Older Cobra steering fin installation

[VONCE]

I recently acquired some older Cobra Jet Steering fins. Does anyone have installation instructions for these? I assume I have to drill into the aluminum nozzle. I'm not crazy about drilling into the nozzle, but my wife isn't crazy about me spending all this money on all these accessories, either. So the new drill-less Cobra fins are out of the question for the time being. Hopefully someone has instructions or remembers what they did when they installed theirs. Or perhaps someone has them installed and can snap a picture! I am attaching a picture to assist with my question. How far up/down does that horizontal bracket get mounted? Does it mount flush with the bottom of the nozzle or higher up? Also, if I decide to go with the adjustable fins or no fins at all in the future, are the holes I drill going to affect anything? Thanks!

 

[captras]

You should be able to go to Cobra Jet Steering web page and either find the instructions, or email the owner....he is a member of this forum and I am sure he will help you out!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

The bottom of the flat bar needs to be even with the bottom of the nozzle so move it down a bit, the location of the holes was chosen for those based on the fact that they will not effect anything and if you remove them you can use J B weld to fill the holes easily.

 

[VONCE]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

the screws I used were called button caps and they were 10/32 with the exception of the lower side bolts those were 1/4 inch allen caps to work as reverse gate stops also and counter sunk 10/32 above that allen cap so the reverse would not touch them when it closed.
That system was very popular and there are thousands of those still in use.

 

[VONCE]

Fortunately, I have all the original hardware. Any other tricks to installing? I know to use thread locker on the bolts. I shouldn't need to make any cable or gate adjustments if I line up the bottom of the horizontal bracket with the bottom of the nozzle, correct?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Yes it needs to be even on the bottom, be sure your reverse gates clear the water opening when you have it in forward. Use superglue on the fasteners, that works the best in water situations.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

F Y I today I fixed a set of the older fins like you just purchased that were pretty banged up over the years , so if you do mess them up don't try to straighten them out , if you do I may not be able fix them , if you get with me I can cut them apart press them flat and re weld new bars between them , give them a good cleaning and they are back in business. Both were bent in this set and someone marred one up I assume trying to straighten it.