poor mans auto pilot

[bastonjock]

Hi Guys

I tried to fit the "wheel brake" also known as the poor mans auto pilot.I managed to get the wheel off easily enough,then i unscrewed the black collar and what i was faced with did not fit the description in the manual.

It stated that i should have two screws to undo,in order to remove the collar,i did not,it just unscrewed,there were no screws holding it in place,then i stated that i should find 3 screws holding the helm in place,there were 4

I ended up with a shaft,that had a larger outer diameter with a cantral shaft held in place by a cir clip.The i tems supplied did not have a large enough diameter to slide over the outer shaft

Has anyone fitted a wheel brake to a 2001x?,i dont know if the difference is down to it being a european model or what?

[Québec 1]

Was waiting for somebody to post on this ...but I didn't even get the wheel off. The instructions says there is a screw holding the wheel on in the center of its hub ...thats not the case with my 2003 26M. Am going to try leverage and force on my next try. Will screw the bolt back on the hub nut so it is flush with the hub have my son pull on the wheel while I give the hub a good tap with my hammer. Before I do this I will reinstall my DB and go sailling for a few days and then install the lazy jacks and go sailing for a few days . Looks like an August job. I would be sailing now but I have to let the gloss coat dry on my repaired daggerboard before putting it in water.
Q1

[Paulieb]

I would love to see a picture of the wheel locking device. I wanted to order one from KH but they don't show any pictures of it and I was not willing to order it blind. Sounds like I made the right decision, at least for now.

[tangentair]

I would love to see a picture of the wheel locking device. I wanted to order one from KH but they don't show any pictures of it and I was not willing to order it blind. Sounds like I made the right decision, at least for now.

I was thinking also how handy a wheel lock would be the last time I was out, we had the boat trimmed up rather nicely and it would have been interesting to lock the wheel and let her sail. And speaking of a poor man's auto pilot, wasn't vkmaynard a while back trying to develop one? Wanted the price to be under $600 US - any further developments?

[Love MACs]

I was wondering about

vkmaynard a while back trying to develop one? Wanted the price to be under $600 US - any further developments?

, that also. Last we heard he was in sea trials.


Allan

[c130king]

Fellow Mac Owners (and Poor Man's Autopilot Owners and potential owners),

I also ordered one of these doohickies. And then I considered buying an 18" Destroyer Steering Wheel...also from KH Marine. But I figured I would ask if the PMA was compatible with the bigger steering wheel. Got an email from Jeff Stagg and he says it is compatible and he sent me the installation instructions to the PMA.

Poor Man's Autopilot installation instructions

I did a little digging on the Teleflex website but I couldn't find a photo. And of course mine is still in the packaging at my folks house in Florida waiting for installation in December.

Enjoy,
Jim

[jcasale]

Hey Jim,

If you want, I can install your auto pilot on my X and let you know how it works.

[c130king]

John,

Nice try. But feel free to come over on 21 December and help me install the PMA along with the new batteries/switches/combiners and my new sail.

Then on 22 Dec its time to get wet.

Only 5 months and 4 days...but who's counting...

Jim

[MSN-Travelers]

OK ... I bought and installed the PMAP along with an 18" wheel (both from K-H) this spring. I have a stock 2006 26M

The old wheel came off without too much effort. Lock nut backed off so it was even with the end of the shaft, a little upward pressure on the wheel and a sharp hammer rap on the nut/shaft. After a few sailings ... I think I would suggest the 20" wheel vs. the 18". I don't have any problem getting by the 18" wheel and the 20 incher would reduce the reach just a little bit more.

The Torque Brake Kit (PMA) I received contained a lot of extra parts that I didn't need. Otherwise, it's pretty straight forward one-for-one parts replacement. When all was said and done, I only used three parts from the kit (items 1, 2 & 3)

Reference the instructions link in the previos post. The threaded end of the knob (item 3) pulls the collar (item 2) tight against the back side of the long bushing (item 1) while pressing down on the bushing itself. The bushing is indexed and only goes in one way. The collar & knob match the orientation of the bushing. On my boat, the knob is oriented at roughly the 2 o'clock position. I did a little trim work on the collar and threaded end of the knob. Both had burrs that would have eaten up the plasic bushing pretty fast.

This might be a one-size-fit-all kit designed to work on different Mac models. It was, for me, a little over priced given the few parts that I actually used. The Torque Brake Kit does a fair job of keeping the boat on course without locking the wheel so tight that you can't make minor course corrections.

Paul

[bastonjock]

the PMAP is manufactured by teleflex,my helm is made by a different company,

The diameter of the outer shaft will not accept the wheel brake,in order for me to fit the brake i need to be able to slide the bezel and the braking lock over the shaft,the shaft is a greater diameter than the diameter of the parts supplied.

I may try to open the hole up so that the unit can fit,i have no intentions of messing around with the teleflex system

[c130king]

Matt,

The KH website states that the PMAP is for 26M and 26X. But I think the PMAP is designed to be used with teleflex steering systems. The instructions state which systems the PMAP is compatible with:

These instructions describe how to install a torque brake kit on the Back Mount Rack steering system. The kit will mount to systems using the SH 5210 and SH5215 helms.

Is your steering system stock? Is it teleflex? Maybe KH Marine should state that the system may not work on some steering systems. Just a thought.

I have the Teleflex steering system (installed in May 07) so I am confident mine will work fine...when I finally get to install it.

Jim

[bastonjock]

Jim

My system is not teleflex,its some other US company based in Ohio,cant remember the name right now morse or something similar.I think that KH ought to state that it is for the Reflex system.

Ill have to study it a bit more to see if i cam modify it to fit my steering,in the Owners manual it shows the system with a wheel brake and also an electric adapter.

[RickJ]

Matt

I think you probably have the Detmar steering, same as mine was (Detmar were subsequently bought out by Teleflex). Later Xs were fitted with R&P steering, as are all Ms. It sounds a bit like the brake is designed only for these R&P helms, and maybe don't fit the rotary helms (though I haven't dug deep).

If that's the case it's a bit bad of KH not to point out that it won't fit all boats.

[bastonjock]

Matt

I think you probably have the Detmar steering, same as mine was (Detmar were subsequently bought out by Teleflex). Later Xs were fitted with R&P steering, as are all Ms. It sounds a bit like the brake is designed only for these R&P helms, and maybe don't fit the rotary helms (though I haven't dug deep).

If that's the case it's a bit bad of KH not to point out that it won't fit all boats.

ive just had a look at the owner literature and all i have for the steering system is a booklet on a system by "Morse Marine" of ohio

wonder how i get spares for that?

[efalstrem]

just received my Poor Man's Auto Pilot from Kelly-Hanson. I am not a mechanically minded person but I've read the instructions and it seems straight forward to install. Does anyone have any suggestions/warnings for me before I go ahead with the removal of the steering wheel, etc. I have the collar behind the whel that keeps backing off. I assume the bezel they sent me replaces that part.