Mirage drive clunking clicking noises

I just picked up a new old stock 2010 Outback. I was overall pretty happy with the buying experience.

However I did have one issue, the drive had some obvious minor marks and was covered in fine sand (everything else was spotless). When I asked if they were sure this was a new drive I was assured that it definitely was but had been kicking around the shop for a while.

Anyhow, get it out on the water and it randomly clicks, it works fine and I can't reproduce the noise with the drive out of the boat. Not sure if it needs a load on the fins to happen and not sure whether or not it's the retainers on the kayak or the drive. My first thought was that the drive was not fully snapped in, but after numerous times of taking it out and clicking it back in I could not get it to stop, sometimes it's every 2nd pedal stroke, sometimes 3rd, sometimes 4th, and occaisionally I can 6 or 7 strokes without it happening but usually 2-4. It's fairly noticeable and I could probably get it on video.

I've inspected the drive and cannot find anything loose.

I've gone as far as adjusting the pedal position so that I'm way short of bottoming out the pedals on the hull.

Even tho I am a newb, I did buy my wife a Sport a couple years ago and it works perfectly. In fact I'm a tad envious, her drive snaps in so easy and doesn't clunk/click like mine.

Any thoughts?

Neil

Next outing I will swap the drive with the other one and report back. This will at least tell me if it's the drive or retainers.

Neil

Clicks can mean a twisted chain attachment cable. Might do that at full stroke.

Clunks are usually due to pedaling to the stops. Adjust the pedals forward a bit more so when you fully extend your legs, you don't bang the fins into the hull. You can slightly limit the full stroke to prevent this also. Just a learning curve.

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

My drive was making a repeating noise a few weeks ago. I traced it back to a loose starboard click n go bracket (the thing that is attached to the hull and holds the drive in place). I realized when packing up my boat that I could wiggle the bracket with my fingers. There is a hole for a hex wrench in the top of the bracket. I tightened it up and seems to have done the trick.

I borrowed my wifes 2 year old v2 drive and it was like night and day.

That drive was so smooth and quiet, it locks in easy, I think my drive is a dud, so I guess back to the dealer it goes.

We both use the same setting and the stroke was even different on hers, it was perfect for me, on my drive at the same setting I can bottom out the fins on the boat but not on hers without a real stretch, her's felt perfect for my stroke.

Do these drives have to 'break-in'

kind of sucks that I have to go nearly 80 miles to have this looked at, or be without a kayak while I mail it....

Neil

I spoke with my dealer and they've asked that I check tightness on the nuts and try the other way, my drive in my wifes hull.

While checking the nuts according to the instruction I can see that one chain cable appears slightly longer, I'll have to pull out the calipers and a clamp to hold the arms perfectly centered but I'm pretty sure my eyes aren't playing tricks on me.

I'll do both of the above and report back.

Neil

alright finished going over my drive.

Now the big bolts that hold the crank arms are what the dealer suspected was likely the cause, and I think I have to agree. I really had to crank them down tho in order to stop it. It's now pretty stiff to adjust but I'd rather that than the noise. I'm betting their is a fine line between too loose and too tight.

With the second drive from my wife's Sport I notice that I could move hers too but hers doesn't click/clunk like mine.... it moves the same albeit stiffer and doesn't make any noticeable noise. ...so I suspect it's just tight enough to have a cushioning affect.

I'll get to try it out next week ...everyday so it better be good!

Neil

I'm happy to report that turning in the big 9/16" bolts a quarter turned fixed my clicking, and I wasn't the only one, another board member did the same trick to his drive and it solved his problems. These are the big bolts at the bottom of the arms on either side. If you want to try this fix don't overtighten them or you wont' be able to adjust the pedals.

Full report of my first outing with the fix here ;

http://yakdreams.blogspot.com/2011/09/b ... kayak.html



Neil

Hi - New to this forum. Just bought the Revolution 13 and have logged two fishing trips and have the same clicking noise. I did narrow it down to the right hand side of the the "peddle mast." The pin that goes into the peddle adjustment hole has some slop in it which causes it to click back and forth. I temporarily fixed it by wedging the end of a nylon zip tie into the hole to elimate what appears to be an over sized hole or a locking pin that is too narrow. My question is this: I think the problem can be permanently fixed by tightening the 9/16th bolt at the pivot point, but I'm concerned about stripping it. Is there an embedded nut molded within bolt's pivot point? I tried a quarter turn as you suggested but it did not fix the problem. I'm concerned about overtightening as I may strip it if it does not have a metel to metel thread. I took it back to the dealer and he offered to swap it out with a new drive. However, upon inspection of all of their new drives, it seems they all have the same clicking noise. I'm not to concerned about ease of adjustment after tightening as I use the same setting everytime and I'm the sole user of the Kayak. Any feedback would be appreciated.