Definite skipping cog...

So i took it out today after tightening things up and the popping/skip was still present. It happens anytime I am pedalling hard (not manic, just solid pedals). It will pop on each side (its not the fins hitting the bottom of the boat).

I took it out one time mid pop and with the pedal arms together, the fins were not lined up. At first I thought it was a bent mast, but it was straight. It was the fact the chain had jumped a cog and was now one ahead or behind on one side.

Do I take it in to fix this? it seems to be bad teeth on the cog.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

I've never had any problems like the type you described.
I would consider taking it back on warranty repair to your local yocal yak shack Or go buy a new sprocky for about ten bucks and change it out
kepnutz

Popping and skipping are two different things. The master cog is extra wide to hold the chain in position while it's being installed. On brand new Drives it can be a tight fit. As the fins cycle through the 90 degree (left or right) position, it's normal to feel the chain pop out of that master cog momentarily, then snap back in (can happen on one or both sides). This diminishes as the parts wear in and is completely normal.

Skipping a tooth is very rare with the plastic cogs, but possible if a tooth somehow breaks. If so, the fins appear grossly out of alignment and the missing tooth can be easily detected.

When you tightened your chain/cables, you may have inadvertently misaligned your fins by a few degrees. Or sometimes the factory setting is off slightly -- it's a very fine adjustment and few people would even notice. This is easy to adjust by simply loosening one side and tightening the other until both fins are perpendicular with the pedals exactly even. If its anything more than that, better have your dealer look at it.

Thanks for the advice, we should call you Guru rather than RR

Ill go over adjustment one more time, but it really feels like something is off. It didnt pop before and now its continuous if there is any significant pressure during the stroke (ie > 4.3 mph with current or > 3.4 mph against current). Its loud, annoying, and definitly puts off your stroke as it is more than the pop, but the suddent slip forward as well on the pedal.

Ill call my dealer and see if they will give me a loaner while my car is in for service <grin>

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2007 Hobie Revolution

If the pedal slips forward it would sound like the chain is popping out and over a tooth, but you should be able to tell. The teeth on the sprocket would get pretty chewed up and the chain would be noticably loose. Popping over a set of teeth isn't easy to do unless the drive is pretty out of wack.

Anyway, it sounds like you are headed to the dealer. If it was really jumping on the sprocket, I would make sure to ask for new sprockets. The chewed up / worn ones you have would be more likely to slip again later if the drive loosens up a little bit with use. Make sure you post back with what the dealer finds. I am interested to hear the resolution.

i tightened and lubricated one more time today, going to give it one more chance this afternoon (also installing the Sidekick today which im pretty stoked about)

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2007 Hobie Revolution

I had this problem on the older drive units (steel). Anytime I applied power, like when trying to ride a wave or catch a boat wake, the chain would jump the gear unit. The end result would be fins that do not line up. It would require loosening up the cables and moving the fin over the chain back to the link it is suppose to be on.

Sure the pedal position (adjustable fore and aft) is not skipping? That has been an issue. We have not seen plastic sprockets skip.

The pop and click sounds like a twisted / kinked chain.

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

Took it in today after a 11.6 mile ocean trip.

We compared it at the dealership with another driver and there is definitely a messed up tooth on one of the cogs, shorter than the other. My dealer, Dave at Time Out Sports, is going to contact Hobie about it, they even gave me a loaner drive in the meantime, hehe.

Im still loving my Revo, just want to make sure that when I need to apply full power I can.

Matt,
Definitely not the pedal position, checked for those before. Also thought possible chain kinking, but even that shouldnt happen, but looking at how the fins misaling when the pedal arms are parallel after a pop series, it was the chain jumping over the diminished cog it appears.

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2007 Hobie Revolution

Talked to dealer out on water today. They said they took the drive apart and definitely two sheered cogs. New part on order.

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2007 Hobie Revolution