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Post by bratwurzt1 on Sept 18, 2023 11:22:28 GMT
Hi All,
Our wheel drive auto pilot makes a creaking noise when steering the boat and I was thinking of using Mare-lube on it but not sure if this will cause any issues. Warning on it says do not use WD40 so I’m assuming it does need some sort of lubricant. We rarely use the auto pilot.
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Post by bereboot on Sept 18, 2023 16:29:38 GMT
On a former boat the only maintenance we could do with the raymarine autopilot was flushing it with water. Afterwards the noise dissapeared. Also i once changed the belt.
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Post by bratwurzt1 on Sept 19, 2023 15:35:53 GMT
Ok cool, I’ll give that a try first.
Thank you
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Post by Charlie-Bravo on Sept 19, 2023 17:48:36 GMT
Wheel pilots don’t benefit from squirting lube through the flushing hole in the casework , you will probably find that it slips if you do.
Study the ‘peg’ that is usually attached to the binnacle, and stops the whole lot going round by going into a slot in the pilot, there needs to be clearance between the slot ends and the peg, if there is no clearance at some point whilst turning the helm, the plastic casework gets stressed, and in some bad cases causes the bearings to come out and roll around the cockpit before popping off the stern.
The reason for the casework having a slot as opposed to a round hole is that helm wheels are not accurately machined articles, and when you mount the pilot, getting it dead central is trial and error.
Once the peg has the desired clearance at all points of the helm the creaking generally stops.
The only lube I have used is the lightest smear of silicone grease on the bearing tracks, although Raymarine don’t recommend it, but it does improve the wheel action a little, and another smidge on the peg in the slot just to give it an easy life with my wonky helm wheel.
CB
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Valor323
Full Member
Posts: 39
Jeanneau Model: 41 DS
Yacht Name: Ciao Bella
Home Port: Glen Cove
Country: USA
Instagram: creative_canvas_marine_ny also sv_valor
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Post by Valor323 on Sept 19, 2023 19:42:05 GMT
I had a wheel steer on my previous vessel that made a similar noise. It has nothing to do with lubricant. It's all belt tension related.
You didn't say, but I am assuming you have the newer EV-700, and not the older autohelm 4000?
First thig to check is to make sure the autopilots engage/disengage lever on the starboard side is not pressed all the way down while the auto pilot is not in use. if it is, flip it up and the issue should be gone. If not check the following:
There is a black knob on the rear face/stationary side of the wheel steer that adjusts or compensates for belt stretch. It is NOT the black engage/disengage lever on starboard. It is a small black knob on the port side. When you turn that knob, you apply or remove tension to the preload of the belt. There is a metric hex head screw in the middle to lock it down, so it doesn't move.
Loosen the black knob a 1/4 of a turn to make the belt slack. Get a hose and flush out the wheel steer assembly as you turn the wheel from lock to lock. Don't adjust anything else and go out for a sail. Engage the autopilot and make sure you push the black lever on the starboard side down to engage the wheel. It will slip at this point and not work properly.
Disengage the autopilot electronically and with the black lever. Add some black knob tension, then reengage the auto pilot electronically and with the black lever to starboard again and see if it slips. Repeat this process until it stops slipping. You want the least amount of pressure on the autopilot belt that will still allow it to work properly. Make sure the lever is up when disengaged or you will get noise.
You will have very little to no noise when it is properly adjusted. Small turns of the black knob make big changes so you will need to fine tune it with small, repeated steps. This was the procedure given to me by Raymarine when I called tech support. Hope it works out. Good luck.
Michael
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Post by rxc on Sept 25, 2023 17:21:14 GMT
Do you have the auto pilot that attached to the wheel? You should be aware that there is a roll pin in the lever that engages the pilot, and it is steel, which rusts, and eventually falls apart. If you are lucky, it will only fail and disengage the pilot. If you are unlucky, it will fail and lock your pilot on - you will not be able to disengage it.
This is all from memory of a similar experience with a Raymarine wheel pilot 4000(?), on a Catalina 34, about 20 year ago. It was a good unit, but that roll pin was dangerous.
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