Autohelm 5000 compass

[Odysseus]

What are the symptoms before helm starts playing up, not holding course and or   making moves not asked for etc.
Odysseus

[JEN-et-ROSS]

In our case it was a folding bike we had stored in the port side aft cabin, right beside the clothes locker that just happened to house the fluxgate compass...
The influence of the metal bike wasn't enough to topple the compass unless another metallic object was nearby, like a fishing boat, freighter or whatever...
Whenever it did topple we would unexpectedly do a 90 deg turn toward the passing vessel.. Not ideal under full sail..
Moving the bike solved the issue........

[Odysseus]

Thank you...understand that....i am free of any metal around there...interesting about passing ships though.
Odysseus

[jeffatoms2]

Ours did a crashing jibe after we stored some stainless steel cowl vents too close to the fluxgate.  That was three years ago (probably magnetic).  Prior to that, it was acting up and we found that three of the four bolts holding the steering quadrant loosened up and the autopilot arm started floating, not responding . 

[Odysseus]

I am embarrassed ......as i have been in electronics all my life, ....some one put a torch under a T shirt on the shelf in the locker.....the other side of bulkhead to compass....the little people again....
Odysseus

[JEN-et-ROSS]

I would reckon this is a fairly regular 'event'....
Actually we 'test' the Autopilot each year by waving a screwdriver about outside the fluxgate locker and listen for the Type 1 actuator going nuts in the stern locker...........