Installing the AKA Spring Hook Replacement

just to share my install experience.
Mine is 2017 AI and never touch the water yet. Bought it Nov 2017.

Everything came out and the new ones were installed with no issue. However, while inspecting the installed lock bearing i noticed I overtightened it to the point where it cracked the inner left and right lips that you can only notice if you closely look at it. The screws digged in so easily using the manual screw driver. So easy that it was hard to know when to stop. Now that ive seen where it can crack, i know now when to stop .

Hello Matt,

Can i buy just these 4 lock bearings. Please provide the product ID.

Thank you.

Hobie AI new January 2017 used continuously in salt water most weekends or mid week washed in fresh water after every uses.I approached the first lock very gingerly two of the four screws snapped after the lightest application of the screw driver.

I’m stopping for a re-think should have read this posted about using heat first.

No sailing tomorrow’s

I'm having trouble getting the spring hooks out of the crossbar. I've tried pushing them out from the opposite side using a long rod without success. Any ideas?

bought an inexpensive (cheap) extended long nose "angled" needle nose pliers at Harbor Freight..........
sprayed the inside of the cross brace with WD-40..............
you can reach in with 'long' needle nose pliers, compress the spring hook and with a little twisting action they slide right out.

Once the buttons popped inside the beam I used a long thin rod to push from either side then pliers to pull the last bit as well.

Cheers Andy

Not currently. We only get them in as assemblies.

Same thing happened to me. Before ordering new parts, I'm going to try to drill it out and tap to 8-32 like others have done.

Matt, also interested in ordering the cast aluminum hinge piece.

I'll work on that. As far as I know... we do not have castings alone.

_________________
Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA

As several have encountered the issue of screws breaking inside the casting, it would nice if Hobie made recommendations for screw removal in the upgrade instructions or require that it be a dealer repair only. I've gone from a simple warranty upgrade to now needing two castings (if available) or a complete aka assembly.

The heat solution seems to be the fix. As noted in this thread. I will ask engineering to validate and make instructions following that routine.

_________________
Matt Miller
Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA

Is that a rivet in the second photo or a threaded fastener?

It's a rivet.

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2015 Adventure Island.

I'm not a rivet expert, but how does it get purchase?

OK so I see everyone has been having problems with the AKA part but what about the spring hook inside the brace? I can not seem to figure out how to remove them. Any tips?

Thanks
Rob

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Rob From NJ
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5KKul ... subscriber