[C320-list] ST-60 Anemometer repair

[Jon Vez]

Thanks Jeff,

Went up this weekend while waiting for the weather to clear. I sent it down
to someone on the dock who sprayed it liberally with WD-40 at both ends.
After about 10 minutes of this and a test at the dock, up it went...works
like a charm! I confirmed with Ray Marine on Thursday that WD-40 or CRC is
the way to go and not something like McLube. BTW, it took me a while to
realize you were referring to the vertical tube and not the horizontal--

I did have some idle time up there and did check the windvane and sheaves
etc, but I'll wait to replace the vane until it needs it...

BTW--the Top climber is a great device when one has to work at the very top
of the mast and need both hands--I've used one now for 5 or so seasons and
there is no comparison to a regular bosuns chair! Unfortunately it is quite
pricey...

Regards,

Jon Vez
Solstice #582

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
catalina at thehares.com
Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2008 3:24 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] ST-60 Anemometer repair

Yes,  he had a dish of wd40 about 1" deep that he just lowered the end
tube into to soak.  I presume the goal was to have the wd40 soak into the
sealed bearings, displace any water in there loosen up the grease in the
bearings that may have gotten a little stiff.

MacLube may or may not have the same effect on the sealed bearings of the
wind instrument since they contain some kind of greasy/oily/waxy
lubricant.  It's great stuff for dry open bearings though.

While you're up there, you might want to unscrew the wind vane, spray the
contacts lightly with wd40 as well and reassemble.

If you're not going to bring the unit down, you try taking a large ziplock
bag containing about 1/4 cup of WD40 up in your bosuns chair gear bag.

Then you could just stick it in the bag, let it soak while you photograph
boston harbor and make fun of the seagulls.

BTW,  I replaced my Windex this year with the version that has the Bird
Spike.  Last summer, a Pterodactyl sat on the top of our mast while we
were in Sandwich, MA, and rearranged all the masthead instruments in the
process.

-Jeff


> Thanks Jeff--since my plan was to go up and see if I could lube it somehow
> before I sent it in, this is very helpful. Just to clarify, did he put the
> whole length of the tube sans the attachments in the WD-40? My plan was to
> use some McLube, but I'll certainly try this first! Thanks Jeff...
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Vez
> Solstice #582
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of
> catalina at thehares.com
> Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 6:38 PM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] ST-60 Anemometer repair
>
> Hi Jon,
>
>   I visited Raymarine when they were over in Nashua in 2003 with my
> anemometer and talked with the service guy who repaired it on the spot
> while I watched.
>
> All he did for the "slow turning" problem was to soak the tube (with the
> wind cups and weather vane thingy removed) in a dish of WD40 for about 10
> minutes, spinning it a bit from time to time.
>
> It's been purring like a kitten since.
>
> He suggested doing it annually, but I don't go up the mast that often.
>
> Just to head off jumping all over me over whether it's a good idea to do
> this or not, this is what he said they've always done with this unit.  Who
> knows for sure, but it did the trick nicely for me.  :)
>
> Cheers!
> -Jeff
>
>
>> Lew,
>>
>> Since I just happened to have a reason to contact Raymarine this week,
>> I'll
>> add my two cents...Last week I noticed my ST60 anemometer turning more
>> slowly than others and in very light wind at the dock not turning at
>> all.
>> I
>> contacted RM and asked if there was something I could do short of
>> returning
>> the unit for repair--they responded that the ST60 is now 'retired' but
>> they
>> would look at it, and yes it had to be returned. I had to return the
>> unit
>> a
>> year after I bought the boat (new) for the same reason so I feared this
>> would be the case. Although I have found them competent and fine to work
>> with, I agree that that their product life cycle is very frustrating
>> given
>> they have such a large amount of product out there!
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Jon Vez
>
>