Need expert Lewmar racing block repair advice

[Wilbur Hubbard]

I have two Lewmar racing blocks 60 mm

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=7778&lid=24426

After about five years of use, many of the Delrin balls have broken in
two or have worn out so there are fewer balls than there's supposed to
be with gaps in the circle of balls and too much play between the sheave
and the cheeks.

These balls are sold separately and available.

http://www.lewmar.com/products.asp?id=7647&type=17&channel=1

I have removed the four taper-head screws near the swivel but I can't
get the cheeks to come apart. I've noticed there are three threaded
holes on each side of the cheeks and was wondering if perhaps there is
some sort of special tool that threads into these to force the cheeks
apart?

Has anybody here replaced the ball bearings on the above blocks. I sure
hate to just toss them as they cost me about seventy bucks apiece, if
memory serves.


Wilbur Hubbard

[Duncan Heenan]

"Wilbur Hubbard" <wilbur...@thefarm.invallid> wrote in message
news:4ea5bb31$0$2629$892e...@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...
>snip< Has anybody here replaced the ball bearings on the above blocks. I

>sure hate to just toss them as they cost me about seventy bucks apiece, if
>memory serves.
>
> Wilbur Hubbard
>

If you need new balls Wilma, being a natural tosser should assist the
solution.
Get a new one you cheapskate. The worn out old tool will never work properly
again whatever you do to it.

[Wilbur Hubbard]

"Duncan Heenan" <duncan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message
news:j84jgf$og8$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

Hey, those blocks cost me plenty. No use throwing them away when
replacement ball bearings are readily available.

I just got word from a Lewmar tech guy and he's told me how to get the
blocks apart. It is necessary to remove the allen bolts from the swivel
pin area. Then the pins, which do double duty as nuts for the allen
bolts, need to be slid out. Once that is accomplished the cheeks rotate
180 degrees from each other and slide apart. It's called a bayonet
fitting.

Now, all I have to do is find the least expensive ball bearings and
order them. I've found some nylon balls, I/8", that only cost 12 bucks
per hundred. I'll need about 150 all told. Those original Delrin balls
sure didn't hold up very well.

Wilbur Hubbard

[Duncan Heenan]

"Wilbur Hubbard" <wilbur...@thefarm.invallid> wrote in message

news:4ea5db3a$0$2614$892e...@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...

If your balls are worn, so is their container, which must be complete pants
by now. Putting new balls in to a worn bearing will mean they will be under
sized, and despite what that kind lady told you, size is important. My
advice is to stump up the cash and buy new tackle, it will be cheaper in the
long run. Which reminds me......what's yellow and goes "cheep, cheep"?
A Chinese prostitute.
Toss the old block away, you're tossing talent will stand you in good stead,
Wilma.

[Lieutenant Scott]

I don't know if you intended that to be funny, but it was absolutely hilariuous.

> My advice is to stump up the cash and buy new tackle, it will be cheaper in the
> long run. Which reminds me......what's yellow and goes "cheep, cheep"?
> A Chinese prostitute.
> Toss the old block away, you're tossing talent will stand you in good stead,
> Wilma.

--
http://petersparrots.com
http://petersphotos.com

What is the difference between mechanical engineers and civil engineers?
Mechanical engineers build weapons and civil engineers build targets.

[Wilbur Hubbard]

"Duncan Heenan" <duncan...@tiscali.co.uk> wrote in message

news:j86116$p2$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

> If your balls are worn, so is their container, which must be complete
> pants by now. Putting new balls in to a worn bearing will mean they
> will be under sized, and despite what that kind lady told you, size is
> important.

Wrong! The cheeks on the blocks which comprise the bearing race are
hard anodized and show absolutely no wear. The sheave also shows no
wear. Do you even know what anodized aluminum is?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing

The simple addition of new bearing balls will make the blocks like new
again. They were manufactured to be serviced.

> My advice is to stump up the cash and buy new tackle, it will be
> cheaper in the long run. Which reminds me......what's yellow and goes
> "cheep, cheep"?
> A Chinese prostitute.
> Toss the old block away, you're tossing talent will stand you in good
> stead, Wilma.

Are all Brits THIS ignorant and bigoted?


Wilbur Hubbard

[Duncan Heenan]

"Wilbur Hubbard" <wilbur...@thefarm.invallid> wrote in message

news:4ea746f1$0$2628$892e...@auth.newsreader.octanews.com...

In Britain we call it aluminium, not aluminum. This is uk.rec.sailing not
us.rec.spelling.
Please yourself (I believe you have to), if that's what you want to do, but
don't come crying to me when the blocks start seizing up and jamming in the
middle of the ocean. However that probably won't be a problem to you, as you
never go more than a mile or two out from the marina in Mutt the Custard, do
you?