sailtones
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2013
- Messages
- 97
- Location
- Montenegro
- Vessel Name
- Nostra Signora
- Vessel Make
- Marine Trader CHB 34DC
Any ideas about this would be greatly appreciated.
My MT 34 DC has what I assume to be the original autopilot that is 30+ years old, but is a very solid unit that I really dont want to have to replace.
It consists of a control head with manual compass card dial where the course is dialed up, the pilot is switched on, and away you go. There are little led lights that indicate when the pilot has engaged port or stb rudder.
Also has the hydraulic drive unit or pump, flux gate compass, and computer.
Okay so here is the problem.
When I bought and picked up the boat, the steering via both helms was not working due to the fact that there had been a hydraulic leak. Once topped up with oil it worked okay but was a little sloppy when left for a period of time. I put this down to 30 year old oil and dirt in the lines and knew I would need to drain the and replace the oil in the system at some point.
When first using the autopilot, the rudder would engage to stb and turn the rudder hard over no problem, but when engaging to port, it would only bring the rudder back to midships and go no further, even though control unit was indicating that the computer was still telling the pump to add port helm. The pump would just stop pumping to port and the rudder stayed midships.
This was during the original 3 day delivery home which meant we needed to manually assist the autopilot by turning the helm to port every time it needed it. Thankfully after about 12 hours under way it miraculously fixed itself and I never had another problem with it for the next 3 months.
However, I did need to replace all the old oil, which was done. After which my helm stations are tight as a drum, but the problem has started again with the auto pilot!
Any comments or suggestions for troubleshooting welcome!
My MT 34 DC has what I assume to be the original autopilot that is 30+ years old, but is a very solid unit that I really dont want to have to replace.
It consists of a control head with manual compass card dial where the course is dialed up, the pilot is switched on, and away you go. There are little led lights that indicate when the pilot has engaged port or stb rudder.
Also has the hydraulic drive unit or pump, flux gate compass, and computer.
Okay so here is the problem.
When I bought and picked up the boat, the steering via both helms was not working due to the fact that there had been a hydraulic leak. Once topped up with oil it worked okay but was a little sloppy when left for a period of time. I put this down to 30 year old oil and dirt in the lines and knew I would need to drain the and replace the oil in the system at some point.
When first using the autopilot, the rudder would engage to stb and turn the rudder hard over no problem, but when engaging to port, it would only bring the rudder back to midships and go no further, even though control unit was indicating that the computer was still telling the pump to add port helm. The pump would just stop pumping to port and the rudder stayed midships.
This was during the original 3 day delivery home which meant we needed to manually assist the autopilot by turning the helm to port every time it needed it. Thankfully after about 12 hours under way it miraculously fixed itself and I never had another problem with it for the next 3 months.
However, I did need to replace all the old oil, which was done. After which my helm stations are tight as a drum, but the problem has started again with the auto pilot!
Any comments or suggestions for troubleshooting welcome!