MirageDrive Chain Adjustment question.

Matt Miller has said:
1) If the chain skips a tooth the easy way to get the chain back on the right tooth is to press hard on the opposite pedal from which it originally slipped. Once it is on the right tooth again tighten the chain properly.

I don't understand this or how it could work. i have early model outbacks that have the steel sprockets. is he saying when the drive is in the kayak in the water?

Matt Miller also said:
2) The proper way to tighten the chains is to make sure that the front chain is tighter than the rear. The front chain will be tighter than the rear when there is proper tension in the Idler cable (goes over the drum up front, from side to side). Any tension in the Idler cable will add tension to the front chain and reduce tension in the rear chain. Whenever the chain skips a tooth it is always the front sprocket. We suspect some people are tensioning the chains and are overlooking the Idler cable.

i have done this and i'm not clear on how tight i should make these adjustments. the problem with jumping sprockets has only happened since the turbo fins and when we are accelerating quickly trying to surf. we really like the turbos except for this.

Did I say that? Must have been way back. We are talking stainless sprockets here right? I have not heard of a plastic sprocket having a chain skip a tooth. If the chain is loose, yes... in the water while out, I suppose your could force the chain to skip back by pushing hard on the opposite pedal. Better yet, I would loosen the chain a bit to re-position the chain.

There is a spec shown for chain tension in the manual...

<<Cable Adjustments
Determining if adjustment is needed...
Occasionally the cables may need to be
re-tightened. The cables should be kept
taut; however, the front chain should be a
little tighter than the rear chain. Push
with your thumbs at the points marked
(A) with moderate pressure (see the
image to the right). The side of the chain
should not go beyond the inside edge of
the drum casting.>>

There is a small image showing the adjustment (page 4). Here is a link to the manual:
http://www.hobiecat.com/support/pdfs/Mi ... Manual.pdf

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)