Nav pilot 300 issue

[trapper]

Morning, Looking to the group for some help with my AP. I know Doc has one of these and maybe others so reaching out. My AP sticks when hard over to port or starboard and cannot return by the pump, t needs a turn of the wheel to get it started. It can sometimes free itself on port side but cannot on starboard. I have done the dockside programming a few times to no avail. So at this point cannot use the sabiki mode as when hard over it cannot return to move the stern in the right direction to stay on course. Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

[SkunkBoat]

When you use the steering wheel, does it get stuck hard over?

 

[Doc Stressor]

I would try is bleeding the system. If the steering makes a soft landing when going hard over, the unit may not know where it is. If that doesn't work, I'd try and re-do the dockside setup where you calibrate hard over port and starboard.

Furuno support is very responsive in my experience. You should give them a call.

 

[Halfhitch]

Trapper, do you have a rudder indicator in the system?

 

[trapper]

Thanks guys, do not have a rudder indicator and have bled the system. Yes I can unstick the handover with a turn of the wheel. I have gone over the dockside set up a few times, with the same results. Doc, you got me wondering, when on the dock set up if I stopped "hard over" before it was actually at the hard ove,r it it would remember the difference and not go far enough to lock up? Will give that a try then will need a water test to check. Checked in with the Furuno Forum and they said to redo the Dockside.....so another try with the what I mentioned above.

 

[Doc Stressor]

Doc, you got me wondering, when on the dock set up if I stopped "hard over" before it was actually at the hard ove,r it it would remember the difference and not go far enough to lock up?

Yes, that's how the calibration works. But let me ask you this: When you turn the wheel lock-to-lock without the autopilot engaged, how does it feel when you reach the end of each turn? Does it feel soft as you reach the end or is it smooth all the way through? If you feel any kind of skipping, it needs to be bled.

 

[Halfhitch]

Trapper, I am not familiar with your exact AP but when I set up my Raymarine Smartpilot it had a menu item dealing with rudder angle maximums In the rudder calibration. There was a menu item that let you set the maximum angle the AP would consider "hard over". While in that mode I turned the wheel lock to lock manually and the control head read out the degrees. I then set the AP limits 5 degrees less in each direction. Mine is a much older system but being yours is much more sophisticated, I would think it would have the same capability. One thing that may be coming into play is the ability it has to operate in reverse drive. Thats' a whole different omlette and I haven't been involved with that since my old TR1 days of 2005. It was flawless and luckily didn't need my input.

 

[trapper]

Thanks Doc and Halfhitch, I will start by bleeding the system again then stop the heard over just before full over on the Dockside. Doc the steering feels smooth all the way through the turn but will bleed again anyway. Has anyone used automatic trans. fluid instead of the seastar juice? Easier for me to access.

 

[Doc Stressor]

You can use any fluid that meets MIL SPEC H-5606-G. The best place to get this is at a small airport that has a lot of civil aviation. You can use AT fluid in a pinch, but it absorbs moisture that can cause corrosion and seal damage over time.

Some products that meet the standard and are a lot cheaper than the SeaStar stuff are:
Shell Aero Fluid #41
Esso Univis N15 or J13
Mobil Aero HFA
Chevron Aviation Hydraulic Fluid A
Texaco® HO1
Petro Canada Harmony HV1155

 

[SkunkBoat]

You can use any fluid that meets MIL SPEC H-5606-G. The best place to get this is at a small airport that has a lot of civil aviation. You can use AT fluid in a pinch, but it absorbs moisture that can cause corrosion and seal damage over time.

Some products that meet the standard and are a lot cheaper than the SeaStar stuff are:
Shell Aero Fluid #41
Esso Univis N15 or J13
Mobil Aero HFA
Chevron Aviation Hydraulic Fluid A
Texaco® HO1
Petro Canada Harmony HV1155

I got a gallon on Amazon for $50 Phillips 66 X/C 5606A

 

[trapper]

Thanks Doc and Skunk, I will pursue!.