Tillerpilot lubrication

[frilaens]

I know they are supposed to be maintenance-free but as mine is now in bits and I'm about to put it back together I wonder what lubrication is best on the push-rod assembly?

Andy

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[steve28]

use sewing machine oil, normally sold in shops that sell cottons and machine repairs


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[neutronstar]

SILICONE GREASE! SILICONE GREASE! and more SILICONE GREASE. They are not maintainence free and they will corrode quickly. Stuff the grease everywhere including on the big rubber seal and screws.

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[frilaens]

I'm talking about the push-rod spiral thread driven by the motor

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[oldsalt]

Use silicone grease. Also carefully smear some on the circuit board to repely any water that gets here.

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[neutronstar]

Silicone grease is fantastic stuff for the boat owner. It has much poorer lubrication ability than lithium etc. but it more than makes up for it by its ability to be largely chemically inert, and it does not imulsify. It cannot be over-used in my opinion.

My first tillerpilot lasted about 20 months and was full of salty corrosion after about a year. The next one which, was opened up and "STUFFED" with handfulls of silicone grease when it was first taken out of its box, lasted 13 years.

The grease has proved itself on electronics as well as fittings like the iron toothed belt pulley on my autohelm. This grease creeps into every crack and seam and prevents miosture doing its stuff.

It is difficult to get off the skin, as can be noticed when driving, after using it, and it is not cheap, but I stongly recommend using it.

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[bob_tyler]

Where is the best place to get silicone grease?

Are there different grades?

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[vyv_cox]

If I am not much mistaken, the manufacturer of Windpilot recommends Lanolin for all lubrication needs. Mine was covered with it when I bought it and much survives after 7 years.

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