I HAVE A ST4000 PLUS RAYTHEON AUTOPILOT,,,THE BELT SEEMS TO TIGHT,,I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I CANNOT GET THE BELT ADJUSTED OR REPLACED,,I ONLY CAN BUY A NEW DRIVE @$725 OR A REMAN @$475,,DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO ADJUST THE BELT???OR HOW DOES IT COME APART??
st4000 autopilot
- Thread starter steve24
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Fix
Steve - I had the same issue with my ST4000 and I researched the problem online. The only fix I could find, and I think it came from a dealer or manufacturer's advice posted in a forum was to was out the unit with fresh water after each use. Take a hose and flush fresh water into the wheel and belt. Good luck with it - Rob
Steve - I had the same issue with my ST4000 and I researched the problem online. The only fix I could find, and I think it came from a dealer or manufacturer's advice posted in a forum was to was out the unit with fresh water after each use. Take a hose and flush fresh water into the wheel and belt. Good luck with it - Rob
4000+ or 4000+ Mk II?
I have a 4000+Mk II and don't know if that is what you are talking about. If not....never mind... I don't know of anyway to adjust the belt or if there even is one on mine. Mine does have an adjustment screw for the clutch where the motor attaches to the gray plastic wheel housing. Hope this helps.
I have a 4000+Mk II and don't know if that is what you are talking about. If not....never mind... I don't know of anyway to adjust the belt or if there even is one on mine. Mine does have an adjustment screw for the clutch where the motor attaches to the gray plastic wheel housing. Hope this helps.
Autopilot Woes...
Steve... Ah, the ST4000+... yes I have far too much experience working with this autopilot. I think I have taken apart the drive motor on no less than 3 or 4 occasions and have taken apart just about every aspect of the drive ring. Basically there is a belt inside the drive ring (I'm assuming you have the black MKI drive ring and not the newer grey MKII drive) that transfers power from the drive motor (which is inside the long black column) to the outside of the drive ring itself. You can adjust the tension of this belt if too tight and an instruction manual is available online about how to take the whole thing apart. It might be that you need a new drive belt and if this is the case the only place you will be able to get it is overseas (Raymarine does not stock the belt- part #D169- anymore). I would advise you search the archives with my name and the word "Autopilot" and you will get a bunch of my posts over the last 2-3 months that deal with this issue. ...if you have any trouble finding what you need in my old posts let me know here and I'll help you figure out how to change the tension on that belt if that is in fact what is keeping your unit from working. Good luck, -Levin
Steve... Ah, the ST4000+... yes I have far too much experience working with this autopilot. I think I have taken apart the drive motor on no less than 3 or 4 occasions and have taken apart just about every aspect of the drive ring. Basically there is a belt inside the drive ring (I'm assuming you have the black MKI drive ring and not the newer grey MKII drive) that transfers power from the drive motor (which is inside the long black column) to the outside of the drive ring itself. You can adjust the tension of this belt if too tight and an instruction manual is available online about how to take the whole thing apart. It might be that you need a new drive belt and if this is the case the only place you will be able to get it is overseas (Raymarine does not stock the belt- part #D169- anymore). I would advise you search the archives with my name and the word "Autopilot" and you will get a bunch of my posts over the last 2-3 months that deal with this issue. ...if you have any trouble finding what you need in my old posts let me know here and I'll help you figure out how to change the tension on that belt if that is in fact what is keeping your unit from working. Good luck, -Levin
Or...
You could have the same problem I did, the belt was just fine and the gears inside the drive unit were destroyed. I just ordered a new MKII drive for my 4000 and I am looking forward to installing it this week. I hope it fixes my situation. Does it turn one way and not the other?
You could have the same problem I did, the belt was just fine and the gears inside the drive unit were destroyed. I just ordered a new MKII drive for my 4000 and I am looking forward to installing it this week. I hope it fixes my situation. Does it turn one way and not the other?
thanks to you!
LEVIN,,I CAN,T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE INFO,,I WAS ABLE TO GET THE UNIT APART WITH NO PROBLEMS,,I AM TRYING TO FIND A 1.5MM ALLEN WRENCH TO ADJUST THE ECCENTRIC ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE THREADS IN THE END OF THE ADJUSTMENT ECCENTRIC?I WONDER IF I COULD GET A BELT FROM OVERSEAS?I AM GOING TO TRY TO ADJUST THIS FIRST,,,AGAIN,,THANKS GREATLY,,,BTW MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND BEST FRIEND HAS A 37 HUNTER LEGEND THAT HE HAS TOTALLY REBUILT,,HE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THE HUNTER SAILBOATS,,IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU OUT,,,I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW I MAKE OUT,,,BTW THE REPAIR TECH TOLD ME IT WAS NOT POSSILE TO TAKE THE UNIT APART,,IT MUST GO BACK TO THE FACTORY!!!
LEVIN,,I CAN,T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE INFO,,I WAS ABLE TO GET THE UNIT APART WITH NO PROBLEMS,,I AM TRYING TO FIND A 1.5MM ALLEN WRENCH TO ADJUST THE ECCENTRIC ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE THREADS IN THE END OF THE ADJUSTMENT ECCENTRIC?I WONDER IF I COULD GET A BELT FROM OVERSEAS?I AM GOING TO TRY TO ADJUST THIS FIRST,,,AGAIN,,THANKS GREATLY,,,BTW MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AND BEST FRIEND HAS A 37 HUNTER LEGEND THAT HE HAS TOTALLY REBUILT,,HE IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF THE HUNTER SAILBOATS,,IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU OUT,,,I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW I MAKE OUT,,,BTW THE REPAIR TECH TOLD ME IT WAS NOT POSSILE TO TAKE THE UNIT APART,,IT MUST GO BACK TO THE FACTORY!!!
Autopilot Woes... continued
Steve... Glad to be of help. I also tried changing the tension on my belt but I had the same problem with the 1.5mm allen wrench, it seems that head inside my eccentric was also stripped. Makes me wonder if they all come this way or end up this way eventually. I think a new belt is the best answer, I got mine working again with this. I would go with www.yachtbits.com if you decide to buy a new belt as that is where I got mine from. Comes out to about $50 US after the conversion and I think that included shipping. However do be prepared to wait a bit for the belt to get in as I think it took 3 weeks from the time I ordered it until it got to me, but it did get here (although if you read my post "A day late and a dollar short" you will realize that it was just a bit too late in my case). Anyway let me know if I can help out in any way figuring the rest of this out. Believe me, having worked on my autopilot for quite some time I do feel your pain... -Levin
Steve... Glad to be of help. I also tried changing the tension on my belt but I had the same problem with the 1.5mm allen wrench, it seems that head inside my eccentric was also stripped. Makes me wonder if they all come this way or end up this way eventually. I think a new belt is the best answer, I got mine working again with this. I would go with www.yachtbits.com if you decide to buy a new belt as that is where I got mine from. Comes out to about $50 US after the conversion and I think that included shipping. However do be prepared to wait a bit for the belt to get in as I think it took 3 weeks from the time I ordered it until it got to me, but it did get here (although if you read my post "A day late and a dollar short" you will realize that it was just a bit too late in my case). Anyway let me know if I can help out in any way figuring the rest of this out. Believe me, having worked on my autopilot for quite some time I do feel your pain... -Levin
No problems yet
I have an ST400+ MKII. It was professionally installed in 2003. I have logged close to 6,000 miles and it works like a champ. The only issue is that I have never been able to get the readout to show the same compass course as the three plastimo compasses on board. But then who cares? I just get the boat trimmed, engage the clutch and press the "on" button. Works great!
I have an ST400+ MKII. It was professionally installed in 2003. I have logged close to 6,000 miles and it works like a champ. The only issue is that I have never been able to get the readout to show the same compass course as the three plastimo compasses on board. But then who cares? I just get the boat trimmed, engage the clutch and press the "on" button. Works great!
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