"otter" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,
I am currently cruising down the east coast and have run into a problem
with the autohelm 4000 wheel autopilot. When in the disengaged, free
wheeling position (such as it would be in on standby when hand
steering), it still engages and will not turn freely--- it kind of
ratchets over the drive gear teeth.
Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this???

TIA

Your fault is strange, the problem is usually the belt slipping or the lever
disengaging. Anyway, the 4000 is easy to strip and reassemble. The two
halves split apart with the aid of a flat blade screwdriver or even a large
coin. The belt runs around a lip in one half of the casing and round the
tensioner and drive motor in the other half. As you take the two sections
apart, the belt (if not under tension) should slide off the lip and all the
components are all on view.

Graham.