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should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?
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Author:  kickboyface [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?

hello again,

i'm upgrading the stock fins of V2 mirage drives (ca. 2010) with new sets purchased this year (using roadrunner's recommended 1/8th" overlap with the fin top).

one drive is getting (red!) turbos. and everything is fine.

the other is getting STs and those are problematic. the chain is just interfering with the edge of the cut-out opening.

Image

if you look at the holes the ones in the turbos are clearly wider. measuring from inside-to-inside confirms ... the turbos are 17mm wide, the STs are 12mm ... or half a cm different.

if you run the drive and look at it, the chain doesn't actually move relative to the fin (or if it does, it doesn't do much).

so my question is this ... it would be easy enough to take an X-acto and trim another 5mm off the fin ... but if i do that am i damaging the underlying integrity?

alternatively, i could return it and ask for another (i'll bet you anything this was tooled out of spec by accident).

or i could just leave it.

suggestions anyone?

thanks, in advance, as always.

Author:  Roadrunner [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?

It looks like you have a couple of things going on here.

First, that looks like you may possibly have a very old version of the ST fin. These slots were expanded about 5 years ago. Take a look at yours and see which version yours looks like:
Image

All current ST fins (made within the past year or so) have a patent # stamped on the right rear top next to the outhaul adjustment screw.

IMO your dealer should offer you a discount if you have the narrow slot version or offer to replace it with a current version. Although they look the same, there is a difference in the material (they have upgraded it twice since then) -- the current version is more durable.

That said, the slot alignment is not important. Your other issue -- it appears that you have the fin mounted too tight. Loosen the outhaul screw so the back edge of the fin is about 1/8" in the slot. This will drop the fin down, back and clear of the chain. As a bonus, you'll get much better performance as well!

Finally, you can trim the back edge of the slot if it annoys you; it won't hurt a thing. 8)

Author:  Wndrfl [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 2:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?

Good observation Roadrunner (as usual). If the dealer is selling 5 year old inventory, the right thing to do would be to offer a more recent version, at no additional cost.

Otherwise, they should offer a big discount on a fully depreciated piece of inventory. If they have had it on hand that long, they may have already written it off as obsolete.

Author:  stobbo [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?

Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much - worse things have happened at sea 8)

I have cut pieces out of my own fins to extend the slot with no ill effects.

As to the fact that the material may have been upgraded since the time the fins were made... that may be the case but I would bet my bottom dollar that if you tried two identical drives one with the old material fins and the other with the latest material you would not notice the difference as a pedaller.

Re longevity - I still use one of my original Turbo fins (undoubtedly made of one of the very early batches of material - dunno how old it is at least 4, maybe 5 years at a guess - it was one of the first batch into NZ immediately after they were announced by Hobie) - it is still going strong despite the fact that it got sliced through by fishing braid when trying to get a fish in and then mended by me using a hot soldering iron to melt patches over the cuts (that is why I cut bits of material out of the slot).

My other original turbo fin wore through and fell off the fin mast into Davy Jones' locker one day - the wear was caused by the fin being drawn right up tight via the adjustment screw which brought the fin into contact with the clip at the top of the drive on every stroke and eventually wore right through the material until it broke through & then the fin was free to just slide down the mast and off (I mention this in case you need more justification for NOT having your fins adjusted tight into the drive - this is it!)

As to a discount from a retailer - on the basis if the above arguments I would question whether I would really think it worth the heartache for the sake of a couple of dollars... as I say, worse things definitely have happened at sea :mrgreen:

Author:  stobbo [ Wed Jul 03, 2013 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: should i take an X-acto to this ST fin? return it?

Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much - worse things have happened at sea 8)

I have cut pieces out of my own fins to extend the slot with no ill effects.

As to the fact that the material may have been upgraded since the time the fins were made... that may be the case but I would bet my bottom dollar that if you tried two identical drives one with the old material fins and the other with the latest material you would not notice the difference as a pedaller.

Re longevity - I still use one of my original Turbo fins (undoubtedly made of one of the very early batches of material - dunno how old it is at least 4, maybe 5 years but, on the basis that the slots in the fins were expanded 5 years ago, probably even older than that - it was one of the first batch into NZ immediately after they were announced by Hobie and it has had a hard life, believe me) - it is still going strong despite the fact that it got sliced through by fishing braid when trying to get a fish in and then mended by me using a hot soldering iron to melt patches over the cuts (that is why I cut bits of material out of the slot).

My other original turbo fin wore through and fell off the fin mast into Davy Jones' locker one day - the wear was caused by the fin being drawn right up tight via the adjustment screw which brought the fin into contact with the clip at the top of the drive on every stroke and eventually wore right through the material until it broke through & then the fin was free to just slide down the mast and off (I mention this in case you need more justification for NOT having your fins adjusted tight into the drive - this is it!)

As to a discount from a retailer - on the basis if the above arguments I would question whether I would really think it worth the heartache for the sake of a couple of dollars... as I say, there are probably better things to worry about :mrgreen:

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