Raymarine Type 2S linear arm drive oil

[infinitysail]

I have a Raymarine Type 2S linear Arm drive. Yesterday, I took it off after 5 years to make sure everything looked good. Everything was fine, but I noticed that the fitting that screws into the end of the arm was loose. Upon removing it, everything inside seemed fine and smooth, but the arm smells like gear oil but is dry.

Does anyone know if there should be oil in the end of the ram and if so, what kind and how much?

Thanks,
Frank

[colemj]

Hey Frank,

Ours had a light coating of machine oil on the arm, but no oil inside that I'm aware of. Was it the rose joint fitting that was loose? That just gets tightened up by a couple of jam nuts.

Mark

[infinitysail]

Ahh, rose joint. I didn't know the name. What is inside the arm? It looks like a bearing, but must also have a worm gear? It seems like there should be some oil in there...

Frank

[colemj]

It is a ball nut and screw. Like in the attached picture. The motor rotates the screw through some gearing and the ball nut rides back and forth on the screw driving the arm in and out. The nut is usually sealed and may have oil or grease in it, and the screw may have a light coating of oil or grease, but the precision needed is very high so I don't think it will have much.

Anyway, you really shouldn't be mucking with that part as routine maintenance.

You are better off spending your time converting some more $5 bills into lobsters.

Mark

[infinitysail]

Thanks for the help!

I don't know if you put your raymarine ram in recently, but be aware that not all the parts that came with it to attach to the tiller arm were stainless. Hmm....

[colemj]

They were when I was done with the install!

Mark

[rocksculpter]

Never grease a ball screw actuator, a little silicon spray maybe. The balls need to be free to roll around. I took an Autohelm (Raymarine) actuator and tried to grease it. Not good. Found another on ebay, someone else had tried to do the same thing, so I was out $300 because it was from a "marine dealer" who didn't know the condition and apparently I bought it "as is". In theory there should be no need to lubricate a ball screw actuator other than to prevent those tiny little balls from rusting. Don't try to take it apart!