klunking drive

I remember reading a post a while ago about a notorious "klunk" that develops i the drive system after some time,but never saw a solution posted. Well both my drives have it and it's annoying to say the least. It happens as you are peddling under normal pressure. You even feel it through your feet, but I have not been able figure out what to replace?  I replaced several parts on my first drive, and now my second one is starting to do it also... I replaced the big part the the cables attach to, the little wheel on the top and played with chain tensions, checked the fin shafts for tightness, lubed the shaft, replaced the shaft, to no avail. Anyone have this problem and then figure out how to fix it? Very frustrating. Any intel would be greatly appreciated. It only does it while under load.

Hobie drive music.  Mine comes and goes.

Glyn

Try tightening the 9/16ths bolts on the side of the drive and check for play in the click and go setup. Might be an Allen adjusting screw there to tighten. Like you, I cannot stand excess noise and klunks while pedaling be it bike or kayak.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=41060.0

on one of my drives, the V1 version holes where the pedal shafts click into got elongated and they were clicking al the time--new drum did the job.
But sounds like you already replaced it.

on the Hobie forum a guy said he fixed his clunk by sliding plastic tubing over the locking pins where the drive locks into the hull

It could be the drive rocking back and forth.Where the front and back of the mirage come in contact with the hull; put a small piece of foam or neoprene under the front contact.
I did this with my Adv and it solved the prob.

If you're getting the clunk with 2 different drives in the same locking mechanism, it would seem most likely that it's a problem with the locking part. Is there any way that you can try one of your drives in another Hobie, as that should tell you for sure...

I had a klunk on a used V2 drive I bought as well. It turned out to be the cable slipping off the idler pulley just enough to cause a rhythmic "thwak." Went through the arduous task of researching all the forums and boards I could find and begging for help from all sorts of kind folks. I now consider myself an aficionado of Hobie "klunks," "clicks," "bumps," and "thwaks"... I still know nothing. Good luck, and please do let us know if anything worked for ya!

My paddle is so quiet I can hear fish fart underwater. 

My paddle is so quiet I can hear fish fart underwater. 

Count on Craig for salient observations leading to helpful solutions. Gotta love it.

I had a klunk on a used V2 drive I bought as well. It turned out to be the cable slipping off the idler pulley just enough to cause a rhythmic "thwak." Went through the arduous task of researching all the forums and boards I could find and begging for help from all sorts of kind folks. I now consider myself an aficionado of Hobie "klunks," "clicks," "bumps," and "thwaks"... I still know nothing. Good luck, and please do let us know if anything worked for ya!

Before I upgraded to the GT drive, I had a very annoying issue with the idler pulley (although, more of a squeak than a clunk). The pedals are completely usable without the idler cable. So, now I always set the idler cable loose enough so that I can slip it off the pulley if any strange noise starts happening. That's an easy way to see if the problem is related to the idler pulley.

My paddle is so quiet I can hear fish fart underwater. 

I'll listen closely next time you're paddling into the wind while I eat a sandwich and sip on my drink of choice.

I have taken measures to tighten the connection to the hull via heat shrinking plastic tube rings onto the drive unit knobs. There is no wiggle room there. I boiled them to soften them, then pushed them on and when it cools they shrink on tight. Use the bulk clear tubing you see in all the hardware stores to cut rings off. The klunk is coming from with in the drive unit, not the connection to the boat. It even stops sometimes then reruns.  You can feel it in your feet also. I read the link above to the discussions on the subject and sounded like the bolts to the peddle arms need to be tightened. I tried that, (as much as I dare, it is SS bolt into plastic) and it still makes the klunk…
P.S. Oh Craig, ever notice how all the paddlers leave the ocean when a little wind kicks up after they get sick of donating their swimbaits? Hobie guys just keep on fishin"... I learned that lesson the first year I went to the Elk tourney. Never looked back. Beside that, what the hell are YOU doing on a "Hobie" forum? 

I have taken measures to tighten the connection to the hull via heat shrinking plastic tube rings onto the drive unit knobs. There is no wiggle room there.

Glynn,
Did you do both the front and rear?
Great idea but if only one side had a gap then only one side needed to be done.
By doing both sides equally you may not have evened them out.
This is probably not the problem as you have described, but pedaling puts WAY more pressure on the pedals then trying to move them by hand.
It is possible that because you did both sides the same it feels like it is solid when you move it back and forth with your hands, but that little gap is still there and it moves when you pedal.
When are you getting to Albion?
I'd love to take a look at it.
I'll be there Wednesday.