"eastlands" wrote in message
ups.com...

Does anyone know if this can be cured? Would WD40 or similar on the
belt resolve things or would this let the belt slip when used in auto
mode?

NO! Don't put any form of oil onto the drive or belt.

I experienced this same problem with the wheel drive AH4000 while cruising
in Baja Mex. I even installed the spare belt without relief of the problem.
I seemed to grab a little when the clutch was disengaged and you spin the
wheel quickly and especially if the drive motor is trying to steer because
the control is still in 'automatic' rather than 'standby'.

I mentioned this to another cruiser with the same drive and he told me to
just rinse the interior and belt with a glass of water occasionally. Seemed
stupid but then I could spare a glass of water every week or so.

The gap between the drive belt case wasn't very large but you can pry it
open about a quarter half inch without them popping apart (not a big deal it
they do). I found that this was a solution to the problem and made it a
matter of routine cleaning/maintenance when washing the decks with the hose.

Seem dumb but it works.

I never really came up with a reason that this worked, except that it might
flush out dirt or relieve any stickiness of the rubber belt surface.

The only Raymarine equipment that I have had problems with were A/P
controller that was supposedly "Remanufactured" and sold on eBay. I just had
a ST5000 control head fail while still doing the installation/calibration
procedure. No recourse since I have nothing to show Raymarine but my eBay
transaction. Their service dept. has always answered my questions about
technical stuff but seldom will provide field service repairs/solution.

The publish a "flat rate" service/repair price list that only reflects the
present day cost of any factory repair, i.e.. more than one should spend on
equipment that should have operated for years and only seem to last until
the latest model comes out.


--
My experience and opinion, FWIW
--
Steve
s/v Good Intentions