Autohelm Rotary Drive
Hi Daniel, The rotary drive unit generates terrific torque and hence pull on the unit. On my 376 it is mounted on a horizontal plate beneath the wheel shaft. In strong following winds there was an occasional loud and worrying grating noise when the pilot was really having trouble in holding the boat on course. I traced the cause to the mounting plate flexing and allowing enough slack in the drive chain so that it slipped over the gear teeth. The chain tension was okay whilst in harbour. What might have happened if the chain had jumped off into the space between the small pilot sprocket and its boss defies thinking about as the steering would most likely have jammed. The solution was to fit two alluminium bars vertically between mounting plate and wheel shaft casting, using the existing bolts on the casting. Whilst on about it make sure the wheel shaft sprocket is non magnetic stainless or bronze and that the chain is also non mag - mine were not with consequent effecc on the binnacle. Lastly, in response to my query, Autohelm wrote me to say the effect of their rotary drive on the binnacle compass depends upon the type of compass installed!!!!! so I do not advise seeking their advice regarding compass safe distance. Suffice to say my main steering compass was way out. Regards, Don Alexander - donalex@compuserve.com
