Auto pilot only wants to go left

R

rogerbum

New member
I've got a Raymarine ST6002 autpilot on the boat. During the season, it started out that it didn't quite hold the course well when it needed to turn to the right and eventually progress to not being able to turn right at all. Engaging the autopilot when things started going wrong would result in a slow drift to the left now it results in a rapid turn left.

I must admit I don't really understand how the pump for the autopilot is designed but I imagine that it is either:
A) two pumps (one to send fluid in either direction) that are electrically controlled or
B) one pump with switching valves or a reversing motor that control the direction of the hydraulic fluid.

ON EDIT: It appears that the standard pump is a reversing single pump.

Give the mode of failure, I don't think this is an electrical/control head failure but imagine that its a pump seal or valve issue. Any insight from those who have fixed or heard of a similar problem?
 
rogerbum":1yjmrkk7 said:
I've got a Raymarine ST6002 autpilot on the boat. During the season, it started out that it didn't quite hold the course well when it needed to turn to the right and eventually progress to not being able to turn right at all. Engaging the autopilot when things started going wrong would result in a slow drift to the left now it results in a rapid turn left.

I must admit I don't really understand how the pump for the autopilot is designed but I imagine that it is either:
A) two pumps (one to send fluid in either direction) that are electrically controlled or
B) one pump with switching valves or a reversing motor that control the direction of the hydraulic fluid.

ON EDIT: It appears that the standard pump is a reversing single pump.

Give the mode of failure, I don't think this is an electrical/control head failure but imagine that its a pump seal or valve issue. Any insight from those who have fixed or heard of a similar problem?
Click to expand...

Roger- I'm unfamiliar with autopilots, but if the pump motor functions by reversing it's polarity, I'd disconnect the pump from the autopilot and test it's function to see if the problem is in the pump or the control unit. Connect 12v power to the disconnected leads to the pump in the two polarity modes, and see if the pump runs in both modes and if the fluid is pumped in opposite directions, reversing the steering of the slave cylinder. If all this works, then the problem must be in the control unit. If it's there, call the Raymarine tech. If it's in the pump, then call him anyway and see if it can be repaired or you need a new pump. Hope this is logical and helps! Good Luck!

Joe. :teeth :thup

P.S.: What happened to TyBoo's post? :lol:
 
Discovery":38fbu515 said:
Check the position sensing cylinder, probably on the starboard motor steering ram. It may have come loose and is way off center.
Click to expand...

Brent - I must admit I have no idea of what that is or would look like. Googling that term (position sensing cylinder) wasn't very helpful. Can you describe this or post a picture?
 
Discovery":3nn3guec said:
Check the position sensing cylinder, probably on the starboard motor steering ram. It may have come loose and is way off center.
Click to expand...

Can you explain what it looks like and what to look for as far as making adjustments to one.
 
Given the vintage, it's a common issue to have a failure. It could be a lot of things from loose wire connections to a bad heading sensor or just for no good reason or hard to imagine, old age. Saw a few out of the box failures even
Raymarine may change out the motor for you. They are well aware they had some mfg issues in '06-'09.
I'd call their tech line and get it underway.
George
 
11_2005_019.sized.jpg
The position indicating ram is the lower cylinder on the starboard motor in this pic. Held in place by the two stainless bands. It provides input to the autopilot to indicate whither the motor is pointed to the left, right, or straight ahead. It needs to be centered on the steering ram. I had a bad ram on our 24TC and the autopilot would only turn to port.
 
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