Raymarine ST60 wind transducer - stopped spinning

[dunedin]

Our ST60 wind transducer is 15 years old. It has worked reliably, if occasionally a bit reluctant below 5 knots apparent (aided by silicone spray but not easily applied!). Until now!

Suddenly last weekend it had stopped working completely - with the rotors not spinning, so mechanical rather than electrical. Was given plenty of opportunity to free itself - bouncing out into a chop and 20 knots apparent, plus a 25-30 knot squall later on. So it is firmly stuck.

One view was a bird may have damaged it, but the wind vane is on top and it is still working.

I don't generally do mast climbs, so keen to avoid multiple trips up. So any suggestions what the damage could be and how easily fixed?
I see there are service kits on eBay for about £50, but not sure what problems they might solve. Or is a complete arm a better bet and swap out, but looks to be pricey.

Any suggestions?

 

[oldvarnish]

I've just had an ST50 serviced. I haven't had the bill yet but I'm told it will be way less than a new replacement.
Sounds as though yours needs new bearings - not a big deal. There's not much in them to go wrong.
But you'll have to get it down first, of course.

 

[nigelmercier]

See:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?351889-ST60-Wind-problem
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?254725-ST60-masthead-wind-unit
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?337181-Raymarine-wind-speed-slowing-down in particular #8

 

[KAL]

You can get a service kit (replacement cups and vane) for £25 from Cactus/SMG. Bearings also available.

Heck of a lot cheaper than a new setup. ST60 obsolete I think (ST50 certainly is). You can get an aftermarket replacement, but costs over £600 IIRC.

 

[Cantata]

ST60 is obselete but Raymarine will supply the compatible new replacement masthead unit on a trade-in. Got one last year, it works with the ST60 instrument head, cost was just over 200 quid. Simply plugs into the old socket.

 

[Pladdatoo]

Got me thinking, hasn't technology offered up something less vulnerable, more accurate, cheaper than spinning cups on a spindle? Surely.......?

 

[dunedin]

Xc

See:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?351889-ST60-Wind-problem
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?254725-ST60-masthead-wind-unit
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.pXC?337181-Raymarine-wind-speed-slowing-down in particular #8

Very helpful thanks - for this ( particularly # 8 of the third post) and all other replies.
(I did start by trying a search but must have used the wrong search terms!)

Now need to ponder and decide best approach. If mast was down would remove and do a service, but may ned to pay somebody to go up (which means paying two people) so two trips would be too expensive methinks.

 

[dunedin]

ST60 is obselete but Raymarine will supply the compatible new replacement masthead unit on a trade-in. Got one last year, it works with the ST60 instrument head, cost was just over 200 quid. Simply plugs into the old socket.

Where did you get the replacement unit for £200 ? Not found a direct price but second hand ones seem to be around that mark, with new £400 or so.

 

[nigelmercier]

... If mast was down would remove and do a service, but may ned to pay somebody to go up (which means paying two people) so two trips would be too expensive methinks.

I didn't like the idea of climbing a mast, until I got a MastaClimba: http://www.mastaclimba.com/

Alternatively, chat with the locals in the bar, you will find a volunteer for a few beers.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Alternatively, chat with the locals in the bar, you will find a volunteer for a few beers.

Exactly what I thought. Lots of people enjoy going up masts (especially if someone else is winding on the winch.)

We have some friends in L'Orient who we are still in touch with fourteen years after they borrowed our son to go up their mast to fix something.

 

[dunedin]

I didn't like the idea of climbing a mast, until I got a MastaClimba: http://www.mastaclimba.com/

Alternatively, chat with the locals in the bar, you will find a volunteer for a few beers.

The MastClimba is interesting - certainly reduce the effort for SWMBO doing winching, but may not resolve bad head for heights ;-)
Current plan is to ask marina to lift me up using their crane, which saves a bit of effort at cost of a bit of cash

 

[[70521]]

Got me thinking, hasn't technology offered up something less vulnerable, more accurate, cheaper than spinning cups on a spindle? Surely.......?

If you can think of a better way to do it I'll invest in the company.

 

[KAL]

If you can think of a better way to do it I'll invest in the company.

Mmm. Check this out: http://www.gillinstruments.com/products/anemometer/windsonic.htm

Mind you, if we all found a replacement ST50/60 pricy, then how does £1200 for the above sound?

Why???? It's just nuts!

 

[Andrew G]

The links in #7 above, particularly the last one tell/show how to dismantle the wind gear - I did it a few months ago - quite easy. The two ball bearing races are standard, s/s ones cost me ~$25 for two. It is worth getting the new vane and rotor - there are two types - confirm before purchase. I'm afraid unless you buy a new unit it is two trips up the mast - but an easy job each time. You will need to re-calibrate the instrument (sail in 2 circles) afterwards. Cheers, Andrew

 

[nigelmercier]

... I'm afraid unless you buy a new unit it is two trips up the mast ...

I've decided that this is something for which a spare is needed, so I bought a couple of the new "egg shape" units on eBay and fixed them. When I swap my old style unit out, it will be going the same way.

If you have one of these newer units, there is a chap on eBay selling bearings and a tool http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390803176849

He described it thus: "Brass tool allows bearings to be pressed on to shaft to correct position. One end of tool does 4mm shaft other end does 3mm shaft." Looks like it is just a drift to me ...

 

[dunedin]

So an update on this ....

Per original thread, mast climbing is not my thing - but being hoisted up in a cage using the marina crane certainly is the way to do it ! No effort, and positioned right where I needed to be - 30 second job to swap the wind sensor this way.
And wanted to use opportunity to do rig check, ProLube halyard pulleys and retape each of the spreaders. This is the way to do it, luxury class !

To avoid two masthead trips I bought a refurbished wind sensor on eBay (Astra610s, Integrale technical Services). This came promptly, has the newer style round cups and seems to be in great working order.
By pre-downloading the Navionics manual to PDF it was very quick to realign the wind direction. As expected, the changed cups seemed to read higher speeds, but using dealer setup option changed setting to 0.75 (close to 0.70 mentioned in manual, and lowest my instruments allowed). Didn't have a reference but subjectively seemed to be as accurate as previous one when new.
Had good test over Easter weekend - spinning freely in light zephyrs of 3knots or so true (confirmed by when boat would sail, typically in 4 knots true upwind), and given a good blast peaking at nearly 34 knots true (38 knots apparent - upwind again) on Monday, which felt pretty real as spilled all the wind from double reefed sails!

So thanks for all the help. One problem solved by throwing a modest amount of money at it (and meanwhile another different money hole problem arose the very same day, but that's another thread/story - and just boats isn't it!)

 

[KAL]

So an update on this ....

Per original thread, mast climbing is not my thing - but being hoisted up in a cage using the marina crane certainly is the way to do it ! No effort, and positioned right where I needed to be - 30 second job to swap the wind sensor this way.
And wanted to use opportunity to do rig check, ProLube halyard pulleys and retape each of the spreaders. This is the way to do it, luxury class !

To avoid two masthead trips I bought a refurbished wind sensor on eBay (Astra610s, Integrale technical Services). This came promptly, has the newer style round cups and seems to be in great working order.
By pre-downloading the Navionics manual to PDF it was very quick to realign the wind direction. As expected, the changed cups seemed to read higher speeds, but using dealer setup option changed setting to 0.75 (close to 0.70 mentioned in manual, and lowest my instruments allowed). Didn't have a reference but subjectively seemed to be as accurate as previous one when new.
Had good test over Easter weekend - spinning freely in light zephyrs of 3knots or so true (confirmed by when boat would sail, typically in 4 knots true upwind), and given a good blast peaking at nearly 34 knots true (38 knots apparent - upwind again) on Monday, which felt pretty real as spilled all the wind from double reefed sails!

So thanks for all the help. One problem solved by throwing a modest amount of money at it (and meanwhile another different money hole problem arose the very same day, but that's another thread/story - and just boats isn't it!)

Was your refurb unit the £200 you were hoping?

 

[dunedin]

Was your refurb unit the £200 you were hoping?

Yes