Autohelm linear drives

Thu 27 May, HHN day 44: Attempt to install quick connect fittings on the linear drives. Did Raymarine sell me a refurbished linear drive? Aft berth area completed, I get my bed back!

It was today that I originally booked my flight back home to Bucharest. Oana and I are a bit sad not be back together tomorrow. There will be another 9 days, now that I have delayed my return flight. But occasionally the mistress has to come first, I guess! (Oana would likely dispute the word “occasionally”!)

Last evening the thunder and lighting and squally downpours continued well into the night. I got up during one particular deluge to see if the shrink wrap was holding up. But no problem, not even a drip inside. Then this morning is wonderfully fresh and bright, and I’m happy to see my “hole” has not been washed out or uncovered.

I had high expectations of getting several small loose-end jobs done today. But strangely, I only ended up in the aft bilge area again, under the aft berth.
As I reinstalled the autohelm linear drives, I intended to make quick connect fittings to the wiring pigtails. If we needed to replace them in emergency, it would be a simple task of unplug one and plug in the spare. We now have 4 linear drives, and my game plan is that if one has problems I simply swap both out without the need to finding out which one has the problem. Hence the need for quick connects.

I purchased 2 types of quick connects on Amazon and set out on the fiddly but relatively easy task to fit them. But no, these Chinese knock-offs are more like knock-offs of knock offs! They simply don’t work.
Eventually, I get one pair of wires installed into the plugs, only to find the pin and socket end up so much off center that they don’t even touch when the male and female connectors are joined. Maddening. I waste 2 full hours on the first type then try next type, which are no better. Another hour wasted.

So I end up installing the linear drives as they had been, using simple electrical connection blocks, like Hallberg-Rassy uses everywhere.
And before I even start with the wiring, I need to do some corrosion management on the older linear drive. It has been stowed in a padded plastic bag, tied next to the rudder setup. Somehow, water had got into the bag and corroded the housing.

Hence I had to take it all apart to see if there was any water inside. Luckily, none. And while I had it apart, I decided (because these are the silly things I do) to also take the new one apart and see the difference on the clutches. Surprisingly, they both looked just the same – slightly scored.
I had expected the brand new one to have a polished face. Hm… I wonder if Raymarine test them before selling, hence the scoring. I also have darker thoughts that they may be selling me refurbished parts, disguised as a new unit!

In-between the above, I have several other distractions. Like a trip to the hardware store, a look inside Paul’s Hallberg-Rassy 49, and helping Ray (yes ME, helping Ray, that’s one for the record) to put in a replacement thru-hull and sea-cock on Jeff’s Hallberg-Rassy 46 which he is working on.
So it is 6pm by the time I finally declare the aft bilge complete. Oh yes, another 1 hour in there somewhere I painted the 3rd and last coat of sound insulation paint in the aft void. I hope I don’t have to crawl in there again, any time soon.

While my dinner of sausages is cooking, I reinstate my aft berth. Oh, what a pleasure it will be to sleep in a big bed again, with our nice mattress.
Closing up that space and getting the aft berth back marks another big milestone. I don’t think there is anything under there that I didn’t service, modify, tinker with or paint in the last few weeks. Nope, nothing!