Smart Trak Rudder Sticking Problem

Table of Contents

Smart Trak Rudder Sticking Problem - tattoolenny - Jan-13-13 1:19 AM
- Could possibly be the knot in the line.. - Jackl - Jan-13-13 6:25 AM
  - Thank you to everyone for your help. - tattoolenny - Jan-14-13 3:13 PM
- The spring in mine was broken- - kaptynkayak - Jan-13-13 9:37 AM
  - Those are good low prices - Jackl - Jan-13-13 6:58 PM
- Had the same problem. - mzlldr - Jan-13-13 10:05 AM
  - broken spring - kayakboy - Jan-13-13 1:46 PM
- Blade housing - Marshall - Jan-13-13 8:48 PM
- Problem solved - tattoolenny - Jan-19-13 11:02 PM
  - There has to be tension on the spring.. - Jackl - Jan-20-13 5:30 AM
    - Easier said than done. - gjf12 - Jan-20-13 9:30 PM
      - Simple - Jackl - Jan-21-13 6:15 AM
        
        happy? - gjf12 - Jan-21-13 1:17 PM
        
        I guess I phrased that wrong - Jackl - Jan-21-13 5:32 PM
        
        specific - gjf12 - Jan-21-13 8:04 PM
        No I can't be more specific ! - Jackl - Jan-22-13 6:18 AM
        
        ONNO - Cliffjrs - Jan-21-13 1:23 PM

Messages in this Topic

  Could possibly be the knot in the line..
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-13-13 6:25 AM (EST)

is not all the way in the hole, and it is binding.
Take it apart and check that, and if it is not that dial the tension adjuster to one more hole and try it.

Jack L

  Thank you to everyone for your help.
  Posted by: tattoolenny on Jan-14-13 3:13 PM (EST)

I'll start with the first suggestion and work my way down the list of helpful advice until one of them works, hopefully! Happy paddling to all!

  The spring in mine was broken-
  Posted by: kaptynkayak on Jan-13-13 9:37 AM (EST)

but the break wasn't visible until I took it out of the case. You can get a parts kit for it @ http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-gear/kayak-footbraces-rudders/smart-track-spare-parts-kit.html.
Also you might want to try some silicone. Good luck.

  Those are good low prices
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-13-13 6:58 PM (EST)

and a great place to get replacement parts.
Having two QCC's that get over a thousand salt water miles per season, I have to keep a stash of parts on hand.
I am always replacing something on those dam delicat rudder systems.
Many thanks for posting it.

Jack L

  Had the same problem.
  Posted by: mzlldr on Jan-13-13 10:05 AM (EST)

I had the same problem with the rudder on my QCC. Spray silicone took care of it. Periodically I would just spray a little into the mechanism and the problem went away.

  broken spring
  Posted by: kayakboy on Jan-13-13 1:46 PM (EST)

My QCC had a broken spring. I suspect that it came from the factory that way, but QCC was very quick to make things right, very quick.

  Blade housing
  Posted by: Marshall on Jan-13-13 8:48 PM (EST)

Try spreading the clad housing just a touch with some pliers. I had a customer with a similar problem and it had resulted I. The rudder blade housing having gotten a smack pinching the blade enough to impede the blade from smoothly deploying.

My $.02

YMMV

See you in the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
www.the-river-connection.com
hudsonriverpaddler.org

  Problem solved
  Posted by: tattoolenny on Jan-19-13 11:02 PM (EST)

Thank you to everyone for our help. The problem turned out to be a spring inside the blade head that when removed had sheared in half. Also the blade housing appears to have been squeezed, so the spring has been replaced and the housing spread a tiny bit and now the blade drops easily, sticking is resolved. Just one minor problem remains. I am not sure what the function of the spring is. Or how to adjust the tension to make the spring function. Right now the blade drops by gravity. Anyone care to enlighten me on this information? Thanks again!

  There has to be tension on the spring..
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-20-13 5:30 AM (EST)

so the rudder will deploy when you release the line from it's keeper.
Pull the round knob out a tad, (so the little peg is out of it's hole) and then rotate it clockwise until you feel some tension and then push it back in making sure the peg is seated .
It is a trial and error thing until you get the proper tension on it.

Over the years I have had way too many problems with our Smart track rudders, and vowed I will never have another boat with one.

Jack L

  Easier said than done.
  Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-20-13 9:30 PM (EST)

When it is working the Smarttrack seems to work well. What other system would you replace it with? Say you wanted a new Q700. How would you proceed to get that alternate installed?

  Simple
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-21-13 6:15 AM (EST)

If QCC refused to install a different rudder, I wouldn't get another QCC.
If you put the amount of miles that I do on a boat you would not be a happy paddler with a QCC.

The first change that comes to mind would be an Epic 18

Jack L

  happy?
  Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-21-13 1:17 PM (EST)

I have been happy so far (3 or 4 years) with my Q700 and the SmartTrack. As it happens, I had been contemplating an Epic 18 Sport, but have not tried it yet. The Epic rudder seems exceedingly strange to me, so I remain skeptical.

  I guess I phrased that wrong
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-21-13 5:32 PM (EST)

I love their boat. I would not be a happy paddler with another QCC with a Smart Track Rudder.

Jack L

  specific
  Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-21-13 8:04 PM (EST)

Could you be a bit more specific, as I know you are a long time user of the Q700? What about the Epic do you prefer? Do you have the Sport version?

  No I can't be more specific !
  Posted by: Jackl on Jan-22-13 6:18 AM (EST)

and I don't need to be.
I Love the QCC.
I Hate the Smart Track Rudder

My opinion and end of discussion

Jack L

  ONNO
  Posted by: Cliffjrs on Jan-21-13 1:23 PM (EST)

http://onnopaddles.com/components.html

	Could possibly be the knot in the line.. Posted by: Jackl on Jan-13-13 6:25 AM (EST)
	is not all the way in the hole, and it is binding. Take it apart and check that, and if it is not that dial the tension adjuster to one more hole and try it. Jack L

	Thank you to everyone for your help. Posted by: tattoolenny on Jan-14-13 3:13 PM (EST)
	I'll start with the first suggestion and work my way down the list of helpful advice until one of them works, hopefully! Happy paddling to all!

	The spring in mine was broken- Posted by: kaptynkayak on Jan-13-13 9:37 AM (EST)
	but the break wasn't visible until I took it out of the case. You can get a parts kit for it @ http://www.clcboats.com/shop/products/boat-gear/kayak-footbraces-rudders/smart-track-spare-parts-kit.html. Also you might want to try some silicone. Good luck.

	Those are good low prices Posted by: Jackl on Jan-13-13 6:58 PM (EST)
	and a great place to get replacement parts. Having two QCC's that get over a thousand salt water miles per season, I have to keep a stash of parts on hand. I am always replacing something on those dam delicat rudder systems. Many thanks for posting it. Jack L

	Had the same problem. Posted by: mzlldr on Jan-13-13 10:05 AM (EST)
	I had the same problem with the rudder on my QCC. Spray silicone took care of it. Periodically I would just spray a little into the mechanism and the problem went away.

	broken spring Posted by: kayakboy on Jan-13-13 1:46 PM (EST)
	My QCC had a broken spring. I suspect that it came from the factory that way, but QCC was very quick to make things right, very quick.

	Blade housing Posted by: Marshall on Jan-13-13 8:48 PM (EST)
	Try spreading the clad housing just a touch with some pliers. I had a customer with a similar problem and it had resulted I. The rudder blade housing having gotten a smack pinching the blade enough to impede the blade from smoothly deploying. My $.02 YMMV See you in the water, Marshall The River Connection, Inc. Hyde Park, NY www.the-river-connection.com hudsonriverpaddler.org

	Problem solved Posted by: tattoolenny on Jan-19-13 11:02 PM (EST)
	Thank you to everyone for our help. The problem turned out to be a spring inside the blade head that when removed had sheared in half. Also the blade housing appears to have been squeezed, so the spring has been replaced and the housing spread a tiny bit and now the blade drops easily, sticking is resolved. Just one minor problem remains. I am not sure what the function of the spring is. Or how to adjust the tension to make the spring function. Right now the blade drops by gravity. Anyone care to enlighten me on this information? Thanks again!

	There has to be tension on the spring.. Posted by: Jackl on Jan-20-13 5:30 AM (EST)
	so the rudder will deploy when you release the line from it's keeper. Pull the round knob out a tad, (so the little peg is out of it's hole) and then rotate it clockwise until you feel some tension and then push it back in making sure the peg is seated . It is a trial and error thing until you get the proper tension on it. Over the years I have had way too many problems with our Smart track rudders, and vowed I will never have another boat with one. Jack L

	Easier said than done. Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-20-13 9:30 PM (EST)
	When it is working the Smarttrack seems to work well. What other system would you replace it with? Say you wanted a new Q700. How would you proceed to get that alternate installed?

	Simple Posted by: Jackl on Jan-21-13 6:15 AM (EST)
	If QCC refused to install a different rudder, I wouldn't get another QCC. If you put the amount of miles that I do on a boat you would not be a happy paddler with a QCC. The first change that comes to mind would be an Epic 18 Jack L

	happy? Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-21-13 1:17 PM (EST)
	I have been happy so far (3 or 4 years) with my Q700 and the SmartTrack. As it happens, I had been contemplating an Epic 18 Sport, but have not tried it yet. The Epic rudder seems exceedingly strange to me, so I remain skeptical.

	I guess I phrased that wrong Posted by: Jackl on Jan-21-13 5:32 PM (EST)
	I love their boat. I would not be a happy paddler with another QCC with a Smart Track Rudder. Jack L

	specific Posted by: gjf12 on Jan-21-13 8:04 PM (EST)
	Could you be a bit more specific, as I know you are a long time user of the Q700? What about the Epic do you prefer? Do you have the Sport version?

	No I can't be more specific ! Posted by: Jackl on Jan-22-13 6:18 AM (EST)
	and I don't need to be. I Love the QCC. I Hate the Smart Track Rudder My opinion and end of discussion Jack L

	ONNO Posted by: Cliffjrs on Jan-21-13 1:23 PM (EST)
	http://onnopaddles.com/components.html