New never sailed Mast step bearing cracked

Hi I installed a new mast step assembly on my H18 recently...I have stepped the mast a couple of times for testing, the boat is still on trailer from winter...
Today with the mast lowered I pulled out the screwdriver (I use as a mast step pin) and the screw that holds the bearing in place was very loose..say 4-5 turns out from flush as I had left it...
And the new (never sailed bearing) has a crack down one side...
Any ideas? why this could be and how to avoid it happening again?

I did lubricate the bearing and teflon chip...with teflon lubricant...

We saw some fail a few years ago on the shelf. Seemed to be related to a machining oil. Do you know is the assembly was gotten from us recently or from a dealers stock?

In any case, we will replace the bearing (call your dealer). Wash the stainless well before installing the new one.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Thanks for your help in both posts Matt
As i say i got it from mariner sails about a month ago..
strangely enough I purchased a complete mast step assy...from them about 3 months ago and the bearing on that had a similar piece cracked off...when I got it out the box...dont know how that could of happened as it was well wrapped for shipping.
Maybee the preasure or temperature changes on the flight over caused it?

There must be some defect in them...they kind of explode and crack in places...even when they have not been stressed in any way...

They are made of some black plastic that does not look very resistant considerig the weight the bearing must have on it...

Is there not a version of them made with white more durable teflon? like the spacers used in the rudder stiffening kit? The one installed when I purchased the boat was very warn down but it was made of the white teflon and it had no cracks

Matt ,I would pay you the shipping over to Spain if you could throw a couple of them in a envelope for me...

I would like to leave clear that this if not fault of the guys at mariner sails they have been of great help to me! and I will be dealing with them as soon as I need more parts

Thanks

There is nothing wrong with the bearings. I feel pretty confident that it was a reaction to the machining oils left on the stainless. Seen it before. They cracked right on the shelf here at Hobie Cat.

Unfortunatly, I cannot ship product to Europe. Please contact Mariner for replacements.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

Here it is...It looks like the philips screw is getting excesively tightened maybe due to the rotation of the mast... and this is making the brearing crack...

It was much tighter than when I installed it
What do you think?



here´s the mast base casting

The screw should bottom out before it places any friction load on the bearing. The post should be up through the step casting enough that there is clearance. Seeing the image though... does the post pass thorugh the stainless reinforcement (non-Hobie) under the casting?

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

The stainless steel reinforcement and the white teflon chip under the bearing causes it to be 3 or 4 milimetres too high therefore leaving the post lower...
Then the philips screw auto tightens with mast rotation and boomm! the bearing cracks under the preasure

I´ll remove the chip and the post is about 1mm sunk under the bearing level...

What you think Matt? will this do the trick?

Try and get a longer screw, this should do the trick.

Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com <---online store coming soon!!!!
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
[email protected]
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL

Ahhh... With the mast chip under the bearing...

Add a couple small diameter washers, a longer screw that will bottom out, fill the inside of the screw hole or use lock tight.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)