EV-100 auto helm issues

[jssailem]

My Wheel came with my 2017 purchase of an EV-100 AP. Over time, we have become very familiar with her innards. I wrote this article when experiencing a total breakdown of the wheel function. It may help.

EV-100 Autopilot 4000Mk2 Wheel Drive Repair

When it comes to selecting an autopilot, if your boat has a displacement weight less than 16,500 lbs, the Raymarine EV-100 is a likely option under consideration. It was the primary option when I explored my first AP. Now that I am 5 years into use with about 2000 nm usage I have had to do a...

forums.sailboatowners.com

Stiffness when trying to rotate the wheel can come from the belt breaking down, one or both of the eccentric wheels (those white off-centered nylon cams for the clutch and the belt tightener) being stuck, the bearings of the drive wheel ring ( see the image in the link) missing - damaged - or fouled, or the drive-ring (as my case) actually breaking down.

It is the AP wheel if your wheel rotates smoothly without the AP wheel attached.

I have attached a copy of the 4000 service manual. It may help.

 

[gary16188]

My autohelm has been acting up and I just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and may possibly have a solution.

When engaged and it is making corrections the lock lever starts to move up towards free and then back down. Then on the up movement, to releases and the course is lost. This happens in both sail and motoring.

Anyone ??

Thanks,

Rick

 

[sailme88]

FOLLOW UP: Contacted Raymarine in NH.. No solutions from them... Was aboard with a drill doing some other work when a lightbulb moment happened. Drilled a small hole thru the locking lever. Short bungee cord now hangs thru the hole. When engaging "OTTO" the cord can be hooked over a knob on the port side of the helm. The lever releases easily with the cord captured or it can be freed....

Necessity IS the mother of invention...

 

[kappykaplan]

Necessity IS the mother of invention...

 

[jviss]

FOLLOW UP: Contacted Raymarine in NH.. No solutions from them... Was aboard with a drill doing some other work when a lightbulb moment happened. Drilled a small hole thru the locking lever. Short bungee cord now hangs thru the hole. When engaging "OTTO" the cord can be hooked over a knob on the port side of the helm. The lever releases easily with the cord captured or it can be freed....

Necessity IS the mother of invention...

I did a very similar thing with the AH4000 on my previous boat.

I really came to hate Autohelm stuff, the English company that was acquired by Raymarine (I suppose) and was the genesis of many of their products, in particular, the pilots and the instruments. I spent way to much time troubleshooting and fixing that pilot, from replacing blown output transistors in the control head, to repairing flakey connectors, replacing a motor, and spending seemingly unending time adjusting, fiddling with, and modifying that infuriating wheel drive.

Though I have no experience with it, I take it the EV-100 wheel drive differs primarily in cosmetics from the old AH one. One would think that being the leader in wheel pilots [1] they would invest something in making a more reliable and robust drive. But, no. Too bad.

Oh, well, end of rant. Sorry!

[1] there are only two wheel drives out there now as far as I can tell, the Raymarine and the CPT, the latter being a relic from the '70's, it seems. I'm told it's robust, but, geez, it's also quite nostalgic!

 

[Tally Ho]

My autohelm has been acting up and I just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and may possibly have a solution.

When engaged and it is making corrections the lock lever starts to move up towards free and then back down. Then on the up movement, to releases and the course is lost. This happens in both sail and motoring.

Anyone ??

Thanks,

Rick

My old ST4000 did this every so often. I would generally clean the internal rollers, belt, lever and reassemble. That seemed to keep it working for 6 months or so.

I did replace my belt once, but it did not seem to make much difference in keeping the lever from loosening.

I also came up with a way to “tie” my lever in place whenever it acted up.

I eventually found a new, old-stock ST6000 on eBay with a rudder sensor, for about $800. Jumped on that and no more problems with Otto


Good luck,

Greg