Noisy Hydraulic Auto Helm - WHY?

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StevenJMorgan

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I have a B&G Pilot head unit and integrated system powering a smiths industries hydraulic ram unit with built in solenoid and pump. Ram attaches direct to the quadrant - quadrant is turned by cables from wheel / binnacle.

The unit has always been absolutely silent or at least inaudable from the cockipit - until ... this weekend.

It has taken to making an electrical whirring noise as the ram pushes and pulls. Local guys tell me to check the oil level - checked it and its fine. Then to bleed it as the noise is air in the system -tried this rather unsuccessfully following the B&G istructions but noise is still there.

I guess if it had always made a noise from the time I aquired the boat I would have thought it normal, but it hasn't - its always been silent. Should these rams make a noise or should they be silent? If there was air in the system would this lead to an electrical whirring noise. If it is not air in the system then whats making the noise - the pump / or the solenoid??

Not convinced I did the bleeding exactly right so if the forum think that air may cause the noise then I will persist at this.

As always any help much appreciated - may not be back at pc for a few hours or more.

cheers.
 
I suspect you will have to be accompanied by your bank manager to purchase a pump and solenoids, I would eliminate the possibility air as it's least expensive.

It sounds like air to me.

Avagoodweekend......
 
Could you give a reference to the RAM on the internet. Just a picture will do. Although I like hydraulic RAMs I might unfortunately have exactly the same model as you. There are a few design problems on ours.
 
Solar neil sorry no, I have searched the net and cannot find a link to smiths industries. The rams shown on B & G website have serperate pumps and rams. This unit is an integrated unit which has ram solenoid and pump all fixed together - remove the fitting from the quadrant, pull out a pin that holds the unit to the boat, unplug four spade connectors and its out,

does this sound the same as yours??
 
I have to go to the accountant now, but if the reference I sent you is correct then do not use the machine if it is making a whirring noise. Be pack in 8 hours. I will try and think up a way to express my appreciation of the product without getting legal action.
 
The motors used on Autopilots are the permanent magnet type. Some are only glued to the inside of the motor casing. Our decided one day to fall off. The motor still continued to work but made bad noises as it ground through the magnet and made a terrible black dust. It was fixed by gluing it back in place with epoxy but the place looked like a laser printer cartridge accident afterwards! Works fine now but the lack of glue residue holding the magnet in place looked like the after affects of a cost cutting exercise. It did damage to the soft iron core also. Still working 2 years later.

However, if it is just air in the system the integrated units need have the rod extended 5 times while the motor is at the bottom as well as the 10 or so times when stood upright with the motor at the top. The instructions (even the new improved version) do not cover this.

So far it has let us down 4 times. One more and it goes overboard for a split system with a simple reservoir.
 
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