Autohelm 4000 wheel pilot mix&max

[dergon]

Hi all -

Outr1980s version Autohelm 4000 finally died. The wheel pilot unit has a plastic sproket that is ground to pulp....dead dead dead.

I was trying to find a replacement wheel pilot seeing as the control unit is just fine.

Closest I can find is an Autohelm ST4000 MKII wheel drive only on ebay.

Could I use this wheel drive and just wire it in to the existing ancient Autohelm 4000?

Or do I have to bite the bullet and purchase a whole new autohelm?

Thanks,

dergon

[PalmettoSailor]

Originally Posted by dergon

Hi all -

Outr1980s version Autohelm 4000 finally died. The wheel pilot unit has a plastic sproket that is ground to pulp....dead dead dead.

I was trying to find a replacement wheel pilot seeing as the control unit is just fine.

Closest I can find is an Autohelm ST4000 MKII wheel drive only on ebay.

Could I use this wheel drive and just wire it in to the existing ancient Autohelm 4000?

Or do I have to bite the bullet and purchase a whole new autohelm?

Thanks,

dergon

I'm in the same boat (pun intended) so I'd be interested in what you find. I suspect the price on the wheel drive you found is around $500 unless you found a better deal than I did.

That gave me pause because its about 50% of the cost of a new X5 which would have a better "brain". In my case however, the boat is at the absolute upper limit recommended for the X5 so I'm looking into a below deck solution.

If I find I can't rationalize that much expense, my options are to try to replace the 4000 drive unit or maybe give the CPT Autopilot a try.