Autohelm 4000 User Manual

Distributed by

Any reference to Raytheon or

RTN in this manual should be

interpreted as Raymarine.

The names Raytheon and RTN

are owned by the

Raytheon Company.

AUTOHELM 4000

Autohelm 4000 is an up-to-the-minute

digital autopilot which shares the same
microprocessor technology built into our

biggest and most sophisticated fully
installed pilots. It will provide precise
powerful steering for sailing yachts up to

13m (42ft)

LOA.

The basic system comprises the main
control unit, wheel drive unit and
mountinq fittinqs

nde8by ad&ng

l

Windvane

(Fiq.

2). This can be

any

of the following

0 Radio navigation interface
0 Hand held control unit

Fig.1

WINDVANE

The full system is shown below (Fig. 1)

The system is designed for owner
installation which aided by the following
guide should prove to be a simple and

interesting job. After fitting the

equipment it is only necessary to make a

single adjustment to the control unit to
match the autopilots response to the
steering characteristics of your vessel.

Good Sailing!

HAND HELD

MAIN CONTROL UNIT

CONTROL UNIT

(OPTION)

RADIO NAVIGATION

INTERFACE

(OPTION)

INSTALLATION

WHEEL DRIVE UNIT

The wheel drive unit (Fig.2) is attached to
the vessel’s wheel using the clamps
supplied. To complete the installation it is
only necessary to screw the torque

restraint bracket to the pedestal. It has
been designed for permanent mounting
in the cockpit and requires no

maintenance whatsoever.

A single lever disengages drive for

manual steering.

STEERING SYSTEM
The Autohelm 4000 is designed to
operate with steering systems having

between 1 and 3.5 turns lock to lock.

Fig.2

WliEEICI.AMPS

I

Steerinq systems with more than 3.5 turns
may

ca&e

impaired steering performance

due to reduced rate of rudder application.

Lost motion in the steering system must
not exceed 1% of total movement. This is
equivalent to 7.5 degrees of free wheel
movement for a system with two turns
lock to lock. If lost motion exceeds this
level it must be corrected otherwise
steering performance will be impaired.

It is recommended that the wheel driv
is not used on hydraulic steering systemi
Hydraulic slip across the helm pump
produces significant lost motion which
will impair steering performance.

*-d

ATTACHMENT TO THE WHEEL
The drive unit is clamped to the wheel
spokes using the bolts and clamps

provided, and may be used on wheels

with 3,5 or 6 spokes (Fig. 3).

Fig.3

AI8

The drive unit must be mounted
between the wheel and the pedestal
(Fig. 2).

The attachment kit has three romplete
sets of clamps to compensate for differing
spoke diameters. Marked alongside each
clamp is the spoke diameter to which it

relates. The appropriate clamps are simply
broken off as required.

The spacers (Fig. 5) must be used when

L\

’

the wheel is dished (Fig. 6) t9 prevent
distortion of the drive unit when the fixing
bolts are tightened.

Fig.5

SPACER

A holes - 3 and 6 spoke wheels
B holes - 5 spoke wheels

For 4 spoke wheels, use a 4.0mm

(5/32irr) drill to open out

iht>

C pilol holrs
to gain access to the additional mounting
points (Fig. 4). The plastic membrane
covering the additional nut inserts is only
1 .Omm (0.040in) thick, and care must be

tnkcn to cns\lrC that the nut inserts
ilol ci,~tri,igotl

sol

of tlarnps

spoke is avail,Ue

WIICII drilling

;Irld Ml, lot thr foirp

IIO~TI

your Aulollgltn

AI,

;Itldition~il

arc!

stockist.

CLUTCH LEVER

2

DRtVE MOTOR/GEARBOX