Cobra Jet VIPER AK-19, not as much fun installing as I hoped for.

[lokart]

Well, to start, cobra jet needs to update the installation instructions and install video for the new keel rudder and side/reverse thrust design nozzle. The install video on the site for the keel rudder, is done with the nozzle off the boat. That's a big issue, because in order to remove the nozzle pivot bolt, I had to drop my keel/skid plate from under the boat. Don't even get me started on the paper instructions. Would have loved to of known about having to drop that skid plate before purchasing the product. Maybe it's been discussed and I never saw that post, but dang! Not so much a "bolt-on" device after all. Now I have to order some heavy duty silicone to re-install the plate. The stuff Yamaha used is some heavy gray silicone "glue" that's harder than normal silicone. Anyway, once I got the fin installed, the top of the lower fins were hitting the keel/skid plate stopping me from being able to turn the rubber/nozzle to full port or starboard. You can see it scratched the finish on the plate. Stops at about 70%. I had to uninstall the product and cut/reshape some of the top of the fin off to clear the skid plate. Last photo shows clearance after reshaping the top of the fin. What a big pain in butt. This thing better be worth it!!!

 

[HangOutdoors]

Yeah, something doesn't sound right. Jeff puts out a quality product. Never heard nor seen these issues before. Did you reach out to Jeff? Call him?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

something is wrong with your install should have contacted me sounds like you put the viper on the end of the nozzle wrong

 

[Bearsar240]

Looks backwards?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

email me some good pictures so I can see what you did and the base plate does not need to be removed nor the front of the fins cut I always include my home phone and my email with your instructions so i can assist if you run into an issue

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Bearsar240 Huh you are right looks like they are backwards, at least in the pics.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I can't tell need good pictures of it

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

this is the correct way but I am wondering how he had the fins pointing up unless he has the plate under the nozzle where the opening is and the rudder bolt is rather than on top

 

[lokart]

this is the correct way but I am wondering how he had the fins pointing up unless he has the plate under the nozzle where the opening is and the rudder bolt is rather than on top

My install looks just like your photos. It can only go in one way. I'll send you some pics when I get back to the house today.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Excellent I need to see all angles as this is a new one also the bolt under the nozzle should have come out with no issues as Yamaha uses a special bolt for clearance and the bolt I send you also comes with a special allen wrench to install the hardware I send. So I am very curious about this.

 

[lokart]

I almost called but it was Sunday. Here are the pictures. The yamaha 12mm bolt definitely would not clear the plate. The allen head bolt you provide just barely clears the plate. I wonder if the skid plate did not get installed completely forward during manufacturing? Let me know what I'm doing wrong. I'm a mechanical engineer, so I can pretty much work on anything, even without instructions. I'll feel like an idiot if I some how botched this simple install.

 

[lokart]

Yeah, something doesn't sound right. Jeff puts out a quality product. Never heard nor seen these issues before. Did you reach out to Jeff? Call him?

Yeah, I did lots of homework, I know it's the right product for the job. Maybe folks here are right, I have a franken-boat.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You do have it correct and the only thing I need to see is a side view of the ride plate and fins from a distance There may be an issue with the ride plate or they changed it again but the original bolt just cleared the end and no fin touched the plate on any of the other ones I just had an issue with using hex bolts so I went to the allan bolt and it would go in clearing the end of the plate

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

The only thing I do not see on your bottom bolt is the thin flat washer that floats on the base spacer. if you look there is supposed to be a flat washer that floats between the thick washer and the plate that acts as a floating bearing to protect the viper plate . this is probably not why your fins were touching though, I hand build every form I use in my press to form the parts so the fins are all set the same for all the rudder type vipers from 2015 on up even though the 2019 and up have a different nozzle opening in the center to fit the new nozzles.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Also F Y I If I am here I answer the phone even on holidays and Sundays I have been doing this 20 years No problem calling ,day or night weekends and holidays I answer the phone, however If I am out on the water I don't carry a phone "can't find a long enough cord" but I will answer your email or return your call personally when I return home. We will figure this one out

 

[lokart]

The only thing I do not see on your bottom bolt is the thin flat washer that floats on the base spacer. if you look there is supposed to be a flat washer that floats between the thick washer and the plate that acts as a floating bearing to protect the viper plate . this is probably not why your fins were touching though, I hand build every form I use in my press to form the parts so the fins are all set the same for all the rudder type vipers from 2015 on up even though the 2019 and up have a different nozzle opening in the center to fit the new nozzles.

I do have that big flat washer installed yes, just not in the photo.

 

[lokart]

You do have it correct and the only thing I need to see is a side view of the ride plate and fins from a distance There may be an issue with the ride plate or they changed it again but the original bolt just cleared the end and no fin touched the plate on any of the other ones I just had an issue with using hex bolts so I went to the allan bolt and it would go in clearing the end of the plate

Sure thing, once I get the ride plate installed I'll send you those photos. For your information, I had to removed about 3/16 off the top of the bottom fin on both port and starboard sides. About 1-1/2 inch in length starting at about an inch in from the tip of the fin. It wasn't off by much, but enough to stop my steering travel about 30%.

For now I'll send you these photos of the allen bolt rubbing the plate during install. Those marks are indeed from the allen and not the 12mm. It wouldn't even come close to letting the hex head to drop enough to etch the edge of the plate. Had to remove the plate to get the 12mm out and then I reinstalled the plate not realizing the new allen bolt wasn't going to clear either. Wonder where I can get that paint to cover that with.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I have no idea why your plate clearance is so different there is a picture posted last year in September with the same viper ak-19 and the top fangs he has no clearance issues, it is on my cobra face book page also In the very beginning I did have issues with the hex bolt head clearing but the allan bolt is smaller diameter than the factory bolt and those were made to fit past the end of the ride plate. totally weird issue .

 

[bigwaves]

@lokart why did you go with the Viper AK-19 with Fangs instead of the Super Ultimate AK-19 DELUXE? Thanks

 

[lokart]

I have no idea why your plate clearance is so different there is a picture posted last year in September with the same viper ak-19 and the top fangs he has no clearance issues, it is on my cobra face book page also In the very beginning I did have issues with the hex bolt head clearing but the allan bolt is smaller diameter than the factory bolt and those were made to fit past the end of the ride plate. totally weird issue . View attachment 143829

The issue is not the top fins. It's the leading top edge of the bottom fins. Please take a closer look at the photos I posted. I never said it was the top fins.