carry a spare mirage drive on your Hobie? [updated]

The bearings should make the "clamshell" parts of the drive last much longer reducing the sloppiness of the drive. This in turn should keep the chains in alignment ...less noise...less wear and tear on the sprockets etc.

Also more efficient pedaling...

Remember not to take your MD for granted. Clean it, service it, take care of it and it will take care of you.

How do you service and take care of yours?  I just rinse and spray some WD40.  Curious how others maintain their MD.  thx.

Check for cracks. Lube. Tighten nuts and bolts. Make sure no cables are frayed. If something is damaged, replace the part.

 

Remember not to take your MD for granted. Clean it, service it, take care of it and it will take care of you.

How do you service and take care of yours?  I just rinse and spray some WD40.  Curious how others maintain their MD.  thx.

Check for cracks. Lube. Tighten nuts and bolts. Make sure no cables are frayed. If something is damaged, replace the part.

Am I the only one who think it is ridiculous that we are talking about bring along spare mirage drives? It seems to me hobie needs to redesign their mirage drive to be more robust. The mirage drive is like a fine Italian sports car. It is great when it runs, but it is in the shop all the time. What we need is a toyota of pedal drive, one that just keeps working. Are the other pedal drives such as propel, pdl, and helix pd as prone to failure as the mirage drive?

Am I the only one who think it is ridiculous that we are talking about bring along spare mirage drives? It seems to me hobie needs to redesign their mirage drive to be more robust. The mirage drive is like a fine Italian sports car. It is great when it runs, but it is in the shop all the time. What we need is a toyota of pedal drive, one that just keeps working. Are the other pedal drives such as propel, pdl, and helix pd as prone to failure as the mirage drive?

I think some of you folks are missing the point. 

I don't believe these drives are prone to fail.  But the more you use it and the harder you use it the risk or odds do go up.  Same with your kayak, paddle, fish finder, fishing pole, or any accessories. 

I never carried an extra drive until I heard Raydons story.  Breaking a drive and a paddle on the same trip. 

In calm waters with no wind your mirage drive most likely will be fine unless its rusted or wasn't checked for cracks or defects. 

I have been out on the ocean when it has turned nasty.  Those are usually the times when extra force is put on the drive and I can feel it being worked harder. 

On shorter trips I don't need an extra drive.  But on longer ones where I know my arms may give out (nerve problems) if I have to paddle back I decided bringing an extra drive was worth it so I did not have to burden anyone with towing me in. 

I bring extra dive gear in case something breaks.  I don't want to cut a trip short so have figured out what minimum items I need to keep going on the water in case of a failure.  Doesn't mean they are prone to break. 

I know many who bring multiple fishing poles in case one breaks.  I don't and usually only bring one.  Those poles are not prone to break but I have had some break on me either way. 

So don't over think this.  For many one drive will work, but for me there are days I feel better taking an extra drive.  Places with strong currents, windy areas or on longer trips. 

Getting a pedal kayak was the only way for me to get out on the water.  I would go with a lighter kayak if I could, but I can't so I will just do what I have to so I can keep doing it. 

I don't believe these drives are prone to fail. 

+1

Am I the only one who think it is ridiculous that we are talking about bring along spare mirage drives?

wurd, bruh.  wurddddd!

Any mechanical propulsion device used in salt water can fail. The weak links in the Mirage drive are the attachments, primarly cables. Inspect and replace when corroded or when seeing a broken wire strand. Other full revolution drives have lately been entering the market. Give them a few years to test their reliability against the Mirage drive. Probably be a wash. The Mirage drive is a relatively light unit. An almost unbreakable drive could be designed using heavier beefed up components but extra weight on a yak isn't desirable. No perfect boats, only compromises.

I don't believe these drives are prone to fail. 

+1

I guess I'm "lucky" that over the course of 6+ years having the Adventure and Revo, Ive never had an issue. All thing wear and tear, including paddles...

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I don't believe these drives are prone to fail. 

+1

+2.  I have had 2 rudder pins break OTW but never my Mirage Drives.

I don't believe these drives are prone to fail. 

+1

+2.  I have had 2 rudder pins break OTW but never my Mirage Drives.

You have been fortunate. I have broken a mast inside the sprocket, and a guy I regularly fish hmb with has broken his mirage drive twice in 3 weeks. The 1st time the pedal arm snapped. The 2nd time his mast snapped at the sprocket. None of these failures could be prevented via routine inspection, unless you regularly untrasound your metal parts for fractures. And these are not simple repairs that you can perform on the water.

You have been fortunate. I have broken a mast inside the sprocket, and a guy I regularly fish hmb with has broken his mirage drive twice in 3 weeks. The 1st time the pedal arm snapped. The 2nd time his mast snapped at the sprocket. None of these failures could be prevented via routine inspection, unless you regularly untrasound your metal parts for fractures. And these are not simple repairs that you can perform on the water.

Upgrading to solid crank arms is definitely worthwhile---breaking a crank arm could easily result in a nasty cut.

Matanaska broke his again yesterday. I've lost count.

Matanaska broke his again yesterday. I've lost count.

What things have broken/failed?

I don't believe these drives are prone to fail. 

+1

+2.  I have had 2 rudder pins break OTW but never my Mirage Drives.

Krusty has been going out 3-4 times a week with his Revo this year so i'm sure he's doubling or tripling what normal kayakers are doing in a year