Mirage ARC 180 Drive cables too tight? Inquiring minds want to know!

Figured I would ask the NCKA Hive Mind about this. I recently had my ARC 180 Mirage drive repaired with a new spine and bearings. The 3 cables are very tight. No flex whatsoever when pushed. This is the second time they have come back from the shop like this. The Hobie dealer who did the work did not send it to Hobie proper but just ordered the parts and installed them. How much flex should the cables have? 1/8th inch? I am not a weak person per se, 6'3" 240 lbs. I also pull my drive at take out and put it in when on the water and don't grind it in the sand. Washed thoroughly with clean water after every trip which is about once a week. I have had lots of problems with the bearings making noise and needing replacement. The spine eventually started to show the wear of these bearing disintegration's and needed replacement. I have an older V2 drive with turbos that is 11 years old and still works perfectly. The cables are not as snug as the 180 but there are no bearings to deal with.

From the Hobie Forum maintenance guide ...

3. Cables: Starting with your idler cable, squeeze it about mid length (see below). If it doesn't move, it's probably too tight. it should give slightly (about 1/8 inch).

https://www.hobie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=12578

Yup, should be some play.

I don't know about that particular drive, but I have 2 of the GT drives. On the Hobie forum, the consensus is that for the V2/GT, you want more play than Hobie recommends, and definitely not less. A guy who goes by Roadrunner has done a bunch of tests, and he's shown pretty convincingly that more play (up to a point) equates to more efficient pedaling, not to mention less wear. My guess is that the same holds for your 180.

It might be normal. I just picked up a new Hobie GT Kickup mirage drive and the idler/front pulley cables are SUPER tight. The rear pulley cable has more play.

I don't know about that particular drive, but I have 2 of the GT drives. On the Hobie forum, the consensus is that for the V2/GT, you want more play than Hobie recommends, and definitely not less. A guy who goes by Roadrunner has done a bunch of tests, and he's shown pretty convincingly that more play (up to a point) equates to more efficient pedaling, not to mention less wear. My guess is that the same holds for your 180.

They should sponsor him, he is like the non-official Hobie troubleshooter, so awesome!