2009 AI softness around locking cross brace ball

Hello guys, I have a 2009 AI that I'm having trouble keeping the aka folded out due to the crossbrace constantly popping off the ball attached to the hull. The plastic is a little soft around the mounting area and it seems like the ball is rotating itself enough to pop loose.

I searched the forum for similar experiences but couldn't find anything. Is there some kind of backing underneath there? I was thinking I could strengthen this with either a big washer or even a long bar bracket. What do you think?

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Zach

Is a certain amount of force supposed to pop this ball and socket loose? I'm wondering how tight this joint really should be.

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Zach

Sounds like the spring is weak. I don't know if you can buy the spring only, but you can buy a new aka brace assembly.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

I think the spring is weak on the one side for sure. The other side the plastic is soft around where the ball attaches.

There isn't a spring tension adjustment is there? I'm imagining something like the plunger-spring system in the catamaran kick up rudders. I don't think the kayaks have anything like that.

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Zach

Looks like the spring is #81242001


Any ideas on the loose ball/brace?

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Zach

If you hold the socket forward as it would be when "locked," can you take your other hand and pull the socket up and off the ball?

There are quite a few posts lately about adding safety ropes to prevent the AMA from collapsing. Simple and easy to add, and they add a level of safety to the whole setup. If it was me I would just add the safety ropes, and leave the weak brace alone, if it does pop off nothing happens. It's also pretty likely once the safety rope is added, the brace will no longer come off.
The weakness on the hull near the ball indicates to me anyway, there may have been a crash at some time or another weakening both the hull and the brace. I'm not sure any thing could be done to fix the hull (it will always be questionable). Thats what I would do anyway
Bob

False alarm! I had my aka's flipped around and was connecting to something else. Doh!

Now I'm back in business



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Zach