Autopilot - good news and bad news, pump help needed

[Whitelighter]

So after two solid days of doing jobs on the boat I know have a working autopilot.

The bad news is the pump sounds very unwell. Unusually it's a constant running high volume hydraulic pump, rather than a type1/2/3 reversing pump.

I'm not sure why ferretti used this type, the singe steering ram looks smaller than the max 500cc for a type 3

Anyway, when the pump is running it is producing hydraulic pressure and turning the steering correctly but it's making a loud (audible at the lower helm loud) graunching noise, like bearings rubbing together. I assume theses pumps should be silent?

Does anyone know a) which side of the system (pump or motor) is likely to be making this noise and b) if either side can be reconditioned. New the pumps are £2100 and even a non-genuine one is the thick end of £1800 so I'm keen to try and find a cheaper fix if possible.

 

[omega2]

https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?img...d=0ahUKEwjLxp2045rLAhXG1RQKHXtgBl4QMwgdKAAwAA anything like this fitted to the pump? if so strip the motor down most likely the bearings/shaft worn, due to constant running, they can be refurbed. When running they can be heard but no graunching

http://tmqeurope.com/products/constant-running-pumps/

if the fluid is moving then the valve will be good, just the motor needs attention.

 

[Whitelighter]

Thanks.

Similar to your pic. Any motor repairer do the job you reckon?

 

[omega2]

from memory we stripped ours down and found the gears that drive the fluid to be worn, ours has an italian motor but without being at the boat afraid I cannot recall the name of it. Also we have a good friend who is/was able to machine the bits required.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks.

Similar to your pic. Any motor repairer do the job you reckon?

Worth removing the entire unit and bringing it home as hold luggage, for refurbish and test in the UK?

 

[omega2]

file:///E:/faq_man_rpu1-3_rev5-92.pdf

 

[Whitelighter]

Worth removing the entire unit and bringing it home as hold luggage, for refurbish and test in the UK?

Probably.

Fortunately Ferretti have made it possible to isolate the autopilot pump for removal without compromising the steering

 

[petem]

file:///E:/faq_man_rpu1-3_rev5-92.pdf

That's a link to your private / local file sytem. You need to email the pdf file to Whitelighter or upload it to somewhere that Whitelighter can see it.

 

[omega2]

sorry not computer trained, "I AM LOST"

 

[KevB]

sorry not computer trained, "I AM LOST"

For Jez to see the file you need to upload it to a file sharing site such as photobucket then post a link to it rather than how you've done it where you have linked to the file on your local e: drive which Jez has no access to.

 

[superheat6k]

Thanks.

Similar to your pic. Any motor repairer do the job you reckon?

Can you let me see some photos of it. We fix stuff like this for the day job.

 

[Whitelighter]

Thanks T

I'm out at the end of the month. I'll take some pics and post here. If it looks doable I'll pull the pump and bring it home with me.

 

[Spi D]

When hunting an AP solution I stumbled over a statement that almost every pump is a rebadged Octopus.

Octopus is a division of Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd.and has been Designing, Manufacturing and Marketing Autopilot Drives for over 20 years.

We hold patents on several unique devices that enhance drive performance, and supply drives to most of the Marine Industry’s leading Autopilot manufactures for resale within their Autopilot Packages.

Might be helpful if parts are hard to source (docs for download if you click model numbers):

http://octopusdrives.com/constant-running-pumps

 

[CharlieAlpha]

Sorry missed this thread Jez, did Raymarine manage the reprogram the SmartPilot or did you take another route?

 

[Whitelighter]

Raymarine reprogramming as we speak!

 

[baylabayla3288]

Thanks T

I'm out at the end of the month. I'll take some pics and post here. If it looks doable I'll pull the pump and bring it home with me.

This is what my Ferretti has, Do you have the same? It is a powersteering unit that is controlled by a Raymarine ap.

http://www.northshore-marine.com/pdf-brochures/bcsmarine.pdf

on my boat the steering also works if this is not running but I have 12 turns in stead of approx 4 lock to lock on the wheel. Look at page 40 in the pdf doc.