Small chip out of steering cone

[andy.262]

I noticed that there's a small chip out of the top of the steering cone (the cone-shaped part that's used for directing the jet, I have no idea what it's actually called). Is this any sort of issue? I've been ignoring it and can't notice any adverse effects. Can a chip this small affect speed or control?

I have no idea how this happened, it's been like that since I got it, but it doesn't look like anything else down there is damaged. Maybe it hit when it was tied to a dock or something by the previous owner.

 

[AKnarrowback]

Chances are you will never notice a difference between that nozzle and a new one in terms of performance.

However, it is broken and this is the part that controls where you go. In the interests of safety I would change it out for a used one off of ebay. That broken area is next to the arm that connects to the steering cable.

I have seen this a few times with nozzles, they get dented and then they snap when someone trys to bend them back straight. Cast aluminum fractures easy, that is why I suggest you replace that unit. There might be more damage that you can't see.

I have seen the outter edge of the TRA primary on a sled get a small dent, cast aluminum about as thick as the nozzle material. Without trying to bend things back straight the clutch failed, exploded, took out the hood, secondary clutch, crank and case halves.