When I rebuilt my Harkan traveler I had the option of the Delrin or Torlon bearings. The Delrin bearings (low load) are white and the Torlon (high load) are brown. Sounds like you have the high load furler. I would agree with your assessment that the worst case is that the thing won't rotate - but I would check elsewhere as a) I'm no expert in this area and b) that would be an ugly demasting.