Whitlock Cobra 5R delux

[Slowboat35]

My cobra 5R seems to be a little bit 'notchy' when turning the wheel. It's barely noticeable but it is there. Is this significant? Is it serious?
The steering system beyond the pedestal is rod and quadrant with a linear drive Raymarine autopilot. My gut feeling is it may be the bevel gears - is this likely? Are shims likley to be the culprit?

Does anyone have a parts or service manual they can share? I've drawn a blank on the internet with the exception of a single exploded diagram.

Any Whitlock experts around I could beg for advice?

 

[Martin_J]

How does the seal look that covers the two bearing races hidden by the wheel itself?

If the seal splits, those bearings deteriorate.

Also try disconnecting the autopilot linear drive arm to rule that out.

 

[Martin_J]

This website has all the exploded diagrams as PDFs. Scroll down and you'll find the Cobra 5R deluxe..

Historische Whitlock System-Informationen - SAILTEC - technisches Equipment für Yachten und Boote

 

[Martin_J]

FWIW.. the parts of mine (in the area of the bearings and seal looked like this...



The seal was this part (just about to be pressed beach into place) ..



The inner bearing does take a bit of pressing out.. Not too much but saved using a hammer!

 

[Martin_J]

Looks like the top photo included the label for the kit that included the bearings and seal!!

 

[Goldie]

Any Whitlock experts around I could beg for advice?

Try winchservicing.com (full contact details at WhitlockSteering ) assuming the company is still trading. Cliff sorted out a similar problem with the same system on our Biscay 36.

 

[Slowboat35]

Thanks for thr tips guys.
Anyone else had this problem and found a solution?

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for thr tips guys.
Anyone else had this problem and found a solution?

My issue was in the bevel gearbox at the bottom - a crack in the housing was allowing movement - and was sorted by replacing the gearbox. That was about £500… about 20 years ago.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Just strip it, clean it, inspect it, if nothing obvious grease and put it back together using the correct shims.

 

[Slowboat35]

Ah! "Correct shims". Where does one find information on how to determine that?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Ah! "Correct shims". Where does one find information on how to determine that?

There should be info in the manuals see post #3 or try lewmar

 

[Martin_J]

Maintenence guide suggests removing a shim if you have more than 10mm play at the wheel outside edge...

You mentioned notchiness so I would still check the input bearings and linear drive in the first instance..

Otherwise here for a manual..

https://www.marlow-hunter.com/wp-content/export/Vendor-Manuals/Whitlock Cobra Steering.pdf

 

[Slowboat35]

Thanks Martin, I have found that manual but though the Mk6 looks very similar it isn't a 5R manual and one can't tell what the differences are.-
Anyhoo, there are no shims - I've had that bit apart...

 

[Supertramp]

Maybe worth a read through this thread. My understanding is the shims are in the bevel gearboxes, and may not be in the pedestal head itself from looking at Martins photos. Meaning you might need to adjust the one at the base of the pedestal. Not sure if notching might not be due to worn teeth or bearings rather than a clearance problem.

I had to replace a bevel box and UJ's which was water damaged. Much play evident, not cheap, fixed the problem.

Whitlock steering gearboxes bearings and seals

 

[Martin_J]

You can see the shims on that Cobra 6 manual (pasted below) and they look just like the slim white plastic shims shown in my very first photo (of my Cobra 5R deluxe).

 

[Martin_J]

The actual 5R deluxe shims are also shown in the first set of PDFs...

 

[Martin_J]

Thanks Martin, I have found that manual but though the Mk6 looks very similar it isn't a 5R manual and one can't tell what the differences are.-
Anyhoo, there are no shims - I've had that bit apart...

Maybe your shims were removed in the past. They're actually rather thin.

 

[Slowboat35]

Clearly they must have been.
Nonetheless my dilemma is how to ascertain what shimming might now be necessary to restore the status quo.
Nonetheless the fundamental question is whether minor notchiness (imposssible to discern under way - only found when turnng the wheel very slowly and smoothly in the marina) is a serious problem or merely a natural and acceptable trait of a 30 yr old steering system

 

[Martin_J]

I don't feel any notchiness on mine...

Have you tried disconnecting the linear drive (usually just an R clip to remove) and what was the state of the bearings (and their seal)?

 

[Slowboat35]

Being a fat and inflexible bastard there's no way I can access the linear drive clips on this mortal coil. That job will have to be hired out to someone with the physique of a contortionist weasel.
But point taken, thanks!