Raymarine autopilot Wheel drive

[Bob S]

I installed Raymarine's SPX-5/P70 autopilot this past off season. Did the dockside and sea trial set ups. During the sea trial the wheel drive clutch popped out. I just engaged it and proceeded with the set up. When I was out the system wants to continually adjust, way too sensitive. I will do the sea trial set up again but I can't find anywhere in the manual how to troubleshoot the clutch disengaging? Is there a way to adjust this?
Glad to say everything worked with no issues between SeaTalk to SeaTalkng networking . Thank you for all those been there done that threads.

 

[Les]

Whoa!, Don't touch that dial.....yet. I bought an XP-5 in 2009, did like you, did the set up and then on my first trip the unit deviated from the course more then forty five degrees, EACH SIDE. But I was by myself and didn't want to take the helm at the time. On the return trip I noticed that it had much less deviation.

On my next few trips, the XP-5 showed less and less deviation and presently, while it activates a lot the movement is minuscule. At the boat show I talked to a Raymarine rep and he says that the unit has to "learn" the boat. That is actually what I think happened to me.

As far as the clutch disengaging I would just watch it for a couple of trips. When does it do it? At the beginning? Every five minutes? What pattern do you get? I suspect it is just new and needs to get in a working mood.

For me it is a great auto-pilot. I've had a number and this one is excellent for my boat.

My best to you.

 

[Bob S]

Thanks Les,

i figured it is learning but since the unit disengaged during the sea trial set up and all I did is engage it and continued it has a lot of learning to do. I will do another set up but I don't think the drive should be kicking out. I almost have to hold it for it to stay engaged. Got to be something wrong. The assembly self centers on the wheel so that can't be it. I can see the drive motor bouncing.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Bob, it sounds like something is wrong with your steerer, that needs attention. The thing is incredibly simple, but without looking at it, it's tough to say exactly. For the exception of that if I were you, I'd take it back apart and have a look see.

In the setup parameters, there are many different options to change the responsiveness of the helm, etc. I adjusted on one a couple years back that was seemingly working the poor pilot to death trying to hold an exact course, when changing some minor characteristics of the thinking and learning process cured it instantly. These options should be in the manual.

 

[Bob S]

Thanks Chris, I might be taking it apart next trip.

 

[alexco38]

Chapter 3 in the user guide, there is an adjustment.

Adjusting the clutch. If the drive belt slips in Auto mode or drags in Standby mode, you need to adjust the clutch. If during normal use, the motor operates but the drive does not turn the wheel, the clutch requires adjusting.

To adjust the clutch:
1. Ensure that the autopilot is in Standby mode and the clutch is disengaged.
2. Using the 3 mm allen key supplied, loosen the clutch knob screw about 2 turns
counter-clockwise.
3. Turn the clutch knob either 4 clicks clockwise to tighten the clutch, or 4 clicks
counter-clockwise to loosen the clutch.
4. Use the allen key to re-tighten the clutch knob screw.

In the Installation guide, on Chapter 3 there is an AUTOLEARN procedure.

If you skipped any step, your unit will not work properly. Follow the instruction.

 

[alexco38]

You would adjust the "response" to suit the sea condition all the time. Press Standby, Press +1 and -1 together bring up the response setting, default is 5 which is good for motoring. You can use -1 or +1 to change the setting. I found that 2 is really good for sailing into the wind and 4 is good to sail down wind. 2=slow, 4=fast response. Press auto again to re-engage.

You need to read the book!

 

[Mark Maulden]

I just put one of these in. It was continually disengaging and I went through all the clutch adjustements several times. I finally took it back to WM and traded it for another. They are great at this. The new one works well. I have a P70 control head and I could put it in stby and drive it at the dock using the 10 deg buttons. It disconnected every time when turning to stbd.

 

[Bob S]

Mark,
Thanks but it doesn't sound like good news. I have followed the directions on dockside and sea trial set ups. I don't have the manual (it's on the boat) but was working off a downloaded pdf from Raymarine and could find anything about adjusting. Thanks Alex!