tube, given the position of the fixing holes relative to the
bend in the fitting and direction of pull from the kicker. Cost is about £5.
It is simply a heavy duty 7cm long stainless steel 'mechano' strip , pre-bent
about 30 degrees at one end with 4 holes, one in the bent end to take a
shackle and 3 in the flat bit to fix it to the mast plug.
This is how I've been told to fit it by Superspars ( I might have got it
wrong so do it at your own risk) :
Drill out the 3 rivets and take off the mast plug. Slip the strip, bent end
facing upward, into the inside face of the plug as you reinsert it in the
mast. This will show you just how much of a mast tube slot you have to file
away so that the strip sits in it without standing proud. Take it out again
and file mast tube end. Then take strip, place it in loose plug towards the
front and drill out the plug to match the 2 outer holes on the flat bit of
the strip (ensuring that you dont foul the plug mast step on the underside).
Do not use the existing drainhole in the plug.  Put 2 bolts through and
secure before re-inserting plug in mast and re-riveting. Note that the bent
tab should point upwards as it comes out the mast ( the appropriate surface
is painted to prevent electrolytic corrosion) and take care the shackle pin
is removed when re-riveting.   It is all, as car manuals used to say when you
got to the hard bit, self-explanatory!
Regards
Roger

Pic1 (75k)
Pic2 (80k)
Pic3 (140k)