Rudder cam adjustment

Hi,

Since my purchase 2 months ago, I have replaced a few things. One thing I did this weekend was replace one of the broken cams, now that it is replaced, I notice it is not locking properly because the pin on the upper casting does not fully engage in the cam. I have the old style upper casting, so I do not have an uppper cam adjuster plate. I highlighted on the image below where the gap is. If If I pull on the upper casting towards the front of the boat, I feel the pin going in all the way in the cam.

As a result, when I unlock the rudders, the cam stays locked because there is not enough meat grabbing on the pin.

I figure I have two ways to fix this.
1 - fill in the hole for the upper casting on the rudder and drill a new hole to address the geometry
2 - use JB Weld and and build up the top of the lower casting (see image) so it forces the upper casting forward and locking properly. Downside is that it will reduce the rake on the rudder.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Re-drill the rudder. Its easy. Fill the old hole with resin and glass fiber (if you have some). Hold the blade in the down position. Slide the upper into the cam and seat into the "hook" (cam locked down). Check the height of the tiller arm at the forward end to match the opposite side. Drill in place or mark and drill on a drill press. Drill slightly forward or at an angle that forces the tiller arm forward as it lines up in the casting hole on the far side (point the drill slightly forward of straight through) Assemble. Better to be too tight into the cam... you can enlarge the bolt hole if needed to back away from the cam a bit.

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

Thanks Matt. I'll give that a try. Got all winter to play with it.

_________________
Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84

Has anyone ever seen a specified optimum distance for how far the cam plate should be away from seating all the way into the corresponding cam notch when it is down ..... or is it just all the way in, then back it off a little? Regards Geoff

All the way in. Any amount backed off will allow the rudder to move aft when sailing. You just don't want to put pressure on the cam which would cause it not to lock completely.

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

Thanks Matt