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Sticky Wedge


Greg_S

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We have the same problem. We have tried WD40 (works for 1 trip) We have tried heavy grease. (worked for about 3 trips) We are still looking for the final solution. I think that I will try motorcycle chain lube next, it should be quite water resistant.

Joe

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Also check to see if the wedge is aligned. It could be binding on one side. Just readjust and tighten the nuts so the arm is centered.

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Its just one pin. I put some chain lube and teflon grease to help out. So far, its better but I'll see after its in the water a few days.

Thanks - off to Havasu

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Is it sticking in the tube or in the hole. If it is the hole, run a little fine sand paper in the hole. Maybe one of those little sanding wheels for a Dremel tool.

If the pin is sticking, take it out of the tube and polish it a bit with some 400 paper. Put the pin in a drill and spin it, then apply the paper to it. It comes out real nice and smooth.

Edited by Sunsetter95
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This may not be your problem, but I had an issue where the arms rubbed against the bracket. It caused the wedge to stick going up and down. We had to use a lot of force to move it into position. We solved the issue with a couple of very thin washers. It put just enough additional space to allow the arms to move up and down without rubbing the bracket.

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My wedge also has problems releasing, the reason for my problem is that when any weight is put on the swim platform, it presses on the wedge, thus putting pressure on the pins which are tough to release. We have to release the weight from the wedge, then squeeze pins.

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My wedge also has problems releasing, the reason for my problem is that when any weight is put on the swim platform, it presses on the wedge, thus putting pressure on the pins which are tough to release.  We have to release the weight from the wedge, then squeeze pins.

That doesn't sound right at all. Every Wedge that I've ever seen has a gap between the platform & top of the Wedge. You may have a problem with your platform brackets.

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I've never had a sticky wedge until this year, I sprayed a little white lithium grease into the hinge locations and the pin slots. It seems to have worked for the last month.

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My wedge also has problems releasing, the reason for my problem is that when any weight is put on the swim platform, it presses on the wedge, thus putting pressure on the pins which are tough to release.  We have to release the weight from the wedge, then squeeze pins.

That doesn't sound right at all. Every Wedge that I've ever seen has a gap between the platform & top of the Wedge. You may have a problem with your platform brackets.

I'm with Tracy on this. I'll add that my wedge is easier to release if I lift th wedge and then release the pins. the weight of the wedge itself puts a little bit of a bind on the pins which sometimes makes them hard to release.

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I've never had a sticky wedge until this year, I sprayed a little white lithium grease into the hinge locations and the pin slots. It seems to have worked for the last month.

I went the same route with white lithium grease (applied by hand). that and a little pressure on the wedge (pushing towards the boat) seems to work best for me when the wedge sticks.

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My wedge also has problems releasing, the reason for my problem is that when any weight is put on the swim platform, it presses on the wedge, thus putting pressure on the pins which are tough to release.  We have to release the weight from the wedge, then squeeze pins.

That doesn't sound right at all. Every Wedge that I've ever seen has a gap between the platform & top of the Wedge. You may have a problem with your platform brackets.

I'm with Tracy on this. I'll add that my wedge is easier to release if I lift th wedge and then release the pins. the weight of the wedge itself puts a little bit of a bind on the pins which sometimes makes them hard to release.

Exactly how ours is. The stickiness from ours comes from one of the pins binding/pressing much harder on the plate than the other pin - it's actually taking the finish off of the plate from pressing so hard against it. A friend of ours had some sort of teflon lubricant that he sprayed on it last summer & that lasted quite a while, but I have yet to find out what that stuff was. Dontknow.gif

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I used marine grease (out of the grease gun that we use on our bearings) and it has helped out a TON on our wedge. It usually last for a month or two before I have to re-apply it.

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My Wedge is stuck too...... I unbolted it and stuck it under the air hockey table in the garage. I drove too many miles as a kid pulling a plow in a West Texas cotton field. I sure don't want to pull one behind my boat.

Boy do I dread the day that my boys get old enough to override my training and want to wakeboard. I guess I'll have to stick that thing back on my sleek slalom machine..... but until then, it's stuck in the garage!

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Both my 05 RLX and a buddies 05 RLXi have swimstep/wedge contact issues. The dealer wanted to shim his swimstep up, which would have fouled up the gap between the swimstep and the Malibu decal on the transom. I took a file(gulp) to the bottom of my swimstep and took about 1/8" off to relieve the pressure from a person on the swimstep.

I too struggle with pulling the wedge up once the pins are released. I've been hesitant to loosen the pivot bolts, but like the idea of washers.... perhaps nylon ones.

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I just got back and had no problems at all. My problem was the pin in the first stage to drop the wedge on one side. The chain lube and grease did the job.

Greg

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