Raymarine smartpilot fx5

[C08]

My wheelpilot has given sterling service for 10 years but now the belt is starting to stick a little. Despite adjusting the clutch to give the maximum clearance it is still sticking a little. I have had it apart and it all looks good as new apart from the belt having a minute amount of furring at the edge. I will fit a new belt and so have a spare but I would like to learn a little about the drive.
Do the new belts have a super shiny finish that wears off after much use and does an application of PTFE spray help?

 

[Pete7]

Don't spray it, or you will end up with a horrible sticky mess. Time for a new belt and if you managed 10 years that's good. Ours lasted 4 years. New belt looks much like the old one apart from a little furring at the end and a soft spot were the cog always sits at rest. I thought the software was supposed to run the motor fractionally so the belt moved and you started in a new position each time. Perhaps not.

Pete

 

[jwilson]

If it's a ST4000 Mk II wheelpilot first change the belt. Clean the insides to within an inch of it's life, and put it back together with the minimum clearance on the adjuster to give smooth disengagement. Personally I ignore Raymarine's instruction not to lubricate, and do lubricate with a trace of McLube ONLY the plastic rollers where they go over the clutch cam and wheel. Not the belt or anything else.

The control unit should turn it a few degrees every time you put the power on to the autopilot to spread out the wear points on the belt. You should hear it whirr when you power on the autopilot.