Return to Hobie.com
Hobie Forums
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:13 am

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:15 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:00 am
Posts: 5
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 9:09 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:32 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:21 pm
Posts: 192
Location: Chilliwack, BC
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...

_________________
Paul Evenden
NRO, RMMCC, CJ
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:19 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:00 am
Posts: 5
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:08 pm 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Tie a knot in the traveler line to limit the travel short of the track opening on the starboard end.

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:24 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:00 am
Posts: 5
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 2:20 pm 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Slugs pulling out would be odd...

Drawing calls out .625 inch opening. (1.5875 cm?)

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:02 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:00 am
Posts: 5
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?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 3:44 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 10:25 am
Posts: 4176
Location: Jersey Shore
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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:12 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2013 2:00 am
Posts: 5
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.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:39 am 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
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.

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:17 am 
Offline
Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:40 am
Posts: 463
Location: Metuchen NJ
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.

_________________
Chris
'88 H18SE Arís


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:18 am 
Offline
Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
He would have to weld a bead all along the length of the track as the car is pulling out at various locations.

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


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:48 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Admiral

Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:36 pm
Posts: 216
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

_________________
Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 7:50 pm 
Offline
Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:51 pm
Posts: 3
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


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Jump to:  
© Hobie Cat Company. All rights reserved.
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group