[C320-list] Traveler woes

[Gene Gammon]

Here ball bearings have crumbled in your traveler pulleys.  If they are old white ball bearings of Delran after 15 or 20 years they’re crumbled some can be replaced carefully ,very carefully. I bought new black ball bearings that are used in Harken ,the same size ,from West Marine. The blocks with the enclosed ball bearings I had to buy new Main sheet and vang blocks . The new Garhaur blocks  now use black ball bearing.
Gene #351

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 13, 2020, at 9:15 AM, Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com> wrote:
> 
> The traveler on my boat gives me grief. If I allow even a little slack the lines jam. I’ve replaced the lines and tried different diameters with no improvement. Plus the bearings run rough and there is no good way to flush them out. The other day I was sailing with a reef and 20+ knots apparent and the damned thing jammed during a tack so that I could not ease the traveler below centerline. 
> 
> I’m wondering about a replacement or upgrade.  I vaguely recall a past discussion about Garhauer changing the design. I have no idea whether I have the new or old version. Does anyone have useful advice for taming this situation? How do I tell which one I have?
> 
> Scott Thompson
> Surprise #653, 1999
> 
>