pbsurf
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2018
- Messages
- 46
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Inara
- Vessel Make
- Grand Banks 42 classic
After almost 2 years of flawless performance, this summer the autopilot only wanted to turn to port. Telephone consults with Robert Edwards, owner of Benmar, guided me thru removing the circuit boards in the power unit, sending them in for analysis, reinstalled, no joy. Next sent the pilothouse control unit and the autopilot binnacle. The binnacle compass had an air bubble that was removed tho still no joy. Next a directional check of the motor and that was ok. However when checking the motor directional with an auxiliary power source turning to stbd the motor screeched as it ran. Clearly not a happy electric motor sound so thought a motor rebuild would be the remedy. Motor shop advised to replace bearing and clean up the brushes and commutator. What do you do when the specialist says if this were mine this is what I would do? I went with the advice. So only 1 new bearing, because of the additional cost to open the power unit gear case and the other brg was considered acceptable. After the rebuild, auxiliary power on the motor each direction sounded the same. All reinstalled and no joy.The wheel only turned to port. Next Robert had me check for power at a relay switch. Had power going in and it wasn't coming out. My brother knows mechanical and he asked can you use a toothpick to hold the contacts together? Yes and power was on either side of the relay. OK, Robert said that 99.9% of the time a problem with a relay is dirty contacts so use 400 grit sandpaper and clean the contacts. One of the 4 surfaces has a dark spot in the middle, problem? With power applied no contact movement noticed. With the toothpick holding contacts connected, the autopilot will turn to stbd!! Aced the boat ride test with the jury rigged relay! Found an exact replacement relay on Ebay $14. Two slide on connectors and two soldered connections to reinstall. Anybody who used John Muir's "How to keep your Volkswagon alive" likely remembers "perseverance furthers". Many thanks to Robert Edwards for his customer service.