Source for replacement sheaves

Y

yelkenli

.
Jul 7, 2024
44
Catalina 27 Lake Keowee
The sheave on this single line reefing clew car fell apart. Most likely age.

Is there a good source for replacement sheaves, or do I have to go to the OEM to get a replacement?

I am not sure of the OEM at this point. Still investigating. And I am assuming I can replace just the sheave.

Harken_block_car.jpg
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

.
Nov 6, 2006
10,029
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
The sheave can be replaced but it is not easy to. You have to drill the expanded end of the sheave axle and press it out. The axle can be replaced with a recessed head shouldered bolt. The pulley hole cannot impinge on any bolt threads The sheave itself is available from Schaefer, the OEM, or you can source them from places like Vela Sailing or Defender or West Marine or Amazon.. it is best to remove the old sheave so that you can measure it precisely. Sometimes there is a bushing in the sheave that makes the ID bigger than outside appearance would suggest.
EDIT Found a couple of pictures. I think I got the sheaves from Vela. Axle drilled and wheels removed in order to measure the bushing diameter which is the ID of the new sheave.
IMG_0622.JPGIMG_0639.JPG:)
 
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Y

yelkenli

.
Jul 7, 2024
44
Catalina 27 Lake Keowee
If I don't want to go that route, are these tracks standard, so I can buy a replacement car assembly?
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,558
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Measure the width of the track. Check with Garhauer Marine.

Home | Garhauer

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www.garhauermarine.com www.garhauermarine.com
 
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S

Sean Kiaer Yacht Broker

.
Mar 9, 2025
3
Choy Lee OS 41 Crystal Coast
yelkenli said:
The sheave on this single line reefing clew car fell apart. Most likely age.

Is there a good source for replacement sheaves, or do I have to go to the OEM to get a replacement?

I am not sure of the OEM at this point. Still investigating. And I am assuming I can replace just the sheave.

View attachment 230124
Click to expand
I would consider replacing the system. The hassle and time involved of drilling and pressing the pins out is a pain in the proverbial derriere.
The Shiv on my Catalina 30 broke due to old age and ended up replacing mine with a new Harken System.
Saved Time and Money you could also check to see if Fisheries Supply or West Marine carry just the car assembly. If you are outside the US, Fisheries ships internationally
 
S

Steve_Catalina

.
Apr 1, 2004
167
Catalina 34 Herring Bay Chesapeake, MD
yelkenli said:
The sheave on this single line reefing clew car fell apart. Most likely age.

Is there a good source for replacement sheaves, or do I have to go to the OEM to get a replacement?

I am not sure of the OEM at this point. Still investigating. And I am assuming I can replace just the sheave.

View attachment 230124
Click to expand
This was OEM manufactured by garhauer.com check the web site
 
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C

colemj

.
Jul 13, 2004
315
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
The picture is blurry, but it kind of looks like the sheave is held in with hex head bolts. Is it? If so, then it will be easy and inexpensive to replace. You can get sheaves like that in many places.

Mark
 
Joe

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,139
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
yelkenli said:
If I don't want to go that route, are these tracks standard, so I can buy a replacement car assembly?
Click to expand
That reefing block in your picture looks like pre-Garhaurer equipment, but nothing to fear. Most manufacturers, with the glaring exception of Harkin, build their gear to use standard T-track. 1" and 1 1/4 " are the common sizes, and your 27 footer, like mine, will definitely wear the smaller size. The aluminum track is readily available from any chandlery in pre cut lengths. But it's aluminum so a metal cutting blade in your home jigsaw is all you need. Anyway, I found a replacement unit in the Garhaurer catalogue, JR-1...or "jiffy reef block" for 1" track. priced at $47.52.

(item JR-2 is for the larger track, about $85) Garhaurer sells T track also, but I think you can get along with what's there. The only issue replacing track is that the hole placement can vary from one manufacturer to another. Not critical...just means drilling a few new ones.

Anyway.......... save yourself some time and aggravation and just replace the whole thing. It'll take less than 5 minutes.
Here's the link: https://www.garhauermarine.com/shop/uncategorized/jiffy-reef-block-jr-1/
 
F

Foswick

.
Apr 25, 2024
134
Fuji 32 Bellingham
Not considering how easy/hard it would be to physically perform the replacement, it is entirely possible to find replacements and, if not, make your own or have them machined. The nice thing is that the dimensions are not critical - you just need to get something close to the right size. The only really critical consideration is the materials used. It looks like a nylon sheave. You can buy machinable nylon pulleys and either machine it yourself (if you have the equipment) or have a local machine shop do it. (It's the kind of thing that, if you walk in, they might just do it for a few bucks cash, if they aren't busy.)

Then, it just depends on what you need for bearings.

But, as others have pointed out, it might not be cost-effective to repair, unfortunately. Still, I would be inclined to do so anyway. The reason is that, once you've replaced the sheave one time, it will be easier to do in the future. And, you will be more inclined to take it apart to inspect/maintain, in the future. And, if you are going to get one sheave, you might as well get two and have a spare.
 
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dLj

dLj

.
Mar 23, 2017
4,035
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
Foswick said:
Not considering how easy/hard it would be to physically perform the replacement, it is entirely possible to find replacements and, if not, make your own or have them machined. The nice thing is that the dimensions are not critical - you just need to get something close to the right size. The only really critical consideration is the materials used. It looks like a nylon sheave. You can buy machinable nylon pulleys and either machine it yourself (if you have the equipment) or have a local machine shop do it. (It's the kind of thing that, if you walk in, they might just do it for a few bucks cash, if they aren't busy.)

Then, it just depends on what you need for bearings.

But, as others have pointed out, it might not be cost-effective to repair, unfortunately. Still, I would be inclined to do so anyway. The reason is that, once you've replaced the sheave one time, it will be easier to do in the future. And, you will be more inclined to take it apart to inspect/maintain, in the future. And, if you are going to get one sheave, you might as well get two and have a spare.
Click to expand
I would not use nylon if there is any sun exposure. I'd use delrin.

dj
 
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colemj

.
Jul 13, 2004
315
Dolphin Catamaran Dolphin 460 Mystic, CT
Besides sun, nylon swells with water - something you do not want a sheave to do.

Why make them? You can buy them for <$10 (OP's is probably <$5). Ronstan ACETAL Solid Bearing

Size does matter. It has to fit into the existing mounting, so it can't be thicker or thinner, and the groove needs to properly fit the line, and the diameter can't be too large to fit the housing, or too small that it can't carry the load properly.

Mark
 
B

BAD ORCA

.
Nov 6, 2020
309
Mariner 36 California
BigEasy said:
You might try Zephyr Werk, " the sheave factory." Zephyrwerks.com
They offer sheave rebuilding services, parts, etc. I have no idea what the cost is.
Click to expand
I second this when you cant find a sheave off the shelf, or its a special size. Recently had him do sheaves for my 40 year old boom ends and the sheaves were very high quality. Much denser, higher quality plastic than the manufactured stuff. Price seemed very reasonable as well.
 
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