Leaking Raymarine Autohelm Type 2 hydraulic pump...

Jan 2, 2007
131
Morgan 461 St. Thomas
Leaking Raymarine Autohelm Type 2 hydraulic pump...

Hokay...

Time to reach into the collective knowledge base.

Picture shows my leaking (Raymarine) Autohelm Type 2 ( the Type has to do with the volume it will push, and the tonnage of the boat, not a style) hydraulic pump. It's certainly decades old, as I don't believe that the prior owner installed it, making it at least 25 years old. Yet, it worked just fine until this leak.

As a side note, we had the same sort of leakage, which was (at that time) simply a matter of the bolts holding it together having worked loose; tightening it up and adding fluid and pressure got another 8 or so years of usage from it. The leak(s) seem to be coming from the bolts at the pump end; tightening did not cure it this time. I'm hoping it's as simple as an o-ring or grommet around the bolts, as there does not appear to be any gasket material visible between the housing parts. Close examination of the picture shows the spacer next to the pump body; the leak(s) come from the notch where the bolt may be visible. The notch is similar in size to the one at the sealed end next to my left hand. Why they'd make it that way instead of solid so the bolt was entirely inside is beyond me, but it is what it is.

As a hydraulic leak means that my hydraulic steering doesn't work, especially as we're parked (it didn't fully fail until we'd anchored, following a twisty-turny path to get to Treasure Cay -Thank you, Lord!) sort of in the middle of nowhere, this has my full attention of the moment.

Research shows that the current pumps don't look much like this one, so likely any parts will not be interchangeable. I don’t have a Raymarine part number to go with this unit, so can't even be intelligent in asking for help with P/N xyz.

So, two questions:

From the picture, knowing that there is a label saying "Autohelm Type 2) on it, does anyone have a proper part number for this?

and

Has anyone rebuilt one of these for the same reason, or, if not the same, know what to do based on the above symptoms?

Thanks for any assistance!

L8R

Skip, currently stranded

Morgan 461 #2
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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
that has got to be a o ring leaking in the joining faces or motor shaft seal
 
Jan 2, 2007
131
Morgan 461 St. Thomas
Thanks. I can see the joining faces, and there's no evidence of any gasketing.

Other responses have suggested a shaft seal, which would make sense in terms of where the oil is coming out; I haven't yet gotten a blowup of any other pump, let alone this one, so, hoping not to disturb stuff which might be challenging later, I have not yet pulled off the motor.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,212
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
I am not familiar with that exact pump, but typically these are sealed with standard O-rings for the high pressure. If that fella is that old, it may be time to replace the shaft seal and the motor brushes. Problem is finding a competent shop that you could trust it to, if you aren't comfortable with disassembling and changing some parts. If you can locate a shop that specializes in hydraulic control components, they should be able to do the fix..
 
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Likes: Skip Gundlach
Jan 2, 2007
131
Morgan 461 St. Thomas
Thanks. That probably is going to be tomorrow's task - finding a respected repair shop in Marsh Harbour, if I can't first find the actual seal needed...
 
Jan 2, 2007
131
Morgan 461 St. Thomas
It may be the current model. Those range from $600 up at various places.

I'm hopeful mine can do with just a seal. Talking with lots of folks and that's the consensus as to what failed. I'd prefer to have a blowup (can't find one on the one you show) of the insides of this motor section so I don't do something I wish I hadn't :D
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,212
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
I looked for a parts diagram as well.. Ya know that Raymarine didn't make it, so it is made by a hydraulic pump manufacturer.. The trick would be matching it ..