Type 1 Linear Drive longevity

[LadyInBed]

I fitted my 5000+ with Type 1 Linear Drive in 2001. It is in continuous use when I'm sailing including three Biscay round trips. It's never given me any trouble until last year which was caused by a poor clutch connection, but in troubleshooting I stripped down the Linear Drive and found a high buildup of carbon dust in the motor from the brushes. I emptied out the carbon and checked the brushes which were about just over half worn down, so sourced some new ones for a couple of quid.
To my mind this is one of the best bits of kit I've ever fitted, has anyone had this unit in service longer or at the other end of the scale found it unreliable?

 

[pvb]

I had a Type 1 linear drive on my old HR352. Factory fitted in 1990, the linear drive was still working well when I sold the boat in 2014, with no repairs or servicing needed in the 24 years. I'd agree that it's an excellent bit of kit, probably over-engineered!

 

[bigwow]

Bugger! Looks like I wasted my money buying and carrying a spare.

 

[Goldie]

I had to replace mine after only 21 years and 45000 miles - I’m feeling short changed!

 

[ithet]

As someone going through a fair amount of trouble and expense fitting one at present this thread is somewhat comforting!

 

[LadyInBed]

I had to replace mine after only 21 years and 45000 miles - I’m feeling short changed!

Had you replaced the brushes in that time?

 

[Graham376]

To my mind this is one of the best bits of kit I've ever fitted, has anyone had this unit in service longer or at the other end of the scale found it unreliable?

As you say, excellent kit and mine have always been reliable but I know of two older ones which failed through stripped gears. Earlier ones (pre- 1996?) had plastic gears which should be replaced by metal ones.

 

[Goldie]

Had you replaced the brushes in that time?

No nothing. Eventual failure was stripping of the plastic gears as described in #7, it was a 1990 unit. Raymarine said they couldn’t repair it with metal gears and that I needed to replace it with a new one which they supplied with a small discount.

 

[Graham376]

No nothing. Eventual failure was stripping of the plastic gears as described in #7, it was a 1990 unit. Raymarine said they couldn’t repair it with metal gears and that I needed to replace it with a new one which they supplied with a small discount.

Maybe something else failed as well? Gears available off the shelf - https://hudsonmarine.co.uk/products/raymarine-linear-drive-heavy-duty-gear-kit-n021

 

[Vegable]

My 1994 one packed up after an over enthusiastic crew member forced it not realizing it was switched on about 2 years ago. About 2 years before that the plastic gears stripped and were replaced with bronze ones.
Interestingly Pants paid for 75% of the new one which really suprised and delighted me.
Mike

 

[lpdsn]

No nothing. Eventual failure was stripping of the plastic gears as described in #7, it was a 1990 unit. Raymarine said they couldn’t repair it with metal gears and that I needed to replace it with a new one which they supplied with a small discount.

Replaced the gears in an Autohelm drive of about 1992 vintage just a month or two back. Turned out old gears were fine, but wasn't difficult to do.

A good rule of thumb is to never take anything from 1st line support of any company at face value.

 

[wully1]

in troubleshooting I stripped down the Linear Drive and found a high buildup of carbon dust in the motor from the brushes. I emptied out the carbon and checked the brushes which were about just over half worn down

I got “Drive Stop” error on my 1998 ish Type 1. On strip down I also had a pile of carbon dust clogging things up. Someone had been in there before me as the cogs had been replaced with metal ones which I think were not standard?
Anyway, a good clean out and all is well. A great bit of kit that I would replace like-for-like if it ever dies terminally.

 

[LadyInBed]

FYI these were the brush dimensions I noted, I can't remember who I ordered them from but it was someone on the forum that recommended the company.