Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge - View Single Post - Faulty J-bolts on Yakima rack?

Mahigeer · 10-09-2015, 09:47 PM

It looks to me that it is caused by having a load (kayaks) at the end of a lever (the uprights) putting sideways pressure on the J bolt/s.

As the kayaks on the top move from center to left and right on the top (looking at the road from driver's seat), they exert load on the j bolts through the up rights. Which are now a lever. One end the j bolts, the other the kayaks.

I think the only thing to do since the level distance cannot be changed; is either to lighten the load, use a thicker diameter j bolts, or jay bolts made from a stronger material.

Some modification may have to be done to accommodate the thicker diameter j bolts.

Good luck.

10-09-2015, 09:47 PM	#18
Mahigeer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,870	It looks to me that it is caused by having a load (kayaks) at the end of a lever (the uprights) putting sideways pressure on the J bolt/s. As the kayaks on the top move from center to left and right on the top (looking at the road from driver's seat), they exert load on the j bolts through the up rights. Which are now a lever. One end the j bolts, the other the kayaks. I think the only thing to do since the level distance cannot be changed; is either to lighten the load, use a thicker diameter j bolts, or jay bolts made from a stronger material. Some modification may have to be done to accommodate the thicker diameter j bolts. Good luck. Last edited by Mahigeer; 10-10-2015 at 06:38 AM.