Autohelm sticks

[Bruce]

I recently installed an Autohelm 4000 ST on the wheel of my "92 30T. Just recently, the clutch will not fully release, making manual steering problematic, not to mention the damage to the autopilot. I resorted to spraying lots of silicon spray onto the clutch belt, and that allows the wheel to free turn...but it looks like the problem will return w/o repeated silicon. So far, Raytheon has had no solution except to "send in the unit". Any ideas?

 

[John Kudera]

Binding

I found that unless you have the mounts in the proper place and the metal post the proper length, the autohelm will bind. Take the mounts off and be sure everything fits properly, and the wheel spins free, before making everything tight.Check too if the autohelm is centered on the wheel. Best of luck, this is a good unit!

 

[Wally Boggus]

Also....

make sure that the release lever is all the way up and over the the small pin otherwise the clutch will not completely disengage.