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Help with Auto-Hell-m

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Tray
Navigator

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Namibia
224 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/29/2002 : 21:07:25

I started my Autohelm install today, and got nowhere. I have looked at what Albert did on Abacus and read the instructions in the manual, but things didn't seem right.

1st problem: Out of the box, the pushrod only extends about an inch out of the tiller pilot body. I called tech support and they told me I would need to extend it out "about" 6.5 inches. When I asked how, they said to just try twisting and tugging until it comes out, or hook it up to a 12volt source. Has anyone else had this problem, if so, how did you extend it. I don't like the idea of tugging on a 400.00 tiller pilot.

2nd problem: The tiller pin is supposed to be 18" from the rudder stock's center line. I have a 3rd Gen rudder. I'm assuming that my stock center line is where the rudder pivots. That would mean I'd have to mount the pilot too far aft. It would not clear my outboard motor. Am I assuming incorrectly? I looked at the cantilever mount on "Allis" and it seems to be more forward than the 18" I measured. How critical is that distance?

Tech support was no help at all. The woman I spoke with couldn't answer my questions, told me I might as well return it.<img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Tray
C-250WB #554
"Weeny Bean"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2002 : 21:21:56

I, too, purchased an Autohelm, but have yet to install it, so I'm quite interested in the problems that you are encountering.

The pivot point of the rudder/tiller should be an imaginary straight line going through your pintle posts up through the tiller.

What do you mean when you say, "That would mean I'd have to mount the pilot too far aft. It would not clear my outboard motor."?

Are you mounting the autopilot on the side opposite of the outboard motor or the same side as the motor?

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Tray
Navigator

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Namibia
224 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2002 : 21:47:42

Mounting on the same side (STBD). I was following the example in the tech tips from "Allis." The cantilever in that picture is much more forward than it could be by my measurement.

BTW, I figured out how to extend the pushrod...I cut a cigarette light plug off an old car accessory and wired it into the tiller pilot. It worked. I extended the pushrod out 6.5" as directed by tech "support."

Tray
C-250WB #554
"Weeny Bean"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2002 : 22:02:53

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Mounting on the same side (STBD). -Tray<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Any particular reason why you are mounting the autopilot on the same side as your outboard? It appears that most respondents to autopilot questions on this forum mounted theirs on the side opposite the motor. By mounting the autopilot opposite the motor, you will be able to make adjustments to the motor without leaping over the autopilot.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2002 : 22:43:58

A picture is worth a thousand words.<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2da34b3127cce9d353baa52c00000004410" border=0> This isn't too hard of a project. Just take your time, read the instructions and ask questions here. Many of us have already conquered this beast.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 04/29/2002 : 22:46:27

Another look.<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2da25b3127cce9d6f268542500000005410" border=0>

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 02:07:44

Ahoy Tray!

Mine is on a C-250 as you have, and it is on the starboard side. However the tiller bracket is on the bottom side of the tiller. I mounted a tiller tamer on the bottom side also in front of the autotiller. The body of my autotiller is mounted to the starboard lazzerette. The power wire comes out the starboard side of the cockpit shell just in front of the motor so that it goes into the battery compartment below. Don't know what the measurements are off hand.

Good Luck, and as always, should you fail in your mission, our secretary will disavow any knowledge of your doings. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Safe voyages,
Ben, FL s/v Chick-a-pea C250wk

Edited by - on

acierno
1st Mate

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USA
62 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 09:07:18

just installed the auto tiller on my 250wk and tested it in sustained 25knot winds in charleston harbor--worked great!! allowed me to keep my hands on the main and travellor. the picture allis has does mount it a bit forward over 18 inches (from rudder pin pivot point). i mounted it there as well---forward enough to clear the motor and still behind the stern seat support. as far as the length of extender rod--i suggest you use enough extender rod to just clear the stern seat support by about 3/4 to 1 inch. this will allow enough "pull" to accomplish a turn to port. you can "fine tune" the turning radius by twisting the extender rod in or out. you will have to play with it a bit to get it set correctly. i know this dismisses some of there specs on line A and B, but only minimally so, and as a supplemental device, not to be used to go miles on en unattended, i think its worth the compromise. the other option is to mount it on the port side, but then you have to unscrew the extender every time someone wants to use the swim ladder. a bit of work, but man, i am happy with that toy.

ron
'mia alessandra'
250wk, hull 463

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2002 : 11:31:04

Hi Tray,

Here's a couple answers for you. First, you do need to extend the pushrod on your tillerpilot to about 6.5". This is so that you can get the hole placement for the pivot pin in the best position. Hook the unit up to a 12VDC source (battery, circuit panel, electrical start cables on the engine, etc) and use the buttons on the tillerpilot to extend the pushrod.

Second, the reason for placing the tillerpilot 18" ahead of the rudder pintles is pretty much geometry. If you place the tillerpilot closer to the rudder, the little servo motor in the unit may not be strong enough to overcome the leverage of the tiller. The unit was designed with the 18" leverage as a design feature. If you decide to mount the tillerpilot farther ahead than the 18" recommendation, that will be OK. The problem is that at the 18" placement, the tillerpilot can move the rudder to about a 22 degree angle off of the centerline of the boat. A little geometry shows that just moving the rudder ahead to 24" from the pintles limits the maximum rudder angle to only about 15 degrees (about 1/3 less angle at maximum pushrod). In light breezes, this won't matter much. But in strong winds, the tillerpilot may not be able to keep up with the boat's pitching and yawing - you may find that the boat rounds up too quickly for the tillerpilot and you'll backwind the jib and spin around unexpectedly. You will just need to "play" with the placement and wind conditions.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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Tray
Navigator

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Namibia
224 Posts

Response Posted - 05/01/2002 : 21:03:47

O.K. I think I'm ready to try this install again, thanks to all the advice. This weekend I'll look at the port side install option, since we don't use the swim ladder in the St Marys River or Cumberland Sound, ever. I've been told if you fell in the St Marys River, you should get shots.

Anyway, I think maybe I was "nuking" this out a little too much. I'll give it a go on Saturday.

Thanks.

Tray
C-250WB #554
"Weeny Bean"

Edited by - on

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