lubricating st 1000+ tiller pilot

[choppy]

Evening all

st 1000+ not used for 18mth + finally fixed & fault was indeed most obvious caused by insufficient power input. However have ended up opening it up due to rattle. the weight on bottom of copper gimballed coil adrift - have re attached with bolt vertically down through circuit board on top of said gimbal/coil with 1cm black plastic washer on top then to weight (top hat shape) below coil ( this seemed to fit best?)

A: is this correct (re)-setup ?

B - Even after my efforts it actually seems to be working ok but is a bit creaky & mechanism sounds like in need of a bit of lubrication - unlike me - any informed advice welcome.

Many thanks

 

[James_Calvert]

A. Sounds like the fluxgate compass came apart, and your description is similar to the one in my very old Autohelm 2000. The bolt you refer to is plastic isn't it?

B. Mine has the separate tiller arm, and I've had it apart a couple of times. There are a number of ball bearings in which the screw mechanism operates, and perhaps they're a bit dry. I would be very careful about any dismantling if yours is at all similar. The ball bearings will drop out of their housings at the slightest provocation. Getting it all back together involved sticking them individually back in place with grease and tweezers, and then carefully reintroducing the screw mechanism without disturbing them. Of course once greased in this way the arm moves very easily and quietly. But disturb just one ball as you're reassembling and the chances are you are back to square one.

If there's a way of getting say a silicon grease spray into the mechanical works without dismantling I'd try that. You might be able to unscrew the seal holder where the actuator arm disappears into the main body of the pilot. But don't blame me if you end up with ball bearings bouncing around you, and avoid getting grease into the electric motor itself, I doubt that would do it any good, and might damage it.

Hope this helps. Maybe it will prompt someone who has worked on your model, and knows the safe way of lubricating it.

 

[choppy]

Thanks for that; bearingmuch appreciated. It is pretty modular inside & I am loathe to delve further unless needed - as you say familiar with the bouncing scenario ! - I think its the arm mechanism that is grating so will try & get silicon in there somehow - the motor is sealed & seems ok but the belts etc im not sure about what is required lube wise.

The fluxgate I just put back as seemed best the bolt is metal & there is a black plastic washer that I guessed went on top of the circuit board in the middle of the coil.

If anyone does have experience of this though still interested to hear as working but yet to be used in anger.