Is there susposed to be vertical play in the Cams?

My mirage drive when I first go it took two clicks past engaging to lock it in, now its four clicks on one and three on the others. The four click on has some noticeable vertical movement with the drive out.

Should I tighten them back down or does this indicate the cam bolts are stripping out during vigorous peddling?

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2007 Hobie Revolution

Interesting. Mine is four clicks and it has been that way since day one.
Brazos

PS. Can't wait to see how this thread pans out.

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Speaking of threads, you're in good shape as long as your cam knob doesn't get much past 200 degrees rotation. At that point, if the cam bolt has been moving, I'd drop a dab of epoxy in (acts as a thread filler with poly and keeps the bolt from backing out) and re-install your cams, On my Adventure, 1/8" vertical play is just about right, but check your Drive installation before the epoxy sets. Make sure you don't epoxy the cam knob!

PS Hobie offers a helicoil set to stablize the cam bolt but epoxy works great for me.

RR, the 1/8 vertical play is with drive not installed correct?

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2007 Hobie Revolution

That is correct, I look for a small vertical play with no drive installed. Temperature will affect this slightly and Polyethylene has a little give to it also. It might vary a little from one model to another, so the best test is to install the Drive and look for solid engagement within 1/3 to 1/2 turn with the cam knobs (a little more or less is still OK). Obviously you don't want the cam knobs approaching 360 degrees, but there is plenty of margin for variability. IMO, it's best not to mess with the factory settings unless you have a problem.

Cam knobs should be firmly hand tightened -- no more, no less. Your Drive should not rock from side to side when installed, but it is designed to rock slightly front to rear.

The Cam locks, with out any adjustment spun all the way around and never really locked down the drive. I didn't think anything about it and just tightened down the bolts. Did I hurt something in the process. Currently they lock down but after about a 3/4 turn. I'm pretty close to 360. So the specks are at least 1/8 of an inch with the drive installed.

Freediver, welcome to the forum. If everything is working well in that position, you're OK, but near the limit. It sounds like tightening your bolts was the correct thing to do. If they creep out any more, just tighten them down again so the knobs engage the Drive sooner.

The 1/8" is not a spec, but a typical vertical play allowance for the knob without the drive installed. The idea here is have enough play to get the knob started over the drumshaft.

The reason that I recommend not to mess with the factory setting, is because I believe the cam bolts are self threading and moving them around unnecessarily will start to loosen them. But again, if you need to tighten them to make them work, there's no problem.

It's unusual for someone to have a problem with the locking cams, but as you found out, occasionally one will be out of adjustment. Sometimes with use, one or both of the cam bolts can start to creep out of position. In that case, I've had good success with epoxy holding them in place after readjustment. I hope this answers your question.

Thanks I feel better. I've had some bugs to tend too out of the box with this Adventure. The first thing that happened was the Cam locks would turn all the way around without locking the drive in place. I didn't bring an allen wrench set to the beach with me. So I just went ez on the peddles, the second thing that happened was the steering control handle broke off both these things happened within the first 3 minutes of the maiden voyage. (the second problem is still unresolved but I'm in the process of working with the dealer here on Oahu)
So I'm ok with tightening the bolts. OK I 'd better tighten them just a little more, just to allow for slippage. thanks!