Mirage Drive Repair

My Mirage Drive (V2) has been making an annoying binding noise. I've been adjusting the chains and it'll stop for a while, but it eventually keeps making the noise again. Now it's doing it after only a few hours on the water. I'm almost positive it is due to the chain cables twisting when tightening the nuts. I can see the crimped areas on the cables moving when I'm making the adjustments and I can't seem to prevent it. I've tried needle nose pliers but since the drum isn't slotted, I can only make contact with one side of the crimped area. Any tips on how to prevent this cable from twisting when tightening the nuts?

Thanks

If the cables enter the drum and it is not slotted... you have V1 drums. The slots for preventing twisting cable was a nice improvement in the V2 drums for just this reason. You have to use needle nose pliers or needle nose vise grips.

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

Ah gotcha, I got the drive in 2012 so I just assumed it was a V2. For some reason, I just assumed the change was before that.

But just to confirm my suspicion...is that binding kinda knocking noise a common problem when the cables are twisted?

Thanks for the help.

Ok, so after looking at some diagrams, I actually do have the V2 drums. But to me, the V1 drums look easier to hold the cable because there is a cutout. I can't grip the crimped area of the cables on the V2 with the cable inserted. Maybe if the hole was centered so I'd have more room on both sides to work with. What am I missing here? With the cable inserted there is no room to grip it.

V2 drums are slotted for the chain ends to hold them from rotating... You don't have to hold them to tighten nuts, so confused here... They could rotate a degree or two, but can not spin in the holes. The cable ends are milled flat on each side to fit into the slot.

Maybe have a look at the MirageDrive maintenance FAQ written by roadrunner?:

http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=12577

This is an older drive, but reviews cable tensions etc.

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

I don't have to hold the cable to tighten the nuts, but if I don't, I can watch the cable turn slowly almost 360 degrees while I'm tightening. I can tell by watching the crimped area of the cable. And I don't think I am over tightening, because it is happening just after the cables get the slightest bit tight. In other words, if I stopped tightening before I get the twisting action, the cables are definitely too loose.

And now that I think about it, right when I first insert the cables, they are already sitting at an angle. So maybe my cable holes are just too big. Seems like the cables should be lying square to begin with and snug in the holes. I'll try to post some pictures tonight after I get home.

Yea... something is not right. Never heard of stripping the slot.

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

Got new drums tonight and that seems to have fixed the problem. Slots in new drum arent rounded and cables arent twisting. Havent taken on water yet but pretty sure its fixed.