Stowe Wind Speed Noises

[Guest]

Hi All

Latest two problems to beset me are that my Stowe WindSpeed/Log has stopped showing the windspeed (log and direction still work fine). I disconnected the cables in the back of the box and shorted out the blue/green tags as instructed in the manual, this caused the display to show a speed... So, it must be wiring.

But also, I can now hear some funny noises whilst inside coming down the mast. It sounds to me as though the bearings in the thing that spins round and round (sorry, can't remember the technical name!) might have gone as when the wind speed increases about 5-10 knots it produces a grating sound (which can't be heard outside).

Are the two problems connected? Can I do something about the noise? I was going to send SWMBO up the mast to tape the round and round thing up so that it stopped going round and round but it was a bit breezy and she's just taken out a new insurance policy and doesn't trust me that much anymore!

Mark

 

[Guest]

Can't help on the wiring, but my Stowe Micro was making a similar noise which I fixed by lubricating the masthead unit as described in the manual.
Good luck
Alan

 

[pandroid]

My Stowe Micro speed transducer packed up after only a few years. (same symptoms - cups went round but no signal). Fix was for them to replace the speed transducer (inside the whirly thing on the mast). If you have something like an oscilloscope or analouge multi meter, its possible to check whether the thing is pulsing. You need to feed voltage up one core and monitor for pulses coming down the speed wire (sorry cant remember the wire colours)

BTW - they do claim you must oil the bearing every year.

 

[Boathook]

The oil looks like sewing machine oil. I also take ours off for the winter to reduce the bearing wear.

 

[pvb]

Bearings...

The grating noise is caused by the bearings starting to wear out. Had the same noise on mine for about 6 months, then the rotating cups stopped rotating completely. You can get the bearings replaced, apparently.

 

[Guest]

Re: Bearings...

Thanks for all your replies. I'll send her indoors up there next weekend with a can of three in one.....

 

[mikenda - delete]

It is quite an easy job to replace the bearing. You can get spares from Aw marine at Haslar.

 

[zephyrsailor]

i see u have stowe micro instruments
do u by any chance have manuals?