I have a couple of issues I need some advice/knowledge help on. Disclaimer. I am at home and dont have any pics to include so hopefully someone can look at what they have for me?
My steering rig is a Whitlock pedestel, Raymarine S3 smart pilot, and I believe, a Constellation rotary drive unit
So a couple of months ago when we should have been reefed but weren't, I heard a couple of "tangs" in the binnacle area coupled with alot of weather helm. We rounded up, reefed, and continued on. It was then I realized the wheel was not at its center position. I go down below and look at the drive and lower quadrant in gen locker. The mount bolts on the drive unit are loose and there is slack in the drive chain. Also, now the rudder indicator on the ST6000 control head does not indicate position in standby. The wheel is about a quarter turn off center when amidships.
To me it seems the loose chain jumped some teeth at the helm or the drive unit.
How can I recenter the wheel to line up with the rudder? Yes I could just move the alignment tape but...
How do I center the autopilot back up so it indicates rudder position in standby? It indicates fine with autopilot engaged. Does it see a conflict with the rudder position sensor because of the now misaligned wheel? Looking for some thoughts on this? TY
My steering rig is a Whitlock pedestel, Raymarine S3 smart pilot, and I believe, a Constellation rotary drive unit
So a couple of months ago when we should have been reefed but weren't, I heard a couple of "tangs" in the binnacle area coupled with alot of weather helm. We rounded up, reefed, and continued on. It was then I realized the wheel was not at its center position. I go down below and look at the drive and lower quadrant in gen locker. The mount bolts on the drive unit are loose and there is slack in the drive chain. Also, now the rudder indicator on the ST6000 control head does not indicate position in standby. The wheel is about a quarter turn off center when amidships.
To me it seems the loose chain jumped some teeth at the helm or the drive unit.
How can I recenter the wheel to line up with the rudder? Yes I could just move the alignment tape but...
How do I center the autopilot back up so it indicates rudder position in standby? It indicates fine with autopilot engaged. Does it see a conflict with the rudder position sensor because of the now misaligned wheel? Looking for some thoughts on this? TY
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