AutoHelm 4000 question.

[Aldo Lozano]

I just installed a Autohelm 4000 and is working fine but for the dragging and jumping of the whell when I try to steer with the pilot desengaged or off.It's not the pedestal pin being out of aligment, because even not attached to the wheel the housing with the motor goes smooth in one direction but jam in the other.I haven't attempted to open the cover yet. Anybody had the same problem and, if you open the housing, how you did it? (Buried set screws?)The system works fine when is engaged, but when is not, sound and act like some gear is loosed or broken inside.Any sugestions?Thanks!!!Aldoalozano@monmouth.com

 

[Steve]

Wheel Alignment

I installed a 4000 wheel autopilot, and mine had a ginding sound and the belt housing kept opening up when I turned the wheel quickly. I ended up using two larger spoke holders to form a "peace symbol" to hold the housing to the wheel. The two small ones were on the angles, and the correct sized ones were on the straights. I think the wheel spokes were not quite centered, which caused the rotation of the drive unit to be eliptical when rotated. After that, it worked fine.By the way, the casing just pops apart, and if you ever have to replace the blet, you will need to open it up.

 

[Aldo Lozano]

Thanks Steve...

After long examination and fustrated by the hems and hums from the so call service department, I did pop open the housing and didn't took me long to find the excentric adjustment for the idle guide, under the pop out plastic buttom. Half a turn corrected the problem, now the unit turn smoothly on both directions. Yes. If the wheel is badly out, the pin will either go out from the guide or will put quite a bit of pressure against the housing. A big piece of pipe and a hook to grasp the shaft will help to make the wheel true; the material is not that tough and you can bend it without being Superman. You just go about it on small increments.Nice piece of equipment, now that is working properly. Is not as atracttive as the bikini clad crew, but in the other hand, don't talk back to you...