auto helm 5000 linear drive

[woodster]

this question is about the autohelm 5000 linear drive.....
i am helping a buddy of mine ready his almond 35 ....and it has an auto pilot drive on board but i am not sure what else the drive needs to operate it ....there are fine adjustment knobs ....a insturment on the cockpit bulk head that looks like an electronic compass ....it has the boat shape and compass markings on it as well ...not suer what else he needs to make it work or if he can purchase items to work the liner drive that he has any help would be appreciated ....i am now where close to needing to do this to my boat but it will be nice when that time comes to have gone through this with him

thanks
woody

 

[Stu Jackson]

Huh?

It sounds like you have all the parts, so why not just go take the boat out and play with it and see how it works?

That's a LOT better than we could do from here...

 

[woodster]

thanks for the fast reply Stu......that is prolly the best thing to do ....we dont have any documents on that system so that sort of put us in the blind big time...but then again i am in the blind most days when it come to systems of this nature....seems to me there is a hell of a lot to learn about a lot of things on theses boats and being the nature person i am....i dont like to make mistakes(excluding spelling lol) seems every funtion on theses boats relates in some way to something else and when they are all combined you wind up with one complex truss that floats and moves with the wind

regards
woody

 

[seadaddler]

Try

Try testing it out in the slip with some of the funtionns of the auto,I did this while on the hard when replacing my auto with a warranty auto replacement from raymarine.
Nick

 

[Stu Jackson]

Woody, autohelm has very good manuals

on their website. I'm sure you can download whatever you need for an instruction manual these days.

 

[DanG]

Woody,

Raymarine made several versions of the 5000. Check out the manuals at http://www.raymarine.com/Default.aspx?site=1&section=3&page=657

Determine if you have the analog unit or ST unit and type of drive. Once you know exactly what you have, you will get better advice. I have a fair bit of experience with the older analog units.

Dan

 

[woodster]

thanks stu and dan and seadadler

.....i looked at the 5000 analog and i think that is what is on the boat .....but i cant find the controll unit on the boat any where ....from the manual it looks like the controll unit is joind with a coax cable and if this is the case he may have to find some things to make it hole again ....down by the controll panel in the cabin there are some coax cables laying loose tha seeemed to have been cut ...i have to go back to the boat some time tomorrow and i will try to take some pics of what i find and then hopefuly i can post them here for you guys to look at ....the drive for the rudder is sitting in my ofice floor as i write this and it says auto helm 5000 COMBI and from the way it looks its a gear drive actuater not hydralic as there are no hyd hoses that hook to it ...just a thought can he buy some thing else that will work with the drive unit and replace everything but the drive unit (wishful thinking on his part and mine i guess)lol

regards
woody

 

[DanG]

Woody,

Some pics would help. It sounds like the analog unit. The main control should be below deck in the cabin as it is not waterproof. The combi 5000 is an older unit. If you can't find the control head or locate a used one, you can use the drive with with the newer computers / core pack and control head. It takes some minor wiring modification to the drive. I would only use the drive if it is in good shape.

Dan