Servicing stupidity, track thingy.

[Vara]

If you have one of these and its a bit sticky;

Do not whip of the end stop and remove from track or you will be rewarded by the sight and sound of lots of little white ball bearings cascading over decks.

The correct way to service is to rinse with fresh water in situ. Not nearly as much fun though.

 

[fireball]

It's ok - we have _proper_ reefing ...



(plenty of them on the mast cars though!)

 

[BlueSkyNick]

What you need is a short piece of spare track, eg about 9 inches, which you abut to the end of the track and slide the car onto that. Tape up the ends so it cannot come off again accidentally. Then you can do whatever you wish with either the track or the car without losing your balls. Or at least if you do, it is easier to put them back in.

 

[snowleopard]

I have a couple of tracks and they came with short lengths of spare track. I think they supply the cars separately on the little bits of track. Maybe the builder didn't pass them on to you.

 

[Vara]

I have a couple of tracks and they came with short lengths of spare track. I think they supply the cars separately on the little bits of track. Maybe the builder didn't pass them on to you.

I wondered what the short bit of track was for.

It's in my "bits of uncertain utility found in the bottom of lockers" box which contains all sorts of mysterys. ?

Wise after the event applies here I think.

 

[clyst]

If you have one of these and its a bit sticky;

Do not whip of the end stop and remove from track or you will be rewarded by the sight and sound of lots of little white ball bearings cascading over decks.

The correct way to service is to rinse with fresh water in situ. Not nearly as much fun though.

Been there !! not only is it a pain to put it all back together again those little balls cost a bomb!! BTW when reassembling dont use grease etc to temp hold balls advice from rigger was use shaving foam . Works a treat .

 

[Martin_J]

The Lewmar site has Delrin balls at about £6.00 per 100...

They bounce well don't they!

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=7647&lid=0

 

[Norman_E]

I have a thing like that working in the slot on top of the boom to hold the outhaul of a loose footed mainsail. I don't think it is just in-mast reefed boats that use them. The one on the traveller works on an external track and I did loose the balls out of that, but managed to recover them all and get them back in.