Old Autohelm 3000

[GrahamAD]

I have an old Autohelm 3000, the original one with the controls that look like a cylindrical pot with a knurled wheel on top. The drive is a sort of torpedo shaped motor with a small drive wheel at one end which drives the wheel via a belt which passes round a much larger drive wheel attached to the boat's steering wheel. Despite its age it works fine. My problem is the steering wheel needs a repaint and I'm having trouble removing the drive wheel from the steering wheel. It's attached with J shaped bolts which tighten up to the spokes of the steering wheel. The nuts and washers come off OK but I cannot shift the bolts. Does anyone familiar with this type of fixing know how to get the bolts off without causing damage? Thanks. Graham

[coopec43]

Have you looked at the manuals?


http://www.busse-yachtshop.de/pdf/rayST3000_wheel.pdf


https://www.manualslib.com/manual/11...utohelm%203000


https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...-a-221617.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZHVB49sEq4

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by GrahamAD

I have an old Autohelm 3000, the original one with the controls that look like a cylindrical pot with a knurled wheel on top. The drive is a sort of torpedo shaped motor with a small drive wheel at one end which drives the wheel via a belt which passes round a much larger drive wheel attached to the boat's steering wheel. Despite its age it works fine. My problem is the steering wheel needs a repaint and I'm having trouble removing the drive wheel from the steering wheel. It's attached with J shaped bolts which tighten up to the spokes of the steering wheel. The nuts and washers come off OK but I cannot shift the bolts. Does anyone familiar with this type of fixing know how to get the bolts off without causing damage? Thanks. Graham

I never had any trouble removing the drive wheel from the steering wheel when I had an Autohelm 3000, but in your situation I would take off the steering wheel from the pedestal, soak the J bolts with your favorite penetrating oil, and then try tapping the ends gently with a hammer. Just take the wheel off to avoid damaging the needle bearings in the steering mechanism.