Raymarine Wheel pilot drive belt

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Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
165
Hunter 340 San Diego
Hello all... So I have decided that at long last my old Raymarine 4000+ with the Mark I wheel drive unit needs to be replaced with a new Raymarine X-5 system (I like that the new X-5 system has a built in gyro and does not need a rudder sensor as my Hunter 340 is a bit tight on space around the rudder post). Anyway as the X-5 system is still a few months away from hitting the shelves I'm trying to pull a little more life out of my old 4000+ system and was hoping someone could help me find a belt for the old black wheel drive system (not the newer grey MKII wheel drive which uses a different belt). Basically this topic has been brought up before and is in the archives but no one was able to figure out if there was a way to get this belt from Raymarine. The part number is D169 but when I talked to West Marine about ordering it they said that Raymarine no longer stocks the belt and there was no way I could get it. In the archived topic that I pulled up someone said that perhaps McMaster-Carr caries these belts as they might fit a generic brand but I could not find specifications on the belt anywhere (length, width, types of teeth, etc) and while I could try to measure it myself the very precise measurements they need make it very hard to know if I have the exact right size. So what I'm asking is two things: 1) Does anyone have the precise specifications of the internal drive belt for the old Autohelm MKI black wheel drive unit? 2) Has anyone successfully ordered this drive belt from anywhere other than Raymarine (McMaster-Carr, perhaps another dealer)? As always any help anyone could give in tracking down this belt would be greatly appreciated. The whole unit is going to get replaced eventually but it would be nice to have a working autopilot until the X-5 unit comes on the market. Thanks in advance... -Levin
 
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sandpiper10471

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May 31, 2007
784
Hunter 37 cutter Blind River
Pilot drive

I wish I could help you with the belt but I cannot. However, I would like to know more about the new Raymarine product you mention. Can you give any details please and when it should hit the market?
 
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Scott

On the market now ...

I was glancing through the Defender catalogue just last night and I thought I saw it there. I also noticed a Simrad replacement for their Wheel Pilot which was taken off the market.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Raymarine X-5

I talked to West Marine today, and was told that Raymarine keeps pushing this product, like it is going to be released yesterday,but is having problems with it, and they wouldn't even guess at a date it will be available. I called Raymarine, and was told release would "probably" be around the end of May. Levin, if you don't have the number for Raymarine, here it is. (800) 539-5539. If you local West Marine is like mine, they don't know up from down most of the time. Recently wanted to order a part for an ST3000. They told me that they had never heard of one, couldn't find any referance to one, and I was out of luck. In their new catalogue they have the belts for the 3000 listed. You might want to give Raymarine a call.
 
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Scott

Oops! Wrong on both counts ...

The light was bad and a movie was loaded into the DVD already last night when I got home late from work and stuck my nose in the catalogue for just a minute just about the time when my wife said "you're not going to read that thing all night, are you?" with that warning tone of voice. *sry I guess it is advertised but not available yet, and the Simrad is a tiller pilot and not a wheel pilot. I was mislead by the maximum displacements advertised into thinking it could be used on a boat with a wheel. This may be a dumb question, but my boat, like most others with a wheel, has the tiller post exposed under the helm. How does a tiller pilot work and could it be used on the tiller post of a wheel steered boat?
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Tiller pilot on the post

Thats an interesting thought Scott, using the tiller pilot on the rudder post. I would think that there is probably too much pressure required, as you would have to be turning not only the rudder, but the wheel and all the gear reduction in it. I did read somewhere about using on on a wind vane trim tab, that was supposed to work pretty good. If it did would be a really good deal. Below decks out of the way, and they are lots cheaper than a wheel pilot. Someone needs to measure the force needed to turn the rudder post. That would be a starting point, I think all the tiller pilots rate their strength.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Probably

Scott, Probably Ross, or Mainesail will have those numbers at hand. Those guys amaze me with their seemingly unlimited source of knowledge.
 
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Brian M H23

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Oct 3, 2006
1,033
Hunter 29.5 Toms River
balanced or unbalanced

the biggest question is if your rudder is balanced or unbalanced. A balanced ruder, with 50% of the rudder in front and 50% of the rudder behind the post, will be easy to turn, but it will not readily straighten out. On my H23, the rudder is VERY unbalanced, but it's a little boat so I muscle it. it sure lets me know when my sails are balanced though. The longer you can make the tiller arm, the easier it is on the pilot.
 
Joseph Shirley

Joseph Shirley

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Jun 13, 2005
559
Irwin Barefoot 37 CC Sloop Port Orchard WA
Try Simrad

Simrad bought out NAVICO so they now make the NAVICO Wheelpilot which I have on my Irwin 37 (20,000#) without any problem. They have several belt lengths available which may work for you.
 
Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
165
Hunter 340 San Diego
So I take it that is a no...

Thanks for the advice... Sounds like no one out there either knows how to get this belt or has the correct specifications for the belt. I've tried Raymarine and they are definitely not stocking the belt anymore. So unless someone out there either knows the specifications for the belt or knows of someone who still might carry it I guess I'm out of luck until I replace the whole thing. ...Thanks anyways
 
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Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
They did not make those belts

Levin: They did not make those belts. Contact Motion Industries. They had the belts for the Simrad/Navico units. I am sure that they are an off the shelf item, but you will need to do the research.
 
Hogan

Hogan

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Aug 28, 2007
85
Hunter 260 Bay Springs, Ms
Go ahead and remove

that old unit from your boat, being careful to retain all the bits and pieces (labeling appropriately). Send it to me as soon as possible so I can start looking for a replacement belt. Can't afford the new one, but might make your old one work out for my Hunter.
 
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PHitchcox

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Feb 24, 2004
190
Hunter 290 Portland, Maine
Tried Googling?

I tried googling D169 Raymarine and got a few hits....overseas. Here are a couple: http://www.yachtbits.com/raymarine/raymarine_st4000_spares.php http://seateach.com/results.asp?Catu=64&Manu=%25&offset=25 Good luck. Paul
 
Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
165
Hunter 340 San Diego
Overseas...

Yeah I tried Googling the part number and came up with the first of the two sites you found but assumed that it would be very difficult to have the item shiped overseas. Anyone ever ordered from overseas before? If they have the item I wouldn't mind paying the extra shipping just to have it. I guess if Raymarine isn't making the belt here anymore then perhaps that is my best option. Either that or take the belt to Motion Industries here in San Diego and see if they can find an exact replacement for it. ...Thanks for the advice
 
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