Autohelm - Mechanical Linear Drive

sord · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2013 18:53

Has anyone installed an Autohelm - Mechanical Linear Drive? If you did and have photos of the connection you used to either the rudder post or quadrant I would appreciate seeing them or any help is setting it up.

As many of you know we were struck by lightning this season and our insurance is replacing the e80 Raymarine MFD with a e95, the ST60 windex with a i60 and the ST4000 wheel autohelm. We decided to us the opportunity to upgrade the wheel autohelm with a below deck unit and thus any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Thanks

puffcard · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2013 22:01

I got struck by lighting to and planning to upgrade from a wheel pilot to linear drive. It needs to be installed off the quadrant, requires a little glass work. Just got the upgraded equipment this past week.

sord · **Posted:** 21 Oct 2013 10:16

Let me know how it goes and send pictures if you can. I cannot start the work until spring. Edson tells me we need a tiller arm ($430) and should not attach to the quadrant.

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

I installed an Autohelm 6000 linear drive on my T37 about 10 years ago. I would recommend that you get a tiller arm and not run it off the quadrant, but I think they were only $275 when I did mine. I am thinking a machinist could make one for you for much less than Edson is asking for theirs and there is nothing really complicated about it. Just a keyed hole and another for the drive.
I put a short linear drive (the regular one will not fit transversely in the stern) and it does require a bit of glasswork. Mounting it transversely does not leave much room but it is possible in my T37. I had to raise the shelf in the aft lazerette a bit to accomodate it. You will need some glasswork for the rudder reference unit as well. It is not really a complicated job, just takes a bit of finessing and glasswork. I am willing to send you pictures of my installation if that will help and answer any questions you might have. I kept my old belted pilot on the wheel which was handy when I stupidly crossed some wires and blew the control head on the autopilot in Mazatlan. I would estimate I have about 10000 miles on mine and it works great. It steered for a couple days down 15 to 20 foot waves in 30+ knot winds off Baja. What I like is that the drive disengages electrically--and you can barely feel it when you are sailing. When I bought my unit, Autohelm was the only one with that feature as they had the patent on it. Perhaps others can do the same now.

The remote control is a nice feature you might want to get at the same time as it is a repeater for all the instruments as well as for managing the autopilot.

Ray
Velera #373

puffcard · **Posted:** 21 Oct 2013 21:19

Thanks for the info, was thinking the reg lenght might be a tight fit. Well I guess that blows my plan on using the quadrant.

sord · **Posted:** 21 Oct 2013 21:20

Ray
I too have thought a machinist could make the arm for less than Edson is selling it for. I was thinking of changing my rudder sensor from on top of the quadrant to the underside. That way I have more room for the autohelm.

I would love to see the photos. You can either post them here (sometimes an issue) or email them to me directly.

Thanks

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

puffcard wrote:

Thanks for the info, was thinking the reg lenght might be a tight fit. Well I guess that blows my plan on using the quadrant.

i put mine in quite a few years ago, but I am sure the regular drive will not fit. The short drive is a tight fit. I think you could mount it longitudinally, but that would be a trick, too. You need the short one for a T37. You can use the quadrant, but you will weaken it by drillng it and if it breaks you are in trouble. With a separate arm, you can steer with the autopilot if your cable or quadrant has issues.

I might put the pictures in the technical area of the T37 site. Does that sound like a good idea? I actually thought I had already done that, but I guess I just dreamed that.

Ray

puffcard · **Posted:** 22 Oct 2013 19:28

Good points about the quadrant. Also like the thinking out of the box with mounting the unit fore and aft. The photos would be a help.

sord · **Posted:** 22 Oct 2013 19:41

Anyone know the diameter of the rudder post used on the 1981 Tartan?

sord · **Posted:** 18 Dec 2013 18:36

Does anyone have a picture of how they installed a Raymarine Autohelm Linear Drive. I don't necessarily need detailed pictures just need to see where you put it as it seems pretty tight (on paper anyway)

Thanks in Advance
Happy Holidays Very Happy

Tartan37.com

Autohelm - Mechanical Linear Drive

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