Autopilot (ST4000+) Belt adjustment
- Thread starter jlp
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No experience
My ST4000 is getting old, so I bought a "Belt Replacement Kit" (D169) from Ray Marine. Do not remember how much, but it was expensive for a small belt and one plastic tool to take the assembly apart (instructions included- pack still sealed). Wish I could be more informative: spare parts are handy...
My ST4000 is getting old, so I bought a "Belt Replacement Kit" (D169) from Ray Marine. Do not remember how much, but it was expensive for a small belt and one plastic tool to take the assembly apart (instructions included- pack still sealed). Wish I could be more informative: spare parts are handy...
When I had one that did that I felt it was the
pressure on the little nub that holds the locking lever. I tightened (gently) the allen head of the lever and it has stopped disengaging at odd times. If the lever is physically unlocking I would give this a try, make sure your wheel nut & wheel are secure also.
pressure on the little nub that holds the locking lever. I tightened (gently) the allen head of the lever and it has stopped disengaging at odd times. If the lever is physically unlocking I would give this a try, make sure your wheel nut & wheel are secure also.
Been there and tried that...
When the ST4000+ started slipping and disengaging I took it apart and tried to see if I could adjust it. From what I remember, with plastic parts, drift pins, and the small range of adjustment needed, I chose not to adjust it and replaced the belt. This solved my problems. The belt was by no means cheap, but what are you going to. I shopped around and at least found it locally and cheaper than at Ray Marine. With all the ST4000+ on boats you should be able to find other places that stock them.
When the ST4000+ started slipping and disengaging I took it apart and tried to see if I could adjust it. From what I remember, with plastic parts, drift pins, and the small range of adjustment needed, I chose not to adjust it and replaced the belt. This solved my problems. The belt was by no means cheap, but what are you going to. I shopped around and at least found it locally and cheaper than at Ray Marine. With all the ST4000+ on boats you should be able to find other places that stock them.
raymarine website info
I have not done this but a sailing buddy of mine went to raytheon's web site and moused around till he found a section which had engineering drawings of the various auto pilots they make. The ST4000 was one of them. At the time he had a small piece of plastic on his broken and was able to replace exactly what he needed so he didn't have to order any extra parts in a kit form. I also used the drawings to adjust my belt and it did help. That said: at the end of last season my auto pilot was starting to pop out of "gear" and I'm sure I'll need to replace the belt soon. For now I'm holding the lever down with a couple of heavy rubbber bands which I connect by looping the rubber bands aroud the stabilizer pin and thence to the engagement lever. When I get a minute I intend to replace the belt. It's probably dangerous to have the autopilot engaged in such a way that it can't be quickly disengaged in an emergency. Good Luck, Mike
I have not done this but a sailing buddy of mine went to raytheon's web site and moused around till he found a section which had engineering drawings of the various auto pilots they make. The ST4000 was one of them. At the time he had a small piece of plastic on his broken and was able to replace exactly what he needed so he didn't have to order any extra parts in a kit form. I also used the drawings to adjust my belt and it did help. That said: at the end of last season my auto pilot was starting to pop out of "gear" and I'm sure I'll need to replace the belt soon. For now I'm holding the lever down with a couple of heavy rubbber bands which I connect by looping the rubber bands aroud the stabilizer pin and thence to the engagement lever. When I get a minute I intend to replace the belt. It's probably dangerous to have the autopilot engaged in such a way that it can't be quickly disengaged in an emergency. Good Luck, Mike
Same Problem
Mine was doing the same thing - it would disengage when making adjustments in one direction only (can't remember if it was port or starboard), but you could watch the clutch lever lift whenever it moved in that direction. Raymarine advised to adjust the belt tension and it has been fine since. I did have to go a couple of clicks tighter than suggested but not to the point of the clutch dragging. The instructions are on page 37 of the manual. If you don't have one, it is downloadable from the Raymarine website. A direct link to the manual is below. Good luck.
Mine was doing the same thing - it would disengage when making adjustments in one direction only (can't remember if it was port or starboard), but you could watch the clutch lever lift whenever it moved in that direction. Raymarine advised to adjust the belt tension and it has been fine since. I did have to go a couple of clicks tighter than suggested but not to the point of the clutch dragging. The instructions are on page 37 of the manual. If you don't have one, it is downloadable from the Raymarine website. A direct link to the manual is below. Good luck.
Drift Pin Blues
After a heavy-handed crew member was at the helm, the tiny drift pin which holds the black plastic engagement lever on sheared on my ST4000+. Pain to replace as it is so tiny. I replaced the belt at the same time and have had no problems. As with all Raymarine parts, the belt etc was expensive. Unfortunately, could not go far without it. Their design of these parts almost seems weak. If you have an ST4000+, make sure you treat that lever gently and never really crank on it. The only real problem with the Autohelm unit is a mysterious hard port turn whenever I operate my handheld VHF from behind the wheel with the Autohelm on. I have learnt never to use my handheld when standing right behind the wheel. Forward in the cockpit is OK.
After a heavy-handed crew member was at the helm, the tiny drift pin which holds the black plastic engagement lever on sheared on my ST4000+. Pain to replace as it is so tiny. I replaced the belt at the same time and have had no problems. As with all Raymarine parts, the belt etc was expensive. Unfortunately, could not go far without it. Their design of these parts almost seems weak. If you have an ST4000+, make sure you treat that lever gently and never really crank on it. The only real problem with the Autohelm unit is a mysterious hard port turn whenever I operate my handheld VHF from behind the wheel with the Autohelm on. I have learnt never to use my handheld when standing right behind the wheel. Forward in the cockpit is OK.
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