Autopilot pin - what metal?

[DownWest]

The section of steel going through the tiller arm can be bigger than the pin that goes through the rose joint.

Yes, but that then needs machining with a shoulder on the tiller arm, then a reduced diameter for the rose joint. Sort of defeats the idea of just bolting it through with a spacer to hold the rose joint off the arm and still has the possible weak points of machining a bar.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Have a word with your local electronics fitter. He should be able to obtain a suitable one and fit it.

Electronics? I would have thought this was more a question of old-school "nuts and bolts" engineering.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Yes, but that then needs machining with a shoulder on the tiller arm, then a reduced diameter for the rose joint. Sort of defeats the idea of just bolting it through with a spacer to hold the rose joint off the arm and still has the possible weak points of machining a bar.

I hear what you are saying, but my thinking is:

The current problem is that the threaded pin, in the threaded hole of the tiller arm, is reduced to 10.25mm (assuming an M12 thread). If the hole was bored out and a larger diameter pin (no thread) was fitted to the tiller arm (nice tight fit), the thread would be clear of the hole and only there to stop the pin coming out of the hole, it would only be subjected to a sheering load. The pin for the rose joint would also only be subject to a sheering load and if it's any less than 12mm the rose joint could be swapped for one with a larger hole.

This is how the Raymarine tiller arm pins work and i don't know of any that have sheered like the OPs. (Cue someone who's mates nextdoor neighbours uncle had one sheer in 1956)

 

[Seadawg33]

Does anyone have the dimensions for the KO65 part? I have a lathe (that I am learning to use) and want to make a couple of these pins.