ST4000 wheel pilot - what noise?

[oldvarnish]

I've got a Raymarine ST4000 wheel pilot, three years old, and I'm not certain it has ever worked properly. My old one (black model) made qick and decisive course corrections, always at the same speed. The 4000 makes some quick movements, but also some very slow, grinding ones. There is no belt slip, and the rudder sensor is connected, and the control unit appears to do what it's told. But these slow, gradual movements of the wheel doen't seem right. Of course, it's impossibe to convince an engineer there's anything wrong when he puts it on his bench and it goes 'buzz' when he powers it up.
Anyone had the same?
If I decide to junk it, anyone care to suggest an alternative for a 36ft ketch?

 

[bobgoode]

A mate had a similar problem which was traced to a stiff bearing in the rudder...just a thought

 

[Bilgediver]

The speed of response depends on the set up and the rate at which the boat is slewing off course.

If the boat is sailing in calm weather then the forces putting the boat of coarse are minimal and so only minimal helm needed to correct. If sailing in rougher conditions then more helm and more rapid response.

It would be wise to check the Autohelm is correctly set up for the steering gear. The old model had adjustments undeneath the compass unit where you set it up to match the steering ratio. Your may be set up for the wrong steering ratio.


John

 

[Piddy]

Same here - a few whizzy ones and a lot of slow buzzing moves. My wheel is light and I don't sail with the boat unbalanced, it just seems to be a feature of this pilot. I'm not overly impressed with the course it steers so I have started to tinker with the response but so far haven't seen any great change.

That's progress I suppose!

Cheers

 

[Robin2]

Mine sounds the same - occasional short sharp corrections and mostly slow grinding ones. It keeps course splendidly and I have never tried to set it up "properly".