Phildorset
Well-Known Member
So, as neither of my lower helm windows did anything other than make a whirring noise I've been investigating - I think I've found why they all eventually give up? I'm no boat expert so please chip in if you've found otherwise...
I have taken the covers off from inside, in both cases the motor gearing has proved strong enough to rip the metal that links the opener arm to the rod that extends and retracts from the gearing assembly (picture shows better than I've explained). So firstly it's a force/friction thing, and on mine the felt lined runners that stop the weather getting into the boat and that the window panes slide in had become pretty mucky and crusty. But also, and probably more useful to discover, is that there are adjustment screws in slots that allow the gap, and so the amount of friction, to be tweaked. I cleaned up the felt as best I could, added a dry spray lubricant, and widened the tracks slightly - now the windows pretty much move freely, their weight alone must be a reasonable test for the motor and track assembly, with the added friction of ten years of crustiness, dust, dirt etc its little wonder the little metal bracket ripped apart (same on both sides so obviously the weakest link.) I am making up a couple of new brackets and will post a picture once I'm happy it's working. Am hopeful this will prove to be a £30 fix, as opposed to probably 20x that for complete new assemblies, and quite likely with the same clips? I hope the pics explain better...
I have taken the covers off from inside, in both cases the motor gearing has proved strong enough to rip the metal that links the opener arm to the rod that extends and retracts from the gearing assembly (picture shows better than I've explained). So firstly it's a force/friction thing, and on mine the felt lined runners that stop the weather getting into the boat and that the window panes slide in had become pretty mucky and crusty. But also, and probably more useful to discover, is that there are adjustment screws in slots that allow the gap, and so the amount of friction, to be tweaked. I cleaned up the felt as best I could, added a dry spray lubricant, and widened the tracks slightly - now the windows pretty much move freely, their weight alone must be a reasonable test for the motor and track assembly, with the added friction of ten years of crustiness, dust, dirt etc its little wonder the little metal bracket ripped apart (same on both sides so obviously the weakest link.) I am making up a couple of new brackets and will post a picture once I'm happy it's working. Am hopeful this will prove to be a £30 fix, as opposed to probably 20x that for complete new assemblies, and quite likely with the same clips? I hope the pics explain better...
