Відео

No, it’s just standard screws and no tamper-proof provisions. Now that’s the lower unit… The upper unit has the grease fitting for lube and isn’t supposed to be taken apart. It has a rubber gasket between the two aluminum halves which could be misshapen once removed. I would not crack that open without a spare gasket…

Probably the bearings. I would call Jackson tech support. They need to provide the flex shaft instead of having to replace the entire lower unit like they have done for me. I have been unsuccessful getting the old seized bearings out of the old shaft on mine. Would be nice to be able to replace just the bearings so I would have a spare.

Onlinemetals.com or metalsdepot.com or others if you don’t have a local shop. I’ve also found good deals on ebay for the short pieces needed for a project like this.

Jackson customer service replaced under warranty.

OK I bought mine from a guy so I don’t know if it has a warranty anymore

I had also purchased mine used from another individual. To my surprise the warranty still covered me. Give them a call.

You would need to contact Jackson Customer Service to find out if you can purchase just the flex drive shaft. I’m not sure that you can. When they have replaced mine under warranty they sent an entire new lower unit.

@@flaglerflats3494 MERCI BEAUCOUP POUR LA REPONCE MAIS A QUOI CA SERRE DE FAIRE CE GENRE DE VIDEO SI ON NE PEUT AVOIR LE CABLE SEUL ?

Sounds like a good solution for you. I still like the yoga mat option as a good way to raise the rear to the normal raised height without fear of cracking those foot rest areas.

Other than adding this flip-up rest and video shortly after posting the original info, nothing has changed. ua-cam.com/video/1fy4oAp5fYY/v-deo.html

My new 3D lower unit had to be replaced after a couple uses... I had used it a couple times and went out of town for a month. When I returned I found that the drive would no longer turn. Further investigation revealed that the lower unit was locked and the prop/flex drive would not turn at all in either direction. Another call to Jackson and I find that some of the first new 3D drives were not built to spec with stainless bearings... sure enough, I disassembled and found that the main bearing was rusted tight... They sent me another replacement drive. I have also used this one only a couple times but it has been left for several months and has not rusted and locked up like the last one. Fingers remain crossed... After having and using my Outback extensively I have come to prefer it over the Jackson. I would prefer and instant reverse without having to pull a cable, but I have gotten used to it and it’s not a huge issue. I too often fish in a lot of wind, but I’m super shallow most of the time and use My PowerPole micro and or anchor pin to hold position if the pedal drive becomes too much work to hold position. The Hobie is easier for me to pedal and maintain a faster more comfortable pace that I can maintain as long as I want. I have to stop and rest my legs more in the Jackson and it doesn’t go as fast at a comfortable pace. I would not buy one without the kick-up fins as I would have broken or bent them many times in the situations I fish in... I too did not like the lower seating position. I remedied that by making some risers and now I love the height and it did not decrease stability imo. Risers were pretty easy to make and I have a posted video of my solution.

@@flaglerflats3494 Thanks for the reply and the honest reviews! In the interim I've decided due to budget and weight I'm going with a Bite FD instead of the Coosa or the Outback. It presents some rigging challenges with the top run rudder and lack of hull access but I'm not afraid of getting creative at that price point. I guess now Jackson is shipping some FD's with ceramic bearings so that may be in response to issues like the one you're describing. I will say that they seem to have great customer service and are slowly working out the wrinkles with this system. That helps give me a little piece of mind. Thanks again!

A small piece of pvc pipe wood work.

I also noticed a couple grease points on the inside of the lower unit. I have seen some small metal shavings inside and the drive is not as easy to pull up and down, I’m a little disappointed so far

I also have a new 2020 Hobie Outback which I love. Hopefully it will remain problem free. My new 3D Flex Drive is noisier than the previous drive... Feels like it may just due to very close or tighter tolerances of the gearing than before. I’m hoping it will just smooth out and get better with more use. When I called Jackson Tech Support the guy told me his was the same and adding more grease resolved it. They sent me another tube and I filled the drive but it didn’t make much difference. At least not yet.

I’ve added a short video clip showing how I did a rear flip-up support for the back of the seat in the highest position. Fabricating an extension for the rear flip-out supports wasn’t going to work as I had envisioned.

😂 Crappy unprofessional videos are my raison d'etre! Keep going on with your bad self!

You may need to clarify for me where exactly you mean. The wound metal cable fit snugly into the outer plastic sheath that it runs through, but it’s hard to tell how loose an undamaged cable would have been. The damaged one had unwound and was a much larger diameter than usual... The metal end caps that the wound shaft ran through, and fit over each end of the plastic sheath is what provided the bearing surface and closer tolerance on each end of the flex shaft. Now if you mean side to side play between the assembled flex shaft and the two sides of the drop-down daggerboard which the drive shaft snakes through, then it wasn’t a super tight fit. It’s doesn’t really need to be due to the design. If I grab the prop and try to move it side to side at the end of the daggerboard then I get less than a 1/16” of movement or play. I can’t feel any side to side movement at the other end of the shaft where the spider gear connects to the upper unit. Not sure if I answered your question or went off in the wrong direction. I will say that the new “3D” flex drive they sent does have a different sort of rough feel to it and is somewhat noisier. It feels consistent through the pedal stroke but feels like the gears are very tightly meshed together and not super smooth. Feels a little tight. Almost like it will smooth-out after I use it more. Close and tight fitting is usually better than loose and sloppy though so time will tell what’s happening where those gears mesh together. Tech support sent me another tube of grease and told me to fill the upper unit. That somewhat muffled the sound and was easy to do using those new grease ports. My concern remains with the durability of the flex shaft though and I’m not really worried about the upper gearing.

Sorry for the late reply. I just noticed your question. No, I still have the Coosa and still like it too. I would be hard pressed to give up the Outback or Coosa FD. They both have strengths and weaknesses. I still really like that Flex Drive that will automatically and quickly and easily bump up out of the way when I run up in the shallows I can’t see coming in the stained water around here. I miss the ability to just pedal backwards in the Outback. Still getting used to pulling the lever and have twice accidentally gone the wrong way when a big Redfish was pulling me under a dock... The kick-up fin feature is nice and works well, but can still get you stuck if you end up over an oyster bed with them wedged underneath in the kicked back position... I really like the ability to flutter kick in the shallows. Just wish the design allowed for that to happen when the pedals were in the vertical position instead of one all the way forward and the other all the way back. The Outback is slightly faster and is easier to maintain a faster speed with less effort IMHO. It is also quicker off the line because it moves so much water with each push. I really like the extra storage and layout on the Outback. I’ve actually never used the nice big covered hatches in the Coosa. To me the Coosa has a slight edge on stability when standing. I’ll continue to use both, at least until the time I have another problem with the FD drive. Even with the great warranty and support, if it breaks again it will probably be the last straw for me.