Broken centering pin on 180 drive

On my last trip out my 180 drive was making a new squeaking noise that was pretty annoying. Upon closer inspection I noticed that one of the centering pins on the spin had snapped off somehow which was allowing the drive to shift to the right a bit causing some contact at the point where the metal shaft click in causing the squeak.



Not sure how the centering pin broke off as I've never dropped the drive or hit anything hard. Has anyone else had this problem and fixed it? It's been 1.5 years since I bought the Outback new, I don't suppose this might be a warranty fix?

Thanks,
Kevin
2017 Outback

Mirage Drives have had alignment pins since 2012 to prevent incorrect installation of the Drive where the nose slips under the drivewell. Older boats don't have the recess built in to accommodate these pins, it is a common practice to cut them off when using a newer Drive in an older boat. So in your newer boat, you don't need the pins if you know how to insert the Drive by keeping the spine from tilting forward. Since you have one pin remaining, it will still align your Drive for you.

These pins have nothing to do with left and right placement of the Drive or your squeak. A little light oil or silicone spray on all moving parts should take care of the problem.

BTW, I have cut off the alignment pins on all my GT and 180 Drives so they can be used interchangeably in my 2010 Adventure and 2011 Oasis.

Turned out that the squeaking had nothing to do with the alignment pins as you said. One of the chain sprockets had a big chunk busted off inside the spine where the bearings are supposed to go around it, that chunk and the few remaining bearings were tumbling around in there making all sorts of squeaking noises. Luckily the drive was still in the warranty period so Hobie sent a new spine, now it is quiet once again.

Thanks for the followup!