Auto pilot issues

K

knotflying

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Messages
6,014
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2731J011
Non-Fluid Motion Model
25' Parker & 246 Robalo Cayman
Vessel Name
http://illusionsmikeandjess.blogspot.com
I guess this is my week! When I use the auto-pilot the boat seems to sway back and forth like it is hunting for a heading. It is a subtle sway back and forth. Any thoughts?
 
Try... Performing the Auto Pilot's calibration again using the built-in Wizard.

It could also be a 'sensitivity' issue, and there are some configuration option for addressing this.

Did this happen immediately after you fiddled with the cable connections ?
 
Check to make sure your flux gate compass don't have and metal objects around it and that it is tight. The wires coming out of it should be pointing straight down/

Ronnie Gonzales
Cutwater/Ranger Customer Service
ronniegonzales@cutwaterboats.com
425-220-3932
 
Check your autopilot settings. There is one mode which causes that kind of weaving pattern.
 
I spoke to Garmin. They want me to call them the next time I am on the water. They said it could be one of three issues, one being possible air in the lines. I will report back when I go through the process with them
 
Mike: If Garmin concludes it's air in the hydraulic line(s) it will take either Garmin or a qualified technician with the proper equipment to come on board to purge the air out. I had this done back in 2010 by the local Garmin Tech Help person along with his special toolkit for purging the air. It's quite a contraption and typically all the hydraulic fluid is replaced as part of the exercise.

Good luck with this.

I believe I posted pictures of the equipment somewhere, and if I find them I'll post them here for you.

BTW -- who did you contact at Garmin ?

[EDIT]

I posted the photos into my Photo Album at http://www.tugnuts.com/gallery2.php?g2_itemId=36040 for your enjoyment…

Unfortunately the order of the photos were scrambled when I uploaded them. However, they are numbered from 1 to 13, so view them in that order if you like… but it really doesn't matter that much.
 
Hopefully problem resolved. A Garmin tech first had me check to make sure there was no air in the line. Then he had me go into the dealer setup and adjust the rudder gain. Apparently it was too sensitive. It is best to do it on calm water on a calm day. I was in our salt pond, but the wind was blowing about 15 knots. I did a few runs and readjusted the settings for slow speed and fast speed and it definitely seemed to help. Next week I head for the Northeast Rendezvous, so that will be the true test.
 
knotflying":3ugxi3kk said:
Hopefully problem resolved. A Garmin tech first had me check to make sure there was no air in the line. ...snip...
Click to expand...

Mike: Can you describe how the check for air in the line was performed ? To me this is a periodic maintenance item that I'd like to learn more about.

I did have air purged from my line(s) back in March 2010. The Garmin Tech person actually purged all the fluid and replaced it as part of the operation. I suspect this was an overkill but nonetheless it was done. If I recall something like filling the system with fluid and then pumping it through the lines until no air bubbles present... but this required a special toolkit that looked pretty fancy to me. See my photo album for this.
 
Pretty easy. Stay stationary, engage the auto pilot turn the wheel all the way to the right and you should get a autopilot stall warning. Then do the same thing to the left. You should get the same results. If you do not get the stall then there is air in the line.
 
Mike:

Thanks very much. That does sound like an easy method. I will check mine next time at the dock.

When you performed this check did you get the "stall alarm" ?

[edit] when I performed this check for air in the line all I heard when wheel fully hard over to port or starboard was a slight gurgling sound coming from behind the helm console. I had chart plotter and auto pilot on and auto pilot was engaged in heading mode, but of course as soon as I turned the wheel the auto pilot disengaged and then re-engaged when the wheel was hard over.

I tried this with boat docked and without and with engine running.

Just what kind of alarm represents "auto pilot stalled' ?
 
You should get a warning on the autopilot screen that will say autopilot stall. You should also hear the pump in the rear pumping hard and then when the stall happens it stops. If you don't get the stall it indicates that there is air in the line.
 
Mike:

Thanks... then it appears I have air in the line... sigh.

Just to be sure here's the procedure I followed...

1. Boat is docked and engine not running and wheel amidships.
2. Flip GPS Chart Plotter and Auto Pilot breaker switches to ON position.
3. Wait for Chart Plotter and Auto Pilot to boot up.
4. Engage Auto Pilot via soft button -- and this engages the Heading mode by default.
5. Turn wheel hard over to starboard.
6. Pump working hard should be heard and "Autopilot stall" message should be displayed and pump noise stops if no air in line, otherwise there's air in line.

Notes:

a) When step 5 performed the Auto Pilot 'Heading' mode disengages and "You have the helm" message displayed as soon as the wheel starts to be moved.
b) When step 5 completes (that is, when wheel fully hard over) the Auto Pilot re-engages 'Heading' mode.

Do I have this procedure correct ?
 
As a sanity check for the procedure I gave above I called and had a chat with my Garmin Tech person, Robert Archer. He told me my procedure was almost correct except I should not be using the steering wheel to place the rudder hard over. This engages the shadow drive which opens the check valves and inhibits the Auto Pilot stall condition.

Instead, the correct procedure, unless you disable the shadow drive, is to use the Auto Pilot's left or right arrows to change heading. Hold one of the arrow keys down or continuously press and release until the rudder is hard over. When the rudder is hard over the 'stall' message should display and the pump noise should at same time stop making its noise. If this 'stall' message is not displayed and the pump continues to make a noise then there's air in the line.

I will test this new procedure and post back my results.
 
OK... this new procedure worked flawlessly. I found I had no air in the Auto Pilot's hydraulic line. When the rudder was hard over the pump action noise stopped and the "Hydraulic Pump Stall" message was displayed at top on the GHC 10.

1.jpg
 
Interesting. I had the same tech, I have to check my notes, but I would swear that Robert told me to do a manual turn of the wheel. However I did get the stall notice.
 
Mike: Did you ever check your notes on performing the Autopilot's "air in line" procedure.... it's been a while since you said you would do this. LOL 😱
 
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