Replacing balls in Ronston Mast cars

[Sailfree]

I need to replace the balls in the Ronstan mast cars on my fully battened main.

Has anyone done this.

Is it a case of removing the cars from the mast or can they be left in the track and just the outer part removed.

 

[Sailfree]

Bump

Surely someone has replaced these balls or can anyone point me towards some source of knowledge.

If I google them I just get suppliers of balls or the harken equivalent.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I would suggest emailing them at the Oz address on their website ronstan.com. From my experience with changing balls in bike pedals and the like, I would think that you're most unlikely to be able to do it in situ without losing some of the balls unless the balls are in a carrier if some sort. I've always used grease to hold them in place when re assembling.

 

[Sailfree]

I would suggest emailing them at the Oz address on their website ronstan.com. From my experience with changing balls in bike pedals and the like, I would think that you're most unlikely to be able to do it in situ without losing some of the balls unless the balls are in a carrier if some sort. I've always used grease to hold them in place when re assembling.

Thanks have e mailed them. I was hesitating as sailmaker fitted fully battened system and I don't know the exact part numbers.

I don't think these Acetal balls are greased.

Boat has been on charter for 7 yrs and I think these batten ball races should be hosed with clean water after each sail.

Hence I suspect my problem is dirt/salt/wear resulting in jamming and flats on the balls.

 

[Vara]

For reassembly, shaving gel is handy to hold the balls, can then be washed out.
Tip gleaned from the forum in the past, and it works a treat.

 

[ghostlymoron]

For reassembly, shaving gel is handy to hold the balls, can then be washed out.

Tip gleaned from the forum in the past, and it works a treat.

That's a good idea.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I need to replace the balls in the Ronstan mast cars on my fully battened main.

Has anyone done this.

Is it a case of removing the cars from the mast or can they be left in the track and just the outer part removed.

I have done it. You remove the cars from the track onto a small spare bit of track. Take them home and do the next part on the floor as that's where half the balls will end up anyway. Undo the 2 machine screws at the top, remove the cap and take the balls out. Sort the worn ones from the good ones. Ring Ronstan UK. Using their website identify the cars you have. Ask them the price of the number of Torlon balls you need. Stand up having collapsed on the floor in shock. Reassemble the balls into the car using the short piece of track, pushing all the balls apart from 2 into the slots. Using shower gel as gloop put the remaining 2 balls into the cap and replace the cap and 2 machine screws. Make sure the screws are tight - a bit of mild thread lock helps - because if they come loose, even slightly, the balls will wear very quickly.

 

[Sailfree]

I have done it. You remove the cars from the track onto a small spare bit of track. Take them home and do the next part on the floor as that's where half the balls will end up anyway. Undo the 2 machine screws at the top, remove the cap and take the balls out. Sort the worn ones from the good ones. Ring Ronstan UK. Using their website identify the cars you have. Ask them the price of the number of Torlon balls you need. Stand up having collapsed on the floor in shock. Reassemble the balls into the car using the short piece of track, pushing all the balls apart from 2 into the slots. Using shower gel as gloop put the remaining 2 balls into the cap and replace the cap and 2 machine screws. Make sure the screws are tight - a bit of mild thread lock helps - because if they come loose, even slightly, the balls will wear very quickly.

Thanks

Took a guess on the ball size as 5/16" by comparing them with sample 1/4" & 5/16" and ordered 300 Torlon balls from a bearing shop. On 43' boat its sounds like a 1 day job as had difficulties with the mast gate when the sail was converted to fully battened.