I need to disassemble my steering column (Edson) to install my auto pilot and to service it. I can't find anything out on how to take it apart. Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thanks, Cementhead
Got a laugh out of your screen name. Back in the days when I was an Air Traffic Controller, that was my nick name. I has one hard headed individual. ;DWhat kind of autopilot are you installing? Got any pictures?JimS/V Java
The Edson catalog has exploded diagrams of all of their units. There is also a list of various repair reporsts on the tech service link on the Edson web site.They also have a link to contact technical support.
Mark the compass for realignment and remove it. Underneath and inside you will see all the inner workings. For the record, I never had to re-swing my compass after re-installing it but then I didn't add anything inside the pedestal either.
Jim, I have a WP30 Simrad Auto pilot to install. I will need to drill a hole in the column to route the power cable to the panel. THought while I had it apart, I would service the bearings ect. I still don't know how the compass comes off. I got hit in the head with a Shot Put (12#) in high school. Plus I am hard headed so the title fits.CementHead
If your Edson pedestal is an older classic version and you decide that you need to remove the assemble that the compass is mounder on be prepared to contact Edson. You will probably need to replace the Compass Cylinder and the set of cylinder bolts. It seems that Edson in early versions used stainless steel bolts which were tapped into the aluminum base. Since the two materials are not compatable a galvanic reaction occured and you will find that the bolts are frozen. The old bolts can be removed but it will probably entail distroying the compass cylinder to get at the bolts. You can view Edson's catalog on line using the following link.
and the pedestal was pretty easy to take apart even though the boat was 13 years old. I began by removing the four small flat head bolts that hold the compass in place. Then I removed the housing that the compass sits in (the SS bolts were easy to remove). Our pedestal base had four large flat head bolts that need to come out; the nuts are bedded in the cockpit sole. Then loosen (no need to remove) the steering cables at the quadrant with enough slack to lay the pedestal tube down. Ours had long eye bolts that were easy to loosen to obtain the needed slack.At the base of the pedestal is a round slide fit metal sleeve that needs to come out. Any new wires that you run into the pedestal must be routed between this sleeve and the pedestal tube, which helps to keep these wires away from the steering system cables and chain.The Edson website has instructions on the above procedure as well as several articles in the archives on this site, some of which I wrote. Hope this helps.Terry
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