Hobie Cat Forums

Hobie 18 Main Traveler Car - Bearings Ball/Cylinder sets

There is a necessary change to the Hobie 18 main traveler car due to a tooling problem. We had been back ordering cars and ball/cylinder sets for some time now. We can no longer get the injection molded bearing parts (the last batch was over sized).

The solution is a new dimension for the cylinders. The sliding action of the car is now quite satisfactory. Traveler bearing "balls" are no longer available. There are now two cylinders in every set. We will be machine fabricating only cylinders from now on.

We have shipped all back orders for bearing sets and are now shipping cars. The cars now come with a loose cotter key which allows removal of the bearings.

Installation: Remove the bearings, slide them into the track and then place the car onto the bearing pins. Then install the cotter key. (Users have the option of enlarging the cut away access point in the track as well).

A side benefit of this solution is that this will prohibit the car from falling out of the track.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Matt,

Is this something that is ultimately going fail and needs to be replaced now?

Tom Hundley

No, traveler car bearings rarely fail. They may wear over time. I don't recall one just cracking or failing though. A number of cars are sold as replacements as the car can wiggle out of the track when trailering if left over on the starboard side.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

Shucks' I liked the balls. Can you tell us what material they were made of? ABS Delrin, UHM, ??

I may see if I can figure a way to turn them on a lathe from rod. (Work, Infinate resources for prototypes)

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DVL 1989 H-18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

I would guess Delrin, but the latest ones seemed like glass filled nylon. I will have to check with purchasing

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA

DVL,

If you have a CNC or Prototrac lathe it will be easy.

Maybe a shaped bit that will cut a hemi-shpere at a time will work.

I would suggest Delrin for the material. Very good abrasion resistance, machineable, and strong.

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Nick

Current Boat
'74 Pearson 30
Previous boats owned
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

Yes that's what I was going to do. Cut a HSS tool bit on a Wire burn EDM machine to properly shape the tool bit.
Drill & C'Bore the rod material for the pin. Cut the material with the shaped tool bit until it is cut off the end of the rod. Repeat until you run out of rod. For a small volume you could use any engine lathe. For higher production a CNC or screw machine.

Background, Tool & Die & Mfg Engineer, Processes

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DVL 1989 H-18 Worlds Boat, Magnum Wings & Spinnaker

dale.vanlopik"at"att"dot"net

Anybody know where I can get the replacement bearings Matt mentioned? Mine have worn down enough that the car is taking some unproductive joyrides outside the track.

Thanks,

Alex

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-Potts

Bearing are available through Hobie dealers.

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Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Hobie Cat USA