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Antique Cat Trax

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Rob Hangen
(@rch701)
Posts: 395
Chief
Topic starter
 

I was given a set of old cat trax that I hope to repair. My boat came with a homemade dock wheel setup and I was really excited to get a free cat trax with inflatable tires, bearings, and cradles. They look just like these but with cradles.
https://us.letgo.com/en/i/hobie-cat-sailboat-sand-trailer-cat-trax_a066bbb7-4e67-48eb-82a3-fef7cbbe2f7b
They have ball needle fill points and the one wheel I tried would not take any air. My bike pump physically could not push air in. Can you put tubes in these? Can the axle be refit with modern hubs and wheels? I see very little info on the web. Thanks.

Rob
"If at first you do not suceed, well, so much for sky diving"

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 3:41 am
samc99us
(@samc99us)
Posts: 574
Chief
 

You could probably put inner tubes in those. However if you look at what the wheels and hubs cost, they are $340 for the pair plus shipping: https://www.murrays.com/product/13-1401-1/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyerpBRD9ARIsAH-ITn_jtc8tLc5Kl_7IdJ_T2Scp91aCiLMJaKdVuJRXeg6CmbAO4Gqb7KwaAu8sEALw_wcB

Basically you are getting an anodized aluminum axle, may still be worth it as they cost a bundle to ship due to length. I would check with Cat Trax on that front, they are super helpful on the phone!

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 3:50 am
MN3
 MN3
(@MN3)
Posts: 7090
One Star Admiral
 

how bout you spend $50 bucks and buy that used set and add your cradles ?

MN3

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 4:06 am
Peter knapp
(@pknapp66)
Posts: 686
Chief
 

Those are the early wheels and are molded to the rim. You can't put tubes in them. If you are unable to pump air into one it might be the needle that you are using. Regular ball needles are a bit short sometimes and won't go in far enough. Look for needles that are slightly longer and you will most likely be all set. I have run into this with my old set of wheels. These tires are also prone to dry rot.

H18m
p16
Venture15

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 5:16 am
Edward Hilliard
(@Edchris177)
Posts: 2531
Captain
 

I see very little info on the web. Thanks.

You can buy all the parts direct from Florida Sailcraft, but as Sam mentioned, the tire/rim combo is pricey. You can buy the tires, (Nanco), I think even at Wally World on sale, for about $25 ea. However, I don’t know anywhere to buy the rims separately. The rest of the parts are pretty cheap, but I think the 4 nylon, 4 SS, & bearings you already have?
https://floridasailcraft.com/product-category/parts-accessories/
The bearings are very easy to make, McMaster Carr will sell rods of the material, cut with a jigsaw. FS used to sell them, for $32 IIRC, but i don’t see them now. Here is Cat Trax dissected,
https://www.thebeachcats.com/pictures?g2_itemId=119871
Here is what FS says about the old style,
https://floridasailcraft.com/catamaran-faqs/

Edited by Edchris177 on Jul 26, 2019 - 12:05 PM.

E C Hilliard

Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 5:58 am
Peter knapp
(@pknapp66)
Posts: 686
Chief
 

I see the plastic eurotrax wheels are available separately but I only see them from suppliers in Europe. I had a set for my Tornado and really liked them.

http://www.kmnautisme.com/en/rims/3353-eurotrax-hub-rim-for-8-balloon-wheels.html

H18m
p16
Venture15

 
Posted : July 26, 2019 6:50 am
Rob Hangen
(@rch701)
Posts: 395
Chief
Topic starter
 

Thanks everyone. I was able to use a straw from a spray can of silicone to put air in the tires. One has some water in it, they both leak at dry rot cracks, but they don't leak the water inside... I love how the tires are $44ea. and the rims are $94ea ($138 per wheel). I would bet it is well worth the money to buy ones assembled from cat trax for $169ea. At $338 I could buy a used cat trax. I am going to attempt to shoot some fix-a-flat in the tires through a new hole. The tires are stiff enough as-is to hold my weight (150lbs) over each wheel.

Rob
"If at first you do not suceed, well, so much for sky diving"

 
Posted : July 29, 2019 3:30 am
MN3
 MN3
(@MN3)
Posts: 7090
One Star Admiral
 

fill em with concrete
- they will never go flat! :gotit:

MN3

 
Posted : July 29, 2019 3:36 am
Peter knapp
(@pknapp66)
Posts: 686
Chief
 

I think that you will find slime works better than fix a flat. If they are badly dry rotted it probably won't work. I got by for a while on my old wheels by putting tire plugs into the side walls where they were leaking.

Where did you find the rims for $94? I have not seen them listed separately anywhere.

H18m
p16
Venture15

 
Posted : July 29, 2019 3:44 am
Rob Hangen
(@rch701)
Posts: 395
Chief
Topic starter
 

$94 was for the eurotrax. In hindsight this probably won't work on cat Trax.

Rob
"If at first you do not suceed, well, so much for sky diving"

 
Posted : July 29, 2019 2:44 pm