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If you don't have a set of these, go buy some, or borrow a set. It can be done without them, but you will scar up the edges of the furler body as you pry the clip off. I bought these a couple of years ago for another project, they were $6 on sale.

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This is how 95 Torlon bearings arrived from Sailing Services,FL. You need 45 for each end of the furler, & I ordered 5 extra in case I dropped some. Can't argue with the vendors packaging. S Service were very helpful, I don't hesitate to recommend the

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Remove only the clevis pin from the end the snap ring is on. Using your pliers remove the snap ring. Leave it on the pliers, as you will be replacing it.

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Here is another way Harken secures the drum. If it looks like this you don't need snap ring pliers.
See the little cutout on the end of the clip?
Pry it outwards & up to get out of the groove. You may need 2 small screwdrivers, or needle...

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With snap ring removed, slide the retaining barrel off. Don't worry about marking it, the barrel will only go on one way. Notice the little nylon stick serving as a retainer. DON'T LOOSE THIS OR FORGET TO PUT IT BACK DURING REASSEMBLY. Notice the bearin

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This is what it will look like. Steal one of your kids toothbrushes, or go to a Hilton Hotel & get one of theirs. They are the perfect size to get inside the barrel to scrub out all the sand/salt that wrecked your old bearings. Scrub under a running t

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Assembly Sort out 5 little piles of 9 bearings each, (45). Get a piece of Scotch Tape & a little piece of paper/thin cardboard.

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Be sure you have the 2 parts pushed fully together. While covering up the four upper holes, drop 9 bearings into the exposed hole. Count them, 10 will fit, Harken says use 9, & they are adamant about not OVERFILLING THE RACE.

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As you fill each race, move a piece of tape up to cover the filled holes. Position your piece of paper so only the hole you are filling is exposed. You can do it without any covering, but it is incredibly easy to have a bearing fall into the wrong hole. 1

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DON"T FORGET TO REPLACE THE TINY RETAINER

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Slide the barrel back on, it will only fit one way

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Replace the snap ring. Be sure you have it all the way down. It should "snap" into the groove all the way round its circumference. This is critical for retention of the barrel. If part of the ring is not in the groove it WILL WORK ITS WAY OFF.

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Now lets do the drum unit. Start by pulling out all the line. Next remove the clevis from the end with the snap ring, then remove the snap ring.

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The lid of the drum will come off, then you can remoce the barrel. Note this barrel can be replaced either way. You are now presented with a nearly identical system as before. Disassemble & clean it the same as you did for the swivel.

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The drum unit is harder to fill due to the cage that holds the line being in the way. Use 2 pieces of tape to cover/uncover the races.

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z hobie furler 1

Here is the bearing from A Hobie 18 furler drum. You can see most bearins are pitted, & two are totally seized. This system is very simple to change.
Remove one snap ring on top, & the entire furler comes apart.