Tondi

It's the spring binding on the hub surely?

That's a pity. It did make such a huge difference to my steering. Did you take the spring off and grease the hub as well as the spring? Judging by your grandson's newly expanded vocabulary you probably did! Sorry it didn't work for you.

Yes that's the stuff, or one brand of it. I think several companies make it.

I took the spring out - I had to clean off all the other grease I had put on it previously. Bought the Copperslip in a small tube from a car accessory shop. It is like a thin watery sort of grease, not very sticky like most others. The spring is a pain to put back on - I used 2 screwdrivers to gradually work the spring back, working from one end. Raymarine said to use it sparingly to avoid contaminating other parts.

SUCCESS AT LAST! Raymarine eventually advised me to lubricate the spring with 'Copperslip', a type of grease used in car brake assemblies. And it worked - my Smartpilot now is so easy to turn. This grease is very thin, almost watery, but much more effective than the other greases I have tried.

I've just bought a boat with one of these 'Smartpilots' and it is seized. Any other comments about freeing one up a bit? Read the comments above, but what are people lubricating the spring with and is it working or not?