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 Post subject: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 4:59 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:16 pm
Posts: 150
Location: Belmont. NC
Thought I'd share this for older Adventure Island owners like myself. The akas on my AI had some play to them, so I found some ss thin walled tubing that had a very good fit over the Hobie aka pins. Use only thin walled tubing so as not to drill away too much aluminum. Doing so could weaken instead of strengthen the crossbar and aka ends.

Cut the tubing into lengths to fit into the cross bars and akas. Drill out the akas & cross bars to a very close fit for the tubing. Used JB weld to lock tubing in place. Filed flush and deburred the ends. Now there is very little play and is stronger too.

Also after reading about salt water crossbar corrosion from being in contact with brass inserts, I used some flat thin ss strips and drilled just enough for the allen screw and placed between crossbars and deck to separate aluminum-brass contact. These strips are about as thin as a Coke can so they won't raise the crossbars enough causing any issues with the sail bearing and spool. The brass inserts stick up slightly above the deck, so filing them down for a stable tight fit more then compensates for the ss strips.

I found all the material at my local hardware store but hobby shops should have the right sized stainless steel tubing and strips as well.

[url]Image[/url]

Careful measuring to select a bit the same size as the outer diameter of the sleeve.

[url]Image[/url]


It's important not to drill the akas and cross bar out too big. Just to the point that the sleeves will slide in snug, then remove and apply JB weld and tap back in. Wipe away excess with paint thinner and rag.
[url]Image[/url]


Note the deburring, that makes the pins guide in easy just like before.
[url]Image[/url]

Make the holes just large enough for the allen bolts to pass through.

[url]Image[/url]

Before placing ss strips, I filed the inserts down flush for a better platform when all is reassembled.

[url]Image[/url]


Another good thing to do is sand, clean, and paint the crossbar bases to further protect them.


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 2:09 pm 
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Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 2:31 pm
Posts: 3068
Location: Kailua 96734
I've heard of this being done with plastic/composite tube inserts.

Let us know if you see corrosion developing near the SS inserts.


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:28 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:30 am
Posts: 128
Location: AUS: Sydney midweek - Murrumbateman weekends
Thanks heaps for your discussion. After 2 years of weekly use my aka pin bearings have also grown excessively and I have been looking for the best way to recondition them.

Then to brush back the corrosion of the akas and repaint them.


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:54 pm 
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Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:30 am
Posts: 128
Location: AUS: Sydney midweek - Murrumbateman weekends
What was the size of the tube which you used? Do you know the OD and wall thickness?


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:27 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:16 pm
Posts: 150
Location: Belmont. NC
Sorry it took so long to get back to this. OD= 7.95mm, .317". Wall is .75mm, .036" Inner Dia = 6.4mm, .251"


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:58 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:13 pm
Posts: 7
Hi,
Has anyone been able to source the stainless steel sleeve in Australia? (or somewhere that will ship to Australia?)
I have some 2009-era aka hinges with too much play, and need to do this procedure.


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:32 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:13 pm
Posts: 7
Double post first up, sorry.


Last edited by Deefa on Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:46 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:21 pm
Posts: 2498
Location: Central Florida
On our older AI's we just add small pieces of thin outdoor carpet glued to the flat end area of the aka x-bar's to take up the excess play. For some reason they don't seem to wear any further and are silent with the additional cushion.

_________________
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Hobie Island Sailing since 2006


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 Post subject: Re: Aka tune up.
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 3:01 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:13 pm
Posts: 7
Found it, wasn't looking hard enough:
K & S precision steels,
5/16" stainless steel seamless tube, 0.028" wall thickness, gives approx: using ID = (OD - ( 2 x W.T))

7.94mm OD
0.711mm Wall thickness
6.51mm ID

Which is about the right dimensions. $9.98 each for 12" / 300mm

I may also pad the ends with either rubber or carpet as recommended, anything to reduce the noise will be beneficial.

Thanks!

Edit: of course the only place nearby I could find them in stock had them for $15 each, plus delivery. Still, I have the tools to do the job properly, just need JB weld and I'll do it tomorrow night.


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