ST2000+ Is he dead?

WestWittering

WestWittering

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Enjoying a nice sail for my first crossing over La Manche and the wind suddenly veered. The auto-tiller cried out in his beepy little voice and wouldnt shut up, so I unplugged him and as we had only a couple of hours to go, steered by hand to Cherbourg.
A couple of days later, we went outside the harbour to a quiet area to try him out and he wouldnt accept a heading, just displayed the current heading and the ram won't work at all. We followed the instructions to re-callibrate him but soon realised that the ram wasn't working at all. (I am calling it a ram, but I am talking about the sticky out bit that goes in and out)...

The Raymarine dealers in Cherbourg just did the Gallic phhhf bit, so I have brought him back to the house to MAYBE poke about inside. There are a couple of repair centres about an hour south of here (but the car is with the garagiste atm), so I thought a bit of research on here wouldn't go amiss..

Has anyone experienced this malady and what is the remedy - if there is one.... Could it be something like a blown fuse on the push me/pull me or will it be more serious & probably more expensive?

Di
 
My st1000+ did something similar once. There was a bit of salt on the pcb where some water must have got in. I removed it and reassembled and it has been fine since. It has a fine cover made from a carrier bag and some gaffa tape now and it hasn't happened since.
 
I had something similar with my ST2000+. I was advised he might be permanently expired, so I bit the bullet and took a look at his innards. Not difficult to do. There were a couple of small bits of green deposits on the circuit board. (He's had a few soakings in his time). I removed these gingerly with a needle. Seemed to do the trick and he's now back in action.
 
Same with my TP10- salt on the pcb, cleaned off and working apparently OK but after 4 mins it gives a long beep.

The book suggests the compass needs calibrating (2/3 knts, 1.5 turns to STB) but no joy after making myself dizzy on the boat and later in my kitchen-

I could almost live with 4 mins then reset but it seems to need a c. 4 min rest unplugged before you can reset it.

So if you solve it, please tell me too-

Nick
 
I had similar on my ST2000 and it was the motor overheating after a few minutes due to some hard stuff in the bush,dried up old grease I suppose,I just cleaned it with solvent on a q-tip. I like to use proper contact cleaner/PCB protecting spray from Maplins on the electronics as well. So check everything can turn quite freely. cheers Jerry
 
Mine too had corrosion on the pcb, removed with demin water and a toothbrush. I think it is important to ensure all the corrosion is removed as it seems to be deliquescent and water used sparingly does this, protect it with a pcb spray afterwards. Pcbs are not as delicate as you might imagine, the legs of the ic were one mass of verdigris and had to be well rinsed and scrubbed to get them clean but the treatment worked!
 
I have rescued mine before. It seems to depend on how much water has got in. Easy to take apart (also for water to get in), so definitely worth a go. I wrote to Raymarine a few years ago as mine broke down after a repair. I suggested several design mods (none of which have been taken up), and they sent me a brand new one !.
 
WestWittering,

I get the impression Raymarine don't support them now ?

I have an ST2000 too so should find out...

If that or DIY doesn't work try Greenham Regis Marine at Emsworth Marina, 01243 378314; if they can't fix it they should know someone who will.
 
Thank you very much all - I will get some Q-tips & some cleaner - anything particular recommended? Depending what I find, I will try & remember to take a photo. I guess I am of that era where you hear the word "electronics" and that translates into "box of magic stuff that will immediately implode if you should even try to look at it".

Failing that, my friend designs & builds pcbs for a living, so he could always take a look. It'll be a long steer back to the UK though :(

Fingers crossed & thanks for the confidence boost!

Di
 
WestWittering,

nothing to worry about, I and others have crossed the Channel loads of times without an AP.

I'm sure you are wise to this, but a line between the aft mooring cleats, forward pushpit legs or similar with a couple of loops around the tiller can take a lot of the effort off and allow very short hops away from the tiller, no substute for an ST2000 but better than nothing.

Have a good trip !
 
I was at sea when I fixed mine, steering with my leg. I used bog roll.

WestWittering said:
Thank you very much all - I will get some Q-tips & some cleaner - anything particular recommended? Depending what I find, I will try & remember to take a photo. I guess I am of that era where you hear the word "electronics" and that translates into "box of magic stuff that will immediately implode if you should even try to look at it".

Failing that, my friend designs & builds pcbs for a living, so he could always take a look. It'll be a long steer back to the UK though :(

Fingers crossed & thanks for the confidence boost!

Di
Click to expand...
 
I have run out of all my displacement tasks and with nothing else to do, have removed the back of the case. There is no sign of any water ingress & it all looks very clean - like new in fact.

Apart from - there is a little rubber o ring that sits on the base of the rod, just above the gold coloured bit that does not seem to sit anywhere properly. Also, the two outer legs have an oil coating that seems a bit tacky. Should I clean that off and put some 3 in 1 on them (just a little wipe). How does it stay lubed? Is there a reservoir somewhere?

The belts are fine, although the first one, the thin one has some play in it, if I manually turn the cog with my finger, it rotates, the other cog turns and the screw extends/retracts.

Apart from the sticky lubricant & the movable o ring, there doesn't seem to be an obvious problem. Maybe it was user error?

Di
 
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