Aerotec routine maintenance.

Fenlander · 19 June 2016, 20:43

Few little jobs this week that might be of interest...

A known issue if you use the seat is the knurled seat retaining knobs wearing into the tubes. This is worse in rough water and/or with heavier crew. I remember reading about this years ago well before we considered an Aerotec and thinking it was a poor design... and they've not changed it.

See in the images below how from new 11mths of occasional leisure use has already just about worn through the black seat tabs in tiny areas to show the grey tube material below.

So today added some hand cut wear pads from material in the supplied Zodiac repair kit.

Fenlander · 19 June 2016, 20:50

A small annoyance after the last trip when unpacking at home to wash the salt off was thinking I'd lost a valve cap. Turned out it was in the floor as the retaining "strap" had broken. This is a thin bit of plastic on these latest Zodiac valves and unlike earlier valve types with a bit of replaceable cord the only answer was to buy a new cap for £7.

Even more annoying was that I could only get a white cap so my "it doesn't match" OCD is going overtime.

I can see how you could convert these to using a small bit of black cord like the earlier ones but it would mean making up a small PVC tab and glueing it to the tube near the valves as at the moment there is nothing to tie to.

I'll see how often they break before I think of doing that.

Fenlander · 19 June 2016, 20:57

When I checked over our Aerotec at delivery I noticed the transom wheel lower button screws were a bit loose and also noticed when tightened the buttons seemed to pull a little too far into their recess in the transom... which I assumed had been machined a little deep.

The result of this was that both Trem and OE Zodiac wheels were a bit tight to slide onto the button.

Today I removed them and found two stainless washers behind each within the bored recess put them in the right position. I was also a bit surprised considering they run underwater most of the time there was no sealant so I used some when replacing.

Wheel lugs fit on the buttons far easier now.