Click-n-Go mount - spring sticking out of left mount

I just noticed that what looks like the spring (not much thicker than a large paperclip) was sticking out of the mirage drive click-n-go mount, on the left side - coming out of the top near the lever. I futzed with it and it was lose and fell back inside the mount. Does anyone have experience with opening the unit and fixing this? I thought I saw a post about this in the forum but did not pay attention to where it was and now I cannot find it. Another I found is old, and the photos have all expired. It does not seem to affect the drive locking into place.

Matt/Hobie is this covered under the warranty? Maybe a replacement part Hobie can get to me before I leave on Weds morning? Something I should be worried about? I am going to be on the water for 12 days, starting next week and hate the thought of a busted drive, or more importantly taking an unexpected swim and losing the drive. I bought a leash, but have not used it yet. Have not figured out where to attach it best that it does not get in the way. Guessing that at this point, attaching it anywhere is better than perfect.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

The spring is inserted through a hole in the "toggle lever".....if for some reason it came out of the hole, you can reinstall it by taking apart the click-and-go assembly.
If it broke, the click-and-go will not toggle correctly......and that is very rare.....you need a new one and it's covered under the 2 year Hobie warranty.

Re. leashing your Mirage drive see viewtopic.php?f=60&t=12569

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

Hoping it becomes self apparent when I take this apart - like when I adjusted the rudder lines. I cannot find any good posts or videos on this.

That aside, do most of you honestly leash your drives? I have never been a big fan of leashing anything like rods or paddles. Strapping stuff down, like a cooler or Blackpak, of course. But leashes just get in the way and in some cases I think they can be dangerous. But I fish mostly lakes, with little current. So stuff is not swept down stream. I am a GIANT fan of rod floats though, which have saved me 100's of dollars.

Completely unrelated..except for thinking about losing things in my kayak. But someone needs to come up with a scupper screen. If I drop a jig or weight or my clippers, or just about anything in the kayak, it finds a scupper hole. That is not a Hobie phenomena, that is just me in a sit on top phenomena.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

Yes, I have always leashed my Mirage drive......IMHO, only a fool would not leash it....it's a $650 hit if you lose it

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

A fool I am. But actually, for me, it would be a $65 hit, I already checked that with my Insurance company when I bought the policy on my PA. That $100 policy provides some serious peace of mind when I am motoring down the highway at 75 mph pulling my kayak on a $189 Harbor Freight trailer that I bolted together myself. But I get where you are coming from, and losing it in the middle of a trip would suck!

I am going to take some photos tomorrow when I take the Click-n-Go apart. Hopefully this is pretty simple and I can help the next person. The fact that I see this spring for sale and in stock at a bunch of places says to me that this is not uncommon. I might want to add a couple to my repair kit considering they are less than a $1. They look almost exactly like a spring in a clothespin!

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

Not so rare. My left click & go receiver toggle spring broke off one year ago; my right broke off last week.

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PA 14; 2012
Cape Fear River - NC

It seams that the plastic covered lever is blocking the front hex bolt hole on the left click-n-go mount. I can get to the bolt fine on the right side click-n-go. Anyone know of the plastic cover on the lever comes off easily or not? I think if I had it off, there would be room enough to get the Allen wrench into the whole vertically enough to remove the bolt. I really don't want to strip that bolt head coming in at an angle. I also don't want to ruin the plastic cover prying it off, if there is an easier way.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

The plastic cover is secured by 2 flat head Philips machine screws....you can use a right angle Philips to remove it.....however, you need/should use a "ball head Allen key" on the bottom hardware.

Great photos Roadrunner!

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Dr.SteelheadCatcher
Warrenton, OR

As Dr.SteelheadCatcher says, a ball head Hex key (Allenhead) set should help (Harbor freight about $6 or $7 for the set with 20% off coupon) -- it lets you work at an angle. I've always managed with with a regular Allenhead though.
1. Leave the cover in place for now.
2. Disconnect the one Allenhead that you can reach.
3. You should be able to get your wrench into the other screw enough to get a bite and try to wiggle the C&G while twisting. Once you get it started, you can maneuver the loose unit enough to finish the job. It takes a little finesse.
4. When installing the new spring you make the final bend to lock it in place
5. Note the spring can flip either way. Pay attention to the correct direction in the pics above.
6. Install in reverse order. Don't forget to use some Loctite Blue on the threads so they don't back out later!
Thanks -- those "macro modes" really let you get in close. They're amazing!

Great information everyone. I did not get a chance to get it done today, as I fished a bass tourney - poorly. Only one fish over 15". But figuring that of 35 boats, only 5 had fish at all, it could have been worse.

Roadrunner/Dr - good information. I will run to HF tomorrow and pick up a set of the ball head hex keys - even if I don't need them, this just gives me a reason to go to Harbor Freight.

Actually, I still dont know if the spring is intact and just came loose, or if it has broke. Has anyone had them just pop free without breaking? I have not ordered a replacement yet.

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

It wouldn't pop loose -- am pretty sure it broke. Like all springs, they eventually succumb to metal fatigue. New springs are cheap. You might want to order 2 of each (left and right). If you screw up one you'll have a spare (you have to custom bend the tip to lock it in place). If the other side breaks you'll be ready to replace it without waiting. You'll be an expert at replacing them by then!

It is a 2016 PA14 and only a month and a half old, though I have had it on the water a lot already in it's short life. I am not going to be able to get one delivered by the time I leave for a trip to Kentucky on Wednesday morning - unless I want to pay $25 to overnight $4 worth of parts - and it might come down to that. I will check my local dealer to see if they have them in stock. (I did not see them on their parts wall when I was making my emergency repair kit.) Other than that, there are two other dealers between St. Louis and Kentucky Lake. Will get on the horn tomorrow and see if they have them in stock.

Thanks for all the information. There are an amazing amount of helpful people on this forum, and I greatly appreciate that help!

Off to Harbor Freight to buy a set of 'ball head hex keys'...

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937

This should all be covered by warranty. If your dealer is any good he should "borrow" another C&G unit off another boat (perhaps a Demo) and loan it to you until a replacement arrives -- and install it for you to make sure his customer is properly cared for so you don't have any potential problems during your tournament (you may have to loan him one of your new Allenhead wrenches)! My local dealer would do that in a heartbeat for his customers -- he likes their return business!

Best of luck in your tournament!!

Thanks again everyone. HF had the goofy looking Allen Heads on sale. I think they were $4.99 and I was able to use a Mothers Day sale 25% off coupon. Still manages to spend over $50 on stuff I really did not need!

Anyway, I took it apart this afternoon. The spring sheared where it was attached to the c&g on the base. I thought it was completely loose, but it was still attached on one side. Took a little patience, but I was able to take a loop out and get it rigged back up. I would like to say the spring looks great now, but it looks exactly like you would expect from being manhandled by pliers and a vice grip, but it works, and should buy me time until I can get the replacement. It really is self apparent once you get the click-n-go off the boat. I wish Hobie would have mounted the screws holding the plastic cover on differently, from the top, instead of the bottom, so you did not need to remove the whole unit to get to the spring.

I am sure my dealer would help out. They just started selling Hobies, and honestly, at this point, I probably know more now about their kayaks than they do. They are geniuses when it comes to trolling motors and electronics though.

Load off my small little mind for now. Thanks everyone for the help all!

Roadrunner - thanks again. I actually fished the tournament on Saturday. The trip to Kentucky Lake is just a fishing club I am in. We have 35 going this year. I am going to have 12 glorious days on the water, hopefully with no or limited cell coverage!

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STLKayak
2020 Pro Angler 14 360
St. Louis, Missouri
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005695487937