Chain skip?

sorry if this has been answered. I vaguely recal something about it, but search did not turn up anything.

Most of you I am sure have felt a drive skip when the old style cam lock knobs losen up, probably from a kick.

But what if they are tight? I'm getting what feels like a sprocket tooth skip. All cables sem to be at roadrunners correct tension (1/4 " deflection). It's a random thing, but may be due to harder pressure from the pedals when I want to tack, etc.

any input?

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Hi Dan,

I recommend 1/8" deflection for the idler and front cable, and 3/16" for the rear cable. 1/4 inch is too much slack and will make the fins feel sloppy. If you skip a link the result will be evident -- the misaligned fin will start smacking the hull on a normal stroke. When you pull the Drive, one of the fins will be out of line by about 15 - 20 degrees and will have to be reset. You can't miss it. This happens with the old stainless sprockets if not adequately tensioned, but not with the plastic sprockets (that I'm aware of).

Sometimes when you get in a trough or medium + chop the fins momentarily surface and all resistance briefly vanishes. Could this be what you're talking about?

Dan

If you are using plastic sprockets it is unlikely a chain slip. But, the master (center) tooth on the plastic sprockets will catch the chain and make it feel like a skip near the end of the drives range. You can usually see this with the drive out as the chain hops up at the center tooth.

I had to sand down the center tooth slightly and remove the mold marks to make the chain flow smoothly for the entire range of motion. The chain does not seem to "break in" the center sprocket tooth even after several outings.

My use of the new V2 plastic sprockets with turbo fins has been going very well otherwise.
I find the plastic wearing a bit, even on a new sprocket shaft but considering the heavy use I am still quite pleased. V2 sprockets are not that expensive.

I had a problem last summer like you describe.

If I was peddleing strongly, it would pop and feel like a skip.

Turned out a tooth HAD broken off my sproket. Hobie replaced it no charge and my dealer gave me a loaner while they were waiting on parts.

OK Tightened up chains and will see what happens.

Visual inspection of center sprocket tooth did not reveal yak's problem.

Will report later.

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