Front right AKA bar sticking..

Has happened to me twice now, at the end of the day the three other aka bars pop right out no problems, however the front right one gets stuck. No matter how hard I press the release pins it wont budge. Then out of desperation I pounded the bar/brace just above the buttons VERY hard with my hand (bruised it) After that it slid right out.

After this happened the first time I attributed it to sand or grit getting in there, and took extra care to spray everything in there out, this time assembly and dis-assembly took place on grass, no sand or dirt anywhere, and it got stuck again.

I can put it in and remove it all day long and it will go right in and come right back out no problems, it only gets stuck after actually using it. So its as though the stress and pressures of sailing are making that one bar somehow wedge or jam itself.

I cant see any abnormal scarring or wear, or anything noticeable on the internal mechanism out of the ordinary.

Try twisting the aka, from the bent ama insert end, fore/aft to find the neutral position again.

I tried twisting, pulling, dirty talk, you name it.

Hmmm......so the bent aka end was exactly vertical and not canted slightly fore/aft?

Once I got it out, I put it back in and took it out again over and over, but regarding the akas,.... ok ok I kid..

The last time this happened once I dislodged the aka, I reinserted it, then released it again with no problem. It seems the sticking problem is only triggered by the stresses generated by sailing. I can insert and remove the aka all day long *sigh* in my garage and it will never stick, but after a day of use it will.

The new aka joint is designed to twist and lessen stress. With use they can twist and not return to neutral (vertical) so they get stuck. Usually twisting it as I described gets it back aligned so it can be removed OK.

Ok so after a long hard day I should try twisting my aka to relieve stress.

Check to see if the screws securing the cam cleats are not protruding into the cross bar, causing the aka bar to get hung up.

_________________
Bob
Proud member Kayak Fishing Association of New York

Wingnut, - perhaps a little Vaseline will provide you quicker relief?

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

Some things just belong on a T-Shirt.

Remove the cam cleats and file the the tip of the screws as most likely the screws are a little long and are rubbing the aka insert. this was the problem with my aka insert getting stuck..

Gil

Generally, after use, one or 2 akas will "stick." Twisting them has worked occasionally. Part of it is that after a tough day on the water, my hands are just not strong enough to pressure the butttons enough. At least, I think that is the case. My most recent episode was at the end of a camping trip last weekend and with winds 20-24 knots on the return trip. I couldn't remove one. However, I anticipated the problem and carried a pair of "battery pliers." I used them to squeeze the buttons, and the aka came right out.

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

funny i read this..

I just picked up a brand new TI today, and while at the dealer, before we loaded it up, BOTH of the rear aka's were stuck, both of us were trying to get them off, one pushing the buttons the other pulling/twisting/swearing/about dragging the whole boat,..stuck.

the owner is about to go inside to get/do something, i push the buttons and yank and out they popped...very weird even with all that prior effort...

do these things need some kind of lubrication?

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2019 Hobie Outback Slate Blue
2018 Hobie Compass Seagrass Green
2012 Hobie Pro Angler w/MD180 Papaya Orange

ex 2012 Hobie Tandem Island
ex 2011 Hobie Pro Angler
ex 2011 Hobie Adventure Island
ex 2010 Hobie Adventure Island

Yea, I use odorless, colorless, tasteless type, its called "Profanity"

I'm having the same exact experience; my '12 AI left front aka sticks after every sail. I'll try these fixes. Must be something simple, I don't think there've been any changes to the crossbar recently.

What has worked really well for me is a pair of those spring clamps. They fit perfectly on the release buttons, holding them fully in while you try to pull/twist/swear the aka out of the crossbar.

Happy sailing.

-jb24601