ST1000 Motor... How do I know if it's dead?

PBrook

Active Member
Joined
4 Jul 2008
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64
Location
Poole, Dorset, UK
h20-ciaobella.blogspot.com
Hello my learned friends. My venerable autohelm stopped working during the summer and got slung in the forepeak. I have just dug it out to see if it can be revived.
I think it is a ST1000, the stickers have long gone but it's got a flux gate compass and bits of string if that helps identify it :)
The Motor was making a clicking noise when powered up, I removed the housing and took it apart. The rod had wound in tight and jambed. The motor spins and will change direction when I rotate the flux gate. It doesn't however seem to have a awful lot of power and can be stopped with the lightest touch.The three scenarios that I can think of are:
1. The mechanism is not free enough to allow it to work (Seems unlikely as all seems to move freely).
2. The PCB, although operating the motor is not providing enough umph?
3. The motor has whizzed its last whizz?

I'm kinda hoping (probably in vain) that it's a pcb problem as components tend to be cheap... If it's the motor then I guess it's beyond economical repair.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to fault find on these?
Cheers
Phil
 
I have never been so glad to be so stupid :) The only problem had been the rod jambed tight... Having gone back to have another look, I hadn't turned the current up on my bench supply enough to drive it.. Yehaw, the spare hand lives to fight another day :)
 
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