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| Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly http://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=42667 |
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| Author: | fusioneng [ Tue Oct 06, 2015 6:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
My TI is a 2012 model year, and the AKA tubes are glued and riveted into the knuckles, I assumed this was started after a rash of complaints about the rivets coming loose on the early model boats. This seemed to cure the problem at the time. However gluing operations are expensive, and any manufacturer would actively look for the means to eliminate the need for the gluing operation by adjusting the tolerancing between the tube and the knuckle. On the early models there was a pretty large gap (at least 1/16) between the tube and the knuckle because of neccessary draft in the molded knuckles. By adjusting the manufacturing tolerancing and making the tube a press fit into a secondary machined (bored hole) in the knuckle, then adding the rivets, would also work (eliminating the expensive gluing operation), the actual press fit would only need be at the bottom 1/3 of the hole, a little clearance at the opening actually makes it stronger.and less prone to elbowing. Either solution would fix the problem, I only know what was done on my 2012 model year boat, exactly how Hobie is doing the knuckles now I have no idea. I'm a manufacturing guy, and only describe things in standard manufactuing terms, what Hobie does is their business, I just care that my boat works. I would be very suprised if Hobie was still gluing the knuckle joints. FE |
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| Author: | MariusMarinus [ Tue Oct 06, 2015 8:17 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
Would love to hear from other 2015 AI owners. Some of the reply my dealer got from hobie "....the akas are now glued at the factory...” so it seems they should still glue them however as mentioned mine isnt... |
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| Author: | Bazinga [ Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:10 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
My 2015 TI is experiencing loose rivets and loose aka's and is currently under review by Hobie and my dealer. This was an area reps demo boat prior to my purchase in August of 2015. Looseness between the aka tube and the knuckle casting, probably results in an inch of play measured at the far end of the aka. Not real certain, but it appears to be SS rivets. These have not been disassembled, so I can't really determine if it was glued or not. There also seems to a lot of slop in the hinge pin joint when in the extended position. No apparent corrosion, but I believe that this unit has only been used in fresh water, not certain of that. I really, really enjoy my TI. If I didn't have this boat I would not be able to sail nearly as often as I do. Solo launching and retrieval is critical to my increased sailing time. This boat really hits the sweet spot between kayaks and smaller sailing boats. It's the best!! Hobie has done a great job with the design and innovative engineering. While looseness of aka's and aka rivets seems to be a well documented issue, dating back nearly to the inception of the Island series, I'm certain that Hobie has their reasons for the current assembly method and will address this appropriately. Full confession, I am an unabashed Hobie fan boy. |
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| Author: | PeteCress [ Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
MariusMarinus wrote: ...wondering if other 2015 AI owners have glued AKA joints... I think mine are glued.... because, even though each one has 4 pop rivets, I am pretty sure that I can see a little bit of black adhesive peeking out around the ama/knuckle body joint on one of them.Does this ring true with others? |
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| Author: | RandomJoe [ Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:05 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
My '15 TI knuckles don't appear to be glued. It's a pretty snug fit into the knuckle, but there is play. I can wiggle the aka tube in the knuckle when holding it in my hands. I can feel the rivets move a bit when I do that as well. It's only a very slight movement though, there's far more movement (at least up and down) in the knuckle-to-crossbar connection. |
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| Author: | mingle [ Sun Oct 11, 2015 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly |
Hi FE, It's not so much a 'whistle' more a 'blooping' sound. Only noticed it from the front akas. It appears to be the sound of the water slapping on the front underside of the amas, where the akas are inserted. The sound travels up the open end of the aka end-cap and along the tubing to the open rivet holes. It took a while for me to figure out where the noise was coming from, but now I barely notice it. I did purchase some 100% aluminium rivets to replace the s/steel ones, but I never got around to using them. Mike. fusioneng wrote: Mingle:
Yea but the big question is.... Do the AKA bars still whistle, some guys said ( Might have been you), that when they glued the AKA bars and left the rivets out the AKA bars whistled (air rushing in and out of the holes), I thought that was kinda cool at the time. |
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| Author: | Bazinga [ Fri Oct 23, 2015 1:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose rivets on aka knuckle assembly-Update |
Just got my newly repaired akas back from dealer. They re-glued and re-riveted all 4 of my aka 's where the tube is joined to the knuckle. Very nicely done, zero movement. I'll update next spring after I get some hours on this repair. Promptly and professionally repaired, no hassles, GOOD JOB HOBIE!! Still some slop around the pin that joins the 2 knuckle halves and a little where the knuckle assembly slides into the cross bars. I'll probably work on those a little over the winter. Dealer used the Hobie epoxy and stainless steel rivet repair kit. I'm strictly a fresh water guy so it should work just fine.[b][/b] |
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