V2 Mirage drive - Cracked Plastic

Has anyone with a V2 drive seen the plastic break around the pulley shaft? 

(hush Spot...) 

I noticed that the shaft was sliding out, and discovered this recently.  It looks like I have to replace the entire spine.  I can tighten the set screw, and keep the shaft in place for a little while, but it opens the crack further. 

I discovered that when fighting a strong current, the shaft will work its way out at the worst of times.

Not gonna fly for ocean fishing. 

This is my 3rd drive, and the one I have babied the most.  No ill advised trips down shallow rapids(yet).  Never had this problem before.   Perhaps I had the cables too tight? 

I have had idler pulleys crack and fail on me, but I've never had the pulley shaft come loose.  I think it results from the idler cable being too tight.

I just replaced a V2 spine this weekend for a similar problem but mine cracked at the sprocket shaft...I was surprised that it's only a $22.00 part and it was a pretty quick project.

Have no idea why it cracked...dealer thought maybe I'd overtightened the set screw but I never touched it.

Sorry, I see what you're saying now.  I thought you were just talking about the pully.  Nope, haven't seen it happen.  Like Nangusdog said though, they're cheap and fairly easy to replace.

Depending on how bad the crack is, you could probably remove the shaft, super-glue the crack shut and then cross drilled a small hole through the shaft using the set screw hole as a guide and install a stainless machine screw and locknut to hold it all together. Probably better to replace the spine but just a thought or maybe a temporary repair.

Yeah,  I'm thinking better to get a new one.  I just wish I knew what caused it so I can avoid doing that again and having it fail several miles off shore with a strong current when the the wind changes and all of a sudden I am afraid for my life.

Ok this may be a dumb question but does anyone know why they don't make the mirage drive unit out of metals that are non corrosive like aluminum or stainless?  Would it really affect the price of the overall unit to drastically? or make it to heavy? I know that the piece it self has metal components but it looks to me that the fail points are in the plastic components... I don't have a hobie but am just curious if anyone else has thought like me or not...

The machining cost might be too high to do the whole thing.  I have seen metal inserts cast into plastic.  That might work.

I really need to figure out how to break mine. I am a total failure at that. I have tried everything and have not had a problem with either of them.  What am I doing wrong?

-craig


p.s. Knock on wood.

Yeah,  I'm thinking better to get a new one.  I just wish I knew what caused it so I can avoid doing that again and having it fail several miles off shore with a strong current when the the wind changes and all of a sudden I am afraid for my life.

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to swap the set screws at both points with a machine screw and lock nut. That would  be cheap insurance to ensure it never happens again...anybody see a fault in that plan?

I really need to figure out how to break mine. I am a total failure at that. I have tried everything and have not had a problem with either of them.  What am I doing wrong?

-craig


p.s. Knock on wood.

You just totally jinxed yourself!

I really need to figure out how to break mine. I am a total failure at that. I have tried everything and have not had a problem with either of them.  What am I doing wrong?

-craig


p.s. Knock on wood.

That's a problem I hope you never solve!

Yeah,  I'm thinking better to get a new one.  I just wish I knew what caused it so I can avoid doing that again and having it fail several miles off shore with a strong current when the the wind changes and all of a sudden I am afraid for my life.

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to swap the set screws at both points with a machine screw and lock nut. That would  be cheap insurance to ensure it never happens again...anybody see a fault in that plan?

If you're going to set it with screws, I recommend using U bolts and going through two holes.  Fungunnin had a really good repair job posted up, it's worth searching out.