[C320-list] Autohelm speedometer

[warren updike]

Are you saying the whole unit came out with the black network and transducer
wires on the back; or, did the face of the instrument come off the back of
the instrument?

I believe the instrument is not intended to be held in-place by glue,
although the installer may have used silicone to seal the interface.  I
think on mine, there are small black thumb wheels with a threaded rod in the
center that are used to hold the unit tightly from behind.  Perhaps yours
were lost along the way and the "glue" was an expedient.  I may even have a
couple of those screws.  

My water temp too, doesn't register correctly - never did.  I recently had a
problem with intermittent operation of the speed transducer.  Since
Raymarine no longer supports the ST50 instruments I went to Airmar on the
internet and was able to purchase the paddle wheel replacement kit.  Airmar
was very helpful.  I can do without the water temp.

My ST50 Wind Instrument shows the direction just fine; but, the
apparent/true wind displays only very seldomly.  I attribute this to a bad
connection, probably at the mast/deck joint; but, have not yet done a
serious troubleshooting.  

I've recently had to repair the ST4000 auto pilot wheel ring, and that was
fun.  I had to remove the clutch handle that is held on with a "roll pin" or
some call them tensioning pins.  The smallest I could find is 1/16".  I
surmise, since the unit was built by Autohelm, a British company, that the
hole size in the clutch axel is probably 1.5mm, slightly smaller than 1/1
6".  After I drilled out the hole to 1/16", the roll pin went in rather
smoothly.  

Want to hear more?  Oh, the joy of owning a 15 year old sailboat.

I've accepted the fact that the auto pilot and instruments will have to be
replaced in the next 2-3 years, assured that at some point a needed ST50
part will just not be had.  I'm hoping by then the NEMA-2000 stuff will have
settled down and there will be ample choices.  The idea of a single network
cable with local drops is appealing.  The issue of connecting mast-head
transducer(s) needs more work.  I'll be watching the NEMA-2000 offerings at
the boat shows.

I get the daily e-mails from AskJackRabbit.com and find these very helpful
for following the new instrument news and other technical issues.  


Warren & Pattie Updke
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay



-----Original Message-----
When I went down to my boat today and pulled the plastic cover off of my
Autohelm speedometer, the unit came off of the pedestal, hanging by its
wires. It appears that the glue on the back just gave up. Is there anything
special about the glue holding the speedometer in? I'm a little shy about
putting something too serious on the back of it if it is ever necessary to
pull it out to access the wires to it.

Also, my outside water temperature gauge is stuck on 104 degrees. I can't
find my instructions, is there a way to reset this?

Thanks,

David Nolte
Beach House #4