Harken furler

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Don Crowther

Don Crowther

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Sep 4, 2007
776
Hunter 33.5 Elbow, Saskatchwen, Can.
Good Day

After talking to my sailmaker he suggests replacing the bearings in my swivel on my furler. He feels that an ounce of prevention etc....
Has anyone done this before?
Now the furler is probably 25 years old and looks in good shape. Never had an issue with it.

If I do change the bearings is it a difficult job? One that can be done with the mast up and by one person?
Thanks
 
Rick I

Rick I

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Jan 6, 2007
414
CS36Merlin and Beneteau 393 - Toronto
Got a Harken, 23 years old. Works fine. No problem with the swivel. What's the ounce of prevention? The bearings are Torlon, just a fresh water clean should do it.
 
Don Crowther

Don Crowther

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Sep 4, 2007
776
Hunter 33.5 Elbow, Saskatchwen, Can.
Rick
He thinks I should change the ball bearing out before the swivel jams with the sail out. He says that balls wear down then the two halves of the swivel grind on each other until the sail can't be rolled up. I've had a look at mine and there seems to lots of room.
I was just wondering if anyone else had done this. I'm not planning on changing. I'm from the school if it's not broke........
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,196
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Don Crowther said:
Rick
He thinks I should change the ball bearing out before the swivel jams with the sail out. He says that balls wear down then the two halves of the swivel grind on each other until the sail can't be rolled up. I've had a look at mine and there seems to lots of room.
I was just wondering if anyone else had done this. I'm not planning on changing. I'm from the school if it's not broke........
Click to expand
I believe Harken makes a tool to make changing out the torlon bearings easier. I'd check their website or call customer service for maintenance advice on your particular model. I would imagine the site would have an owner's manual also.
 
SamLust

SamLust

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Jan 2, 2008
547
Hunter 33 (Cherubini design Forked River, Barnegat Bay, NJ
I don't think Torlon wears so much as flat spots. Plastic does however age and tends to get brittle. That might be what the rigger is concerned with. The balls are about a buck each. Maybe less if you can make the girl at Harken laugh.

I con not imagine a special tool to "re-ball" the furler. You disassemble, clean and line up the balls just like you would have on the hub of a bicycle wheel if you have ever had the misfortone to need to do that.

My trick is to use KY jelly to hold the balls in place till the piece is back together. Then you just rinse it out with water.

Note: Those Torlon balls make a cute "bloop" sound as they drop into the water, and they do not float.
 
Don Crowther

Don Crowther

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Sep 4, 2007
776
Hunter 33.5 Elbow, Saskatchwen, Can.
I think I'll just keep an eye on the swivel. I'll give it a good cleaning in the spring and check it again in the fall when I take down the sails.
thanks again everyone
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,196
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Joe said:
I believe Harken makes a tool to make changing out the torlon bearings easier. I'd check their website or call customer service for maintenance advice on your particular model. I would imagine the site would have an owner's manual also.
Click to expand
Well, I couldn't find the "tool"... I think I was remembering the piece of dummy railing that comes with the traveller car, or the jib cars. You need it to install or remove the cars without spilling the bearings.... damn, it sucks to grow old.
 
higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,710
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
I have never heard of anyone having to replace the bearings on any furler, though I have no doubt it has been needed. My Harken furlers are 25 years old and seem to run quite smooth. I would think that these bearings would not just suddenly wear out, but would give you some warning they are starting to wear.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Joe, thanks for reminding me...:doh:

For Don, the OP: a quick look at the Harken website (Googled Harken, looked around) and found this: http://www.harken.com/pdf/Furling_QuickService_online.pdf

Reason I did so is that I have a ProFurl unit and was interested in finding out what another furler manufacturer recommends for their service. Mine requires none, but that's why I bought it.

When in doubt: RTFM. :D:D:D

Thing is, the manuals are soooooo easy to find on the internet-tubie-webbie-thingie.
 
K

knothead

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Oct 31, 2009
41
Islander 28 Blaine, Wa.
I can't remember what idiotic thought led me to open up the bearing but I can confirm that Torlon doesn't float. That said, it was very easy to buy a bag of bearings of the correct size (see Harken website for a parts list) from West Marine and put it all back together. This time I spread a drop cloth underneath the work area even though I had extra bearings. KY works fine to stick things in place but if you prefer a little spice in your life you can get some flavored stuff from a store that features a lot of pink in its logo.

No special tools necessary and done with the furler in place around the forestay in about 10 minutes. You kind of cock the unit open and slide the balls in one at a time. (Somehow that doesn't sound quite right) The old ones that I could find were still pretty pristine after 15 years of use as were the bearing races. This may be different if you sail in an area with lots of sand or industrial grunge in the air. Blowing the unit out occasionally with one of those cans of compressed something for cleaning computer keyboards and the like keeps dust, grit, and dried salt at bay. Visually checking the clearance and turning by hand to test for binding or roughness is a good idea but these units seem pretty bombproof.
 
Rick I

Rick I

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Jan 6, 2007
414
CS36Merlin and Beneteau 393 - Toronto
Stu Jackson said:
Reason I did so is that I have a ProFurl unit and was interested in finding out what another furler manufacturer recommends for their service. Mine requires none, but that's why I bought it.

.
Click to expand
Profurls have sealed bearings but they do go once in a while. You'll know it when it goes.
 
K

knothead

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Oct 31, 2009
41
Islander 28 Blaine, Wa.
I can't remember what idiotic thought led me to open up the bearing but I can confirm that Torlon doesn't float. That said, it was very easy to buy a bag of bearings of the correct size (see Harken website for a parts list) from West Marine and put it all back together. This time I spread a drop cloth underneath the work area even though I had extra bearings. KY works fine to stick things in place but if you prefer a little spice in your life you can get some flavored stuff from a store that features a lot of pink in its logo.

No special tools necessary and done with the unit in place around the forestay in about 10 minutes. The old ones that I could find were still pretty pristine after 15 years of use as were the races. This may be different if you sail in an area with lots of sand in the air. Blowing the unit out occasionally with one of those cans of compressed something for cleaning computer keyboards and the like keeps dust, grit, and dried salt at bay.
 
K

knothead

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Oct 31, 2009
41
Islander 28 Blaine, Wa.
Dang. My apologies for double posting. Senility manifests itself again. But then, if you're going to say something dumb, you might as well say it twice because people have no higher expectation of you.
 
B

bffatcat

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Jun 8, 2004
853
Pearson 26W Marblehead
Bearings

I had a pearson 10M with a Hyde furler in the 70`s The furler was binding up and the bearings had to be replaced
 
Don Crowther

Don Crowther

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Sep 4, 2007
776
Hunter 33.5 Elbow, Saskatchwen, Can.
Thanks Steve

Lots of good information there. I also have a mark 1 and found the web-site with the limited parts list. My next move will be to call them. |The boat's on the hard with the stick up. RTFM????
thanks again
 
bustedrudder

bustedrudder

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May 9, 2011
70
Hunter 1994 40.5 Ponce Inlet FL
Mine is a hood furler and i had to remove to replace the centering bushing.. While apart examined the delrin ball bearings. The top races were a bit abused by the sun. They are prohibitively expensive as i intend to upgrade in a year or two.
Found them on Amazon 100 for 8$. My gear uses 92.

search under industrial and scientific

"Acetal Ball, Grade I, 3/8" Diameter (Pack of 100)"

Acetal is what the tradename Delrin is. The bag came labeled Delrin.

A very cheap alternative....
 
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