I have a rebadged (Philips) Stowe set of instruments and the windspeed/direction masthead unit keeps binding up. Is it possible to change the bearing on these things or do I need to get a new unit?
Yep, You can change the bearing, if lubricating the mast head unit by the tiny nipple hasn't done any good.
Opening and closing of the masthead unit is best done in a well illuninated shop, above and within a large clear container, as keeping track of the tiny balls is unnerving (or may get so).
Cheers,
Gianenrico
It's a bit fiddly, but you can change the bearings. A new bearing assembly can only be obtained from AW Marine. Be prepared to sit down before asking the price!
I'm not sure whether gianenrico is talking about the same unit - when I replaced the bearings on my Stowe unit, the new bearings were sealed races.
HI
If yours is the same as the one on the one on the pdf link its the same as mine. Remove the mast head unit and undo the oiling nipple a few turns or take it out completely. the bearing complete with cups comes out with a firm pull I slowly and gently oiled and worked mine free that was some weeks ago it still is going strong touch wood.
Regards KW
I did change the bearing myself a few years ago (from that the caveats!!) and just went to a industrial bearing shop in town with the old one and got a new one at decent price, which I now don't recall.
Cheers,
Gianenrico
Hi, You'll need to sit down too, if they try to charge the same sort of price for a new bearing as they did me. Totally horrendous price for a simple job. I declined their kind offer!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I'm sure I remember someone on this forum has obtained the idendical bearing at a fraction of the price and installed it themselves. A search might show it up.
I do not mind paying a bit over the base price for convience but as a practical Chartered Engineer the price quoted verbally by AW for a new bearing and the sneering comments I would return to him when I could not do the job made me see red.
In fact once you had worked out the trick of the grease nipple as others have said getting a new bearing was a doddle. Just search on the web for your closest bearing factors - you will be surprised how cheap they can be.
Sadly the days of Britsh Bearings ( RHP) I seem to recall are long but SKF are top quality and even the russian ZKF have greatly improved. You do not need the highest grade three spot standard ones will do, the predicted mean life L10 is many thousands of hours or several years.
Thanks for the offer of the link, but I have changed all my Stowe equipment now and replaced it with Raymarine ST60 stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Our friend SteveA may well be grateful for the info though.
Just changed the bearing in my fathers unit this weekend, bearing you need is a 2mm Internal Dia x 6mm External Dia x 3mm width, brought from local bearing shop, even came as Stainless bearing for sum of £2.50 each. Bargain ???