Nicro Fico traveler parts...

dlochner · Feb 19, 2018

Try giving Garhauer a call. They might be able to modify one of their parts to fit your needs.

The Harken traveller tracks are very easy to install as the mounting bolts ride in a track and the old holes can be reused. Might be easier than you imagine, though not cheaper.

pateco · Feb 19, 2018

I also have a Nicro-Fico traveler, but I have a leak in my cabin top which is going to require me to remove and re-bed the entire bridge section above my companionway hatch. As part of that process I will need to remove my Traveler. I have been having issues with the traveler due to its age, and some modifications that were made by one of the previous owners.

I have the Nicro-Fico NF 599 X Track system

NF 599 Traveller Track is a Black hardcote anodized Aluminum X-Track that measures 7/8" (22mm) across the top, 1 1/8" (29mm) across the base and is 7/8" high. Track is drilled for #10 (3/16") FH screws on 4" (102mm) centers, and has 5/16" diameter stop holes on 1" centers. NF 599 X-Track is available in 3', 4', 5', and 6-foot lengths, and lengths up to 20 feet.

It uses an NF 584 Traveler Car

with NF 16259 Traveller controll ends

The two issues I have are

The previous owner moved the cam cleats from where they should have been attached to the control ends using the NF 16459A Control Plate Assembly View attachment 146499 and mounted them on the cabin top so that they would lead under the dodger he had added. This causes them to pop out of the cam on their own way too often. (see top picture)
The amount of force it takes to trim the traveler under sail. There is way too much friction

To solve the first issue, I can order the plates from Rig Right, or make my own replacements.

To reduce the effort of trimming the traveler, I am think of replacing the Delrin wheels on the car with sealed stainless roller bearings of the same size.

Sealed Bearing 1/4 x 11/16 x 5/16 inch Miniature Ball

The replacement wheel for NF 599/600 Traveler Cars is the NF 583W. It is a black Delrin wheel <11/16" diameter x <3/8" wide x 1/4"

Do you guys think Stainless bearings running on an anodized aluminum track will cause problems?

I may also try to find roller bearing sheaves for the control ends.

Barnacle Bill · Feb 19, 2018

Is this what you are looking for? I have the track, car and blocks as you see them.

pateco · Feb 19, 2018

Barnacle Bill said:
Is this what you are looking for? I have the track, car and blocks as you see them.

What do the end blocks look like?

Joe · Feb 19, 2018

dlochner said:
Try giving Garhauer a call. They might be able to modify one of their parts to fit your needs.

The Harken traveller tracks are very easy to install as the mounting bolts ride in a track and the old holes can be reused. Might be easier than you imagine, though not cheaper.

Harken track and their cars are proprietary.... will not work with other systems.

dlochner · Feb 20, 2018

Joe said:
Harken track and their cars are proprietary.... will not work with other systems.

Yes, the track and cars are proprietary, however, the mounting system Harken uses for the track will retrofit to any bolt pattern. If the OP has to replace the track and cars with another brand, Harken is one to consider as it is relatively easy to retrofit.

gettinthere · Feb 20, 2018

I upgraded my pin stop Nicro Fico traveller with the help of Garhauer. Now have 5:1 control lines. Easy and inexpensive.

Steve L22188 · Feb 21, 2018

Pick up the phone and call Guido at Garhauer. He's a genius at these kinds of things. Help me out several years ago - when I told him exactly what I had and wanted to upgrade, he knew exactly what to fix me up with .

And when one of the new pieces unexpectedly failed on the first sail - they sent a beefed up replacement in two days (at their cost) so I could sail the next weekend. Couldn't have asked for better service.

Good people. Good quality work. They stand behind their work. And their prices are reasonable.

Barnacle Bill · Feb 27, 2018

No blocks for the control lines and not sure if I have the rubber ends for the X-track. I'd have to look.

rardiH36 · Feb 28, 2018

I also have the exact same OEM traveler system on my 1980 Cherubini 36. A couple of observations:

1) Yes, age and wear-and-tear is a factor contributing to the reduced performance;

2) But, even when new I doubt it could even come close to competing with newer designs.

As background, I also was dissatisfied with the performance. By chance, several years ago at a local nautical flea market I encountered upon a brand new, never used car. (The seller only wanted $10 for it!). I installed and also modified the blocks at both the traveler and the end stops to achieve greater purchase than before. I now have 5:1 on both the port and starboard sides. (Photo attached.)

The result of the two mods: Still underwhelming. Takes tremendous effort to move the traveler upwind when the sheet is tight and the wind is stiff. ... If it can be done at all.

I think the main issue with the original design is that the rail and the car bearing is a compromise. Oriented at ~45 degrees. Up-pressure when the boom is sheeted tight and in a stiff breeze is too much to overcome the friction of the delron bushing.

Compare to newer designs that have ball bearings 100% vertically up against the rail.

pateco · Mar 12, 2018

rardiH36 said:
As background, I also was dissatisfied with the performance. By chance, several years ago at a local nautical flea market I encountered upon a brand new, never used car. (The seller only wanted $10 for it!). I installed and also modified the blocks at both the traveler and the end stops to achieve greater purchase than before. I now have 5:1 on both the port and starboard sides. (Photo attached.)

nat55 said:
Thanks for all your advice in this thread, I contacted Guido @ Garhauer, ordered the control cars, I got them last week and I am thrilled. Even more importantly Guido made me look like a genius in the admirals eyes! Main sail control will be a breeze this coming season....after we get those round head machine screws out of the center car that is. View attachment 147548

Rardi,
Do you remember what the part number was for the double blocks you added to the Car?

What do you guys think of replacing the delron car rollers with actual bearings?

All U Get · Mar 12, 2018

I have same traveler and need to replace the wheels.

All U Get

Richard19068 · Mar 12, 2018

nat55 said:
Thanks for all your advice in this thread, I contacted Guido @ Garhauer, ordered the control cars, I got them last week and I am thrilled. Even more importantly Guido made me look like a genius in the admirals eyes! Main sail control will be a breeze this coming season....after we get those round head machine screws out of the center car that is. View attachment 147548

That's pretty much what I got from Garhauer a few years ago. You, and the admiral, are going to love it.

Use Kroil for those machine screws.

rardiH36 · Mar 13, 2018

pateco said:
Rardi,
Do you remember what the part number was for the double blocks you added to the Car?

Pateco: Sorry, but don't have part info. The blocks attached to the traveler car and at each end of my traveler rail were nautical flea market finds. Rardi

All U Get · Jan 11, 2021

How has anyone removed the wheels from the Nicro-Fico car? Did you drill them out?

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