Re-rigging the rudder up down lines is a bear....

My down rudder line slipped a knot in the middle of the ocean. Paddled back 4 miles without a rudder After inspection, I had to re-rig the whole up down assembly on my 07 Revolution.

First of all, it took a while to figure out how to do it. The spring on the up down lever is so strong, and its so deep in the hull that I could barely hold it long enough for someone to bolt down the handle.

If youre trying to do this, Ive got a tip. Get a pair of vice grip pliers and a 2 inch thick wood block. Slip the lever assembly in and grip it with the vice grip. Now slip a block under the lever assembly and hold it in place. This block takes the spring's load and places it against the hull, making holding it in place a whole lot easier. Take the vice grip off and have another person bolt down the handle while you hold the wood block in place.

As for routing new lines thru the old plastic tubes, I'm using 80 pound fishing line thru the back of the hull, and pulling the new lines from inside. Be careful not to loop the new lines thru some of the scuppers inside the kayak. I also am used candle wax as a lubricant for the lines.

All this took about 4 hours to figure out and do

I'm now just waiting on a new up down handle as the brass sleeve on the old one now keeps slipping and letting go of the lever After take 3, I ordered a new one.

To be continued.

/bing

Thanks for the tip, and sorry to hear about your learning experience. Maybe it's a good idea for me to put a couple of drops of CA on my knots to prevent it from slipping?

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mrsinbad

Get the handle retro kit that uses the bolt through the shaft to hold the handle on. Shown in the catalog as 81035011 "BOLTED HANDLE AND CONTROL ARM KIT"

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

Aiyee! Too late. I already ordered it thru Austin Kayak. Ugh. Never knew there was a retro kit. I know my hull is still under warranty but my dealer is 90 miles from me I gotta go visit him sometime.

/bing

UPDATE: My new control handle came. It didnt fix the issue. The lever arm would still slip from the handle due to the strength of the spring and the weight of the sailing rudder.

A friend of mine solved the problem by deepening the knotch on the lever arm with a drill. It now holds better against the set screw. Problem SOL-VED.

If I had a drill press, I would drill the lever arm knotch thru and thru, buy a longer set screw and just thru bolt that assembly. Next time.

Good to see the new Revo's ditch this tremendously cumbersome system.

/bing

... man thats some friend ! !

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