Calling all Raymarine ST6000+ experts

[Fergus]

I'm getting "drivestop" errors particularly under sail. Seems to clear when you switch off and on again. When the error appears the drive seems to have disconnected - i.e. the wheel can be moved easly. Anyone any ideas pls? I think it's a hydraulic ram if that helps..

 

[MarkG]

Hi Fergus
I just looked up the manual on the Raymarine web site and the error drivestop gives:

DRIVESTOP
This alarm is activated if the autopilot is unable to turn the rudder. This
occurs if the weather load on helm is too high, or if the requested rudder
position is past the pre-set rudder limits or the rudder end-stops.

Hope it helps

 

[Fergus]

Thanks Mark - yes I saw this in the manual - it doesn't give any guidance as to how to fix it though..

 

[MarkG]

I've not seen this error myself, had others though.
I guess I would go though the checks such as when I get the error can I move the rudder ok? Is there a tight spot? was it due to weather helm being quite strong?
I'm not sure about the the limits though, If the rudder can move easily then is the Autopilot reaching the end of its travel?
Are you getting this under sail or power or both?
Have you had a look at the connection between the Autopilt and rudder quadrant / rudder itself as ours became very loose, I now have a splitpin through it.

Just some thoughts

 

[Fergus]

When it happens you can move the rudder easily, there's no tight spot and little weather helm. I can't believe the ram is at the end of its travel if the weather helm is small. It happens more under sail and I have checked the connection (replaced last year) - Hhmm..

Thanks for the suggestions..

 

[spannerman]

Check the rudder travels freely, and the rudder limits are set correctly so the actuator is not driving against the stops. The cause of this is the rudder actuator being overloaded so it trips out to save itself.
Had this on an Elan 42 and under sail the weather helm was too great for the actuator so up came 'Drive stop', the only way top cure it was to move the actuators fulcrum further out on the rudder quadrant so there was more leverage and therefore less load on the actuator, check the installation there may be another mounting hole for the fulcrum ball.

 

[Oceanmaster]

I had this on my autohelm. Could not work it out. took the drive ram apart and found the motor brush spring broken. Replaced the spring from one out of a biro... Same size. the spring is still in there from five years ago. hope this helps.

 

[SimonH34]

Hi, I have had enourmous problems with tiller pilot and drive stopped messages. You need to check the voltage at the controller. If the voltage drops to less than about 12.2 volts it appears that new tiller pilots don't work. The thrust on mine dropped to about a third of its rated output and the tiller could be stopped with a just a finger pressure!!! I am going to try a Simrad this weekend. If you need any more info give me a shout.