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| Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=49549 |
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| Author: | jbmoz [ Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Hi All, I just purchased my first Hobie and am getting into sailing down here in Melbourne Australia. I bought a reconditioned Hobie 18 that is in pretty good shape. I'm learning here as I go and am not sure I am doing a everything correctly. For starters I am not sure of the age of my boat and therefore am not certain what upgrades the previous owners may have made. One issue I am having with the boat however is with the rear traveller car. It keeps coming loose and falling out of the tracks. Luckily it has never completely come out and I have been able to put it back in mid-sail. I noticed that the traveler has to slugs as opposed to a ball and slug. I can also pop the bearings back in just about anywhere on the track. So my questions are as follows: 1. Could I possibly have set up the traveller incorrectly and that is why it keeps coming out? (I can't find any decent illustrations or videos) The traveler also does not slide easily in the tracks 2. Is it possible that the bearings have worn down? or the track opened up? 3. Are there any after market upgrades for this? Thanks for your help. |
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| Author: | srm [ Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:09 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
It sounds like the slugs have worn out. It's highly unlikely that the track would have opend up. You can purchase replacement slugs through Hobie, however they don't make the balls anymore. After having one of the balls pop out of the track right after the start of one of the races at the 2012 NAC, I would never use the balls again (granted, that was the one and only time it's ever happend to me). I think the traveller works just as well if not better with two slugs anyway. If you're having trouble with it sliding, try shooting the track with silicone. You can also run along the track groove with some wet/dry sandpaper sprayed with WD-40 to smooth out any burrs in the track. sm |
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| Author: | musicman [ Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
I'm using 2 balls in the track and have for years without any issues.... but sounds like your slugs have just worn out and need replacing... |
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| Author: | jbmoz [ Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Hi All, I've since replaced the slugs with new ones and they came out, too. Spoke to the hobie dealer down here in Victoria and he has never heard of the track opening up. Any ideas? I'm pretty sure I've got everything rigged up correctly. Could there be something else on the traveller that could be failing? Has this happened to any of you out there? Cheers. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Tie a knot in the traveler line to limit the travel short of the track opening on the starboard end. |
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| Author: | jbmoz [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
mmiller wrote: Tie a knot in the traveler line to limit the travel short of the track opening on the starboard end. Thanks Matt. However the issue is that the traveller is coming out anywhere along the track, not just the opening. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Slugs pulling out would be odd... Drawing calls out .625 inch opening. (1.5875 cm?) |
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| Author: | jbmoz [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
I agree. That's what the local dealer told me. He has never heard of the track opening up. However, I can easily pull the slugs out in quite a bit of the rail with a bit of jiggling. I've also replaced the slugs. Could I be doing something wrong in.setting up the traveller or could something else on the traveler be causing this? |
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| Author: | srm [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
It doesn't sound like there's anything you're setting up wrong with the traveler. If you replaced the slugs with new ones and your traveler car is still popping out of the track, then the problem has to be with the crossbar/track. It's highly unlikely that the track would have bent open. My guess is that it was manufactured with a defect (some problem when the crossbar tube was extruded), or if the crossbar is really old and was sailed a lot, perhaps it just plain wore out. If I were you, I think I'd start looking for a replacement crossbar. The only other option I can think would be to have someone custom machine you some slugs that are a slightly larger diameter. sm |
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| Author: | jbmoz [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
srm wrote: It doesn't sound like there's anything you're setting up wrong with the traveler. If you replaced the slugs with new ones and your traveler car is still popping out of the track, then the problem has to be with the crossbar/track. It's highly unlikely that the track would have bent open. My guess is that it was manufactured with a defect (some problem when the crossbar tube was extruded), or if the crossbar is really old and was sailed a lot, perhaps it just plain wore out. If I were you, I think I'd start looking for a replacement crossbar. The only other option I can think would be to have someone custom machine you some slugs that are a slightly larger diameter. sm I think you're right and it is just worn out. I've ordered an after market track and traveler and am having it installed as a replacement now. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
The slugs were also reduced in diameter by a fraction a few years ago. The balls became unavailable and the slugs were pretty stiff, so this is a contributing factor. |
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| Author: | OlderBowman [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Rather than replacing a crossbar if it's structurally sound. Why not add a stop at the opening? Drill a small hole in the crossbar track, use an old slug drilled to accept a stainless machine screw and install using blue loctite on the threads so the aluminum and stainless don't corrode together. |
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| Author: | mmiller [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
He would have to weld a bead all along the length of the track as the car is pulling out at various locations. |
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| Author: | moncasta [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
One thought on failure... One of my boats came with very worn bearings in the traveler, so the traveler car was grinding against the track... if this was left unchecked, it could have shaved the lip off? Adding in the reduced size of the newer slugs, it sounds like it's new crossbar time. Tom |
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| Author: | jamieh [ Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hobie 18 Traveler Car Issues |
Re this point: ' stainless machine screw and install using blue loctite on the threads so the aluminum and stainless don't corrode together. Stainless Screws - http://www.anzor.com.au/stainless-steel-screws should have Loctitie 771 used to lubricate the threads to prevent Stainless Steel Galling: http://www.anzor.com.au/blog/the-gall-of-it-lubricating-threads however I don't think Loctite is the best insulation between Stainless and Aluminium to prevent Galvanic Corrosion: http://www.anzor.com.au/blog/galvanic-corrosion-keep-those-metals-apart but rather something like Tef-Gel:http://www.anzor.com.au/chemical-products/stainless-steel-lubricants-and-corrosion-inhibitors/tef-gel/product |
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