Door track question 280DA

DWABoat

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2019
1,012
S Louisiana
Boat Info
2001 280 Sundancer
1989 220CC Cuddy Cabin
Engines
Twin 4.3 w/Alpha Ones
5.7 Mercruiser Alpha One
I decided to tackle the bumpy, tight cabin door to my 2001 280DA.
I got the two plastic roller balls from the lower track removed.
I ordered replacement balls from FP Marine. Waiting for them to arrive.

The lower track system has two balls, one port of the center stopper and one starboard of the center.
The ball to port is badly worn while the one to starboard shows no sign of wear.


Question/Opinions please: If I slide two balls on the port side and two balls on the starboard side, instead of the single balls, logic tells me the load would be distributed over twice the area. Is my logic flawed? Would this cause a problem I am not foreseeing? Has anyone tried this?
 
I decided to tackle the bumpy, tight cabin door to my 2001 280DA.
I got the two plastic roller balls from the lower track removed.
I ordered replacement balls from FP Marine. Waiting for them to arrive.

The lower track system has two balls, one port of the center stopper and one starboard of the center.
The ball to port is badly worn while the one to starboard shows no sign of wear.


Question/Opinions please: If I slide two balls on the port side and two balls on the starboard side, instead of the single balls, logic tells me the load would be distributed over twice the area. Is my logic flawed? Would this cause a problem I am not foreseeing? Has anyone tried this?
I would guess that over time the two balls would end up next to each other and then you would not be able to move the door. Two new balls will help a lot
 
I see your point, but wouldn’t the balls roll in unison? Clearly I am missing something.
If the two balls, say, on the port side made contact with each other, it seems they would roll together all the time, and, thus, should not be a problem. They should be spinning at equal or near equal rates.
Please explain why this would lock up the door to my limited intelligence.

I am concerned that the track may be stopped before reaching the ends due to the width of the two balls together.
I am no engineer, for sure.
Just trying to not have to dismantle this thing again.
I am sure there is a very good reason Sea Ray didn’t put multiple balls in the tracks.
 
I am not complete yet. What I have done so far is remove the fasteners along the bottom of the door holding the lower track to the door. I slid the door about half open. I then put a block under the door to lift it about a quarter inch. Then I pulled the track, minus the door to the closed position then removed the screw in the track holding the plastic butt end in place. The ball came out with a little encouragement. I repeated the process for the other side.

I hope when the new balls arrive next week, I can push new balls back in, re-install the plastic end butt plates, and re-fasten the door to the track.

What could possibly be any easier!
 
I am not complete yet. What I have done so far is remove the fasteners along the bottom of the door holding the lower track to the door. I slid the door about half open. I then put a block under the door to lift it about a quarter inch. Then I pulled the track, minus the door to the closed position then removed the screw in the track holding the plastic butt end in place. The ball came out with a little encouragement. I repeated the process for the other side.

I hope when the new balls arrive next week, I can push new balls back in, re-install the plastic end butt plates, and re-fasten the door to the track.

What could possibly be any easier!


I have done this on my 280. When I did it i was able to slide two strips of sheet metal under the bottom track. This raises the Dorr just a little bit and and does help. The whole project is all about little bits. Good luck. One thing I did notice was that the door does flex when it is not closed all the way. I try not to let people go up the steps when the door is not all the way closed. This just makes the problem worse
 
One of my roller balls had some deep grooves but the other (starboard) was in perfect shape.
I guess the load is being carried by the port side. I hope I don’t have premature wear.
I am a little apprehensive about the finish. I hope it works out.
 

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