vetgam wrote:
Yes Chris I have the parts. I installed the furlER guide but gave up on the aka clamps. I found it very difficult to "push" the clamps out of the crossbar and was worried that I may not be able to get the new clamp positioned perfectly to screw into place. I gave it a go and then quickly decided that I didn't have a problem in the first place and it wasn't worth the risk of creating another. Would love to hear if someone has a clever way to do it. I used the flat head screen drivery in the holes idea. I even had the benifit of a 2.5ft screw driver. I'll wait for feedback from those who were brave enough to finish the job.
I understand your concern Greg.
I just finished doing my akas and I could not figure out how to do it using their directions and the flat head screwdriver. What I did was make a hook tool out of a piece of steel rod I had laying around. Put the end of the steel rod in a vice and hit it with a hammer to make a hook at the end. Then using a flashlight (wife's idea:), look into the aka chamber and slide the rod with hook in to grab the piece. Press the two buttons in while pulling on the rod/hook and it will slide right out. The new one slides in fairly easily and that's where I used a large flat head screwdriver to push it in. Push it until the buttons snap into the holes and the screws should line up pretty good. Easy as can be. The other piece that goes on the aka can go on two ways. The top of the ramp should go on the outside of the bar. But no worries if you put it on backwards because you will know. It will not lock when you pull on the aka. I found that out on my first try
. Once it's done, you should have a beautifully locking aka bar. It really is a fantastic upgrade. Good engineering.
This is what I quickly made from scrap steel rod. Without this, it would have been difficult to remove the old part from inside the aka chamber. Took quite a bit of a pull to get them out. Much easier to slide the new ones in.
Thanks for the free upgrade Hobie !
Jim