Traveler Track Removal, CD 30

[Polly]

I'm attempting to replace the traveler system on my CD 30. I'm not having much luck removing the current track from the aluminum arch that supports the traveler - the screws either break off or won't budge.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Dave

[Steve Laume]

Have you removed the arch? The job would be much easier if the whole mess was sitting on a bench or clamped in a vise. Once you have removed it you could spray some PB Blaster on the nuts that are inside the arch. You would also be able to get a wrench on the nuts with the aid of a long handle extension. This would also be a good time to rebed the uprights holding the arch. An impact driver should help a lot. Even tapping the end of a tight fitting screwdriver while applying some torque might do the trick. The easiest way out of this would be if all the bolts snapped off. Chances are that the hardest to reach will be the ones that turn, Steve.

[Polly]

Thanks Steve,

Yes, the arch is off the boat. I'll try your sugestions. I'm not sure how I will fit a wrench into the arch, though. I'll get creative!

Dave

[Steve Laume]

Duct tape and a good stiff wood spline. Something with duct tape anyway.

Good luck and let us know how you make out, Steve.

[jbenagh]

try for an impact wrench with the right size phillips bit (go for a snug fit). Then if you trash the head or spin loose but can't reach the nut go for a grinder with a cone bit to take off the head. This can be a little tricky with recessed heads but often not too bad. Minor gouges into the slider track are not structural and you do put some water-blocking filler on each bolt anyway.

All this assumes you can get to somewhere with air tools. Otherwise, go with what the others have recommended.

Jeff

[ckreitlein]

I also replaced the traveler on my CD30. I chose to buy a new arrangement from Garhaur that I am very very happy with. And I got it at a good price. If you do a search at this site you should find photos of my new traveler. I wanted to keep the arch, so I took the whole business , wrapped it up in bubble wrap and sent it to Garhaur. They removed the track, bent a new one to shape and put it on, added a fancy new car and sent the whole thing back to me for a very reasonable price. It works so well I regret not having done it the day I bought the boat. I remember taking off the arch, looking down the tube and realizing there was no way I would be able to get the nuts off... even with some long extension, bla, bla, bla. I was similarly not up to drilling them out and all that hassle. It was much easier to just let Garhaur do it for me.

[Maine_Buzzard]

Go ahead and destroy the track- it deserves to be dragged behind the boat for a few leagues as punishment.

Take a 4" angle grinder and lop the heads of the bolts off, track and all. The aluminum will cut away just fine. You can also get a 1/16" cutoff blade and plunge it straight into the side of the track, just below the head, and sever the bolt that way. Peel the track off the arch, tap out the bolts, and away you go.

Use very good goggles and a face shield if you can. Metal chips in the eye hurt like hell.