Althought I posted the following on the CF Forum earlier, against the possibility that some members here are not also CF members, I am reposting here as well:
I'm wondering if anyone here abouts has had the experience of replacing the brushes in the drive motor of the Simrad HLD2000 MK2L linear hydraulic drive. On our most recent cruise our normally bullet proof auto-pilot gave up the ghost shortly after we had passed the PNR ("point of no return"). As we had previously cruised many, many years without an "Otto" we carried on but the subsequent two weeks of abjectly lousy weather and rough seas made the absence of a reliable, strong, autopilot a real issue on long "legs" off-shore.
Upon our return, our electronics tech--Steve at Jaytron, in Bradenton, Fla--indicated that the power transistors in our autopilot computer had failed and that such failures were often caused by the build-up of carbon dust in the A/P drive motor due to the wear of the brushes. While he is replacing the transistors, he also suggested I "suction out" the motor to remove carbon dust; and, replace the brushes in the motor for our linear hydraulic drive unit. Looking at the thing (see below), I can't see obvious brush mounting caps and I'm wondering it anyone has dealt with this issue with this drive in past and can offer any incite.
Snaps below. Any insight/suggestions/observations will be appreciated.
I'm wondering if anyone here abouts has had the experience of replacing the brushes in the drive motor of the Simrad HLD2000 MK2L linear hydraulic drive. On our most recent cruise our normally bullet proof auto-pilot gave up the ghost shortly after we had passed the PNR ("point of no return"). As we had previously cruised many, many years without an "Otto" we carried on but the subsequent two weeks of abjectly lousy weather and rough seas made the absence of a reliable, strong, autopilot a real issue on long "legs" off-shore.
Upon our return, our electronics tech--Steve at Jaytron, in Bradenton, Fla--indicated that the power transistors in our autopilot computer had failed and that such failures were often caused by the build-up of carbon dust in the A/P drive motor due to the wear of the brushes. While he is replacing the transistors, he also suggested I "suction out" the motor to remove carbon dust; and, replace the brushes in the motor for our linear hydraulic drive unit. Looking at the thing (see below), I can't see obvious brush mounting caps and I'm wondering it anyone has dealt with this issue with this drive in past and can offer any incite.
Snaps below. Any insight/suggestions/observations will be appreciated.