E34-2 Traveler

So, 34 year old plastic end cap thingies let go. The kit to replace seems to be called Harken Big Boat non-captive bearing car rebuild kit.

Has anyone done this or have advice? There is a replacement car available that has the blocks located on the sides rather than the top. Is that one better for reasons?

It looks like we’re limping home tomorrow without the traveler - but with a Rube Goldberg main sheet block attachment. Thoughts?

That new-style Harken traveler car we now have does have the sheaves mounted low. It's great compared to the 1988 version it replaced. If a version of it would work for your boat I highly recommend it.

Some photos in this blog entry.

Old style car with exploding end cap feature in foreground. New style car has the bearings already packed (But requires different blocks which may be delivered today). It is a solid cast with no end caps. Bearings load from the inside?

My boat has Ronstan, with the track in a channel. Systems get complicated and incompatible, but if Ronstan, there are still new end caps available.

You slide the blue loader in and use the grooves(yellow arrow) to load the balls. Then lock it with the clip. Then slide the loaded car onto the track in the white arrow direction. That's a Harken right? Those plastic end caps don't last forever.

Has anyone replaced the shackle on this vintage unit? I‘ve scoured Harken’s site and catalog and can‘t find a replacement part number. It doesnt look like a standard D Shackle because it looks like the pin goes through both sides of it. I’ll call Harken tomorrow but thought I‘d throw up the question here. Also, if I can’t find a replacement shackle is there any reason not to use a soft attachement here? I have some short BlueWater sown dyneema runners and I think I could fit one in around the shackle pins.