dalex
Well-Known Member
With good intent, I set out to buy a few 'essentials' from the local jumble today, and ended up with an Autohelm 6000 pilot!
I have the pump, 2 control heads, the main computer and the connection box. What I don't seem to have is something in the manual referred to, as the radio navigation interface.
I'd gotten hold of a flux gate compass and a rudder ref some while ago, although the manual doesn't show a rudder ref in the circuit.
The manual assumes you bought all the bits at the same time, and everything just plugs together.
What I am not so sure about, are:
1) do I really need the radio navigation interface box? Would the serial connectors in the main connection box take nmea183 straight from a GPS?
2) cutting into the hydraulic lines to the steering ram and connecting in the pump seems on the face of it straightforward with the correct high presure connectors, but how do I tell if I have a 2 line system, 3 line system or 3 line pressurised system of hydraulic steering? Boat is a 305 Statesman with 2 AD41's and DP outdrives.
3) once I have coupled up the pump to the hydraulic lines, is it a simple job to bleed the steering? I've not seen any info on how to actually bleed the system, and my ploy would be to fill the reservoir up to the maximum mark, crack the thumb-bolt at each steering station and wind the wheel from lock to lock till no air comes out. Is this how to do it?
Reading the manual, it seems to suggest that the pilot will know when the rudder is hard over, as the current draw rises. The pilot computer senses this and chops the power to the pump in that direction. I reckon this means no need for a rudder ref.
I am pretty competent at most things, but does the panel think this is akin to diy brain surgery and I should get the experts in to fit it? The book makes it all sound so easy!
Many thanks for any info you can divulge!
I have the pump, 2 control heads, the main computer and the connection box. What I don't seem to have is something in the manual referred to, as the radio navigation interface.
I'd gotten hold of a flux gate compass and a rudder ref some while ago, although the manual doesn't show a rudder ref in the circuit.
The manual assumes you bought all the bits at the same time, and everything just plugs together.
What I am not so sure about, are:
1) do I really need the radio navigation interface box? Would the serial connectors in the main connection box take nmea183 straight from a GPS?
2) cutting into the hydraulic lines to the steering ram and connecting in the pump seems on the face of it straightforward with the correct high presure connectors, but how do I tell if I have a 2 line system, 3 line system or 3 line pressurised system of hydraulic steering? Boat is a 305 Statesman with 2 AD41's and DP outdrives.
3) once I have coupled up the pump to the hydraulic lines, is it a simple job to bleed the steering? I've not seen any info on how to actually bleed the system, and my ploy would be to fill the reservoir up to the maximum mark, crack the thumb-bolt at each steering station and wind the wheel from lock to lock till no air comes out. Is this how to do it?
Reading the manual, it seems to suggest that the pilot will know when the rudder is hard over, as the current draw rises. The pilot computer senses this and chops the power to the pump in that direction. I reckon this means no need for a rudder ref.
I am pretty competent at most things, but does the panel think this is akin to diy brain surgery and I should get the experts in to fit it? The book makes it all sound so easy!
Many thanks for any info you can divulge!
