Autohelm ST6000 driving me round the bend !

[DAKA]

Hi
is anyone used to the Autohelm ST6000.

mine has worked well for years but now as soon as I press auto it reads

HELM < 08 ‘

I can press standby and all is well but I can’t get it to follow the course I want.

I only use it occasionally on long passages
I usually press Auto and it displays the current heading and it maintains my heading while I check the charts etc

I just can’t get it back to showing the heading or following the heading

Any ideas welcome please

 

[DavidJ]

Hi
is anyone used to the Autohelm ST6000.

mine has worked well for years but now as soon as I press auto it reads

HELM < 08 ‘

I can press standby and all is well but I can’t get it to follow the course I want.

I only use it occasionally on long passages
I usually press Auto and it displays the current heading and it maintains my heading while I check the charts etc

I just can’t get it back to showing the heading or following the heading

Any ideas welcome please

Random idea to start things off
Gyro compass?
When your boat is at rest do you get a compass reading on your MFD?

 

[superheat6k]

These might help ...

Autohelm ST6000 ST7000 Inboard Service Manual.pdf

Autohelm Type 100-300 Course Computer Serv Man.pdf

Autohelm 100 Low Voltage Fault resolve.pdf

 

[Mr Googler]

maybe a rudder reference issue?

 

[DAKA]

Random idea to start things off
Gyro compass?
When your boat is at rest do you get a compass reading on your MFD?

Thanks for the idea, I can’t get any heading.
Im back home now , next time I go to the boat I will check nothing Metal has fallen on the compass.
I keep spare fuel filters ( metal) not far away , one could have moved when it was rough.

 

[DAKA]

These might help ...

Autohelm ST6000 ST7000 Inboard Service Manual.pdf

Autohelm Type 100-300 Course Computer Serv Man.pdf

Autohelm 100 Low Voltage Fault resolve.pdf

Thanks , I will look through next.
i have the original user manual and installation instructions but so far haven’t found what the problem is.

 

[DAKA]

maybe a rudder reference issue?

I will look under the back locker, just had some work done under there when Davit got damaged so something could have got moved.

 

[DavidJ]

Thanks for the idea, I can’t get any heading.
Im back home now , next time I go to the boat I will check nothing Metal has fallen on the compass.
I keep spare fuel filters ( metal) not far away , one could have moved when it was rough.

Not sure it’s practical or possible but can you switch off (unplug?) the heading data from the gyro and get heading data from the gps (obviously the boat would have to be on the move)
Bit wild but it may prompt others who know more about these things.