Bleeding autopilot

southernstyle995

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Hey guy I just installed a new helm pump an I just got done bleeding the system. My boat has a raytheon ST5000 plus auto pilot and I was doing the bleeding process in the manual with the seastar fluid hooked up to the system. My question is how do you know when as ll the air is out of autopilot pump and do I need to unhook seastar fluid before bleeding autopilot? Thanks
 

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Doc Stressor

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If it is like my old Raymarine system, there should be a clear hose that runs between the helm and the pump. You turn the bleed screw on the pump that lets fluid flow through the clear hose. After you loosen the bleed screw you turn it so that the flat spot faces the starboard side of the pump. Then you slowly turn the wheel clockwise until you no longer see bubbles in the clear hose. Then you turn the screw such that the flat side faces the port side of the pump and repeat the process turning the wheel counterclockwise until there are no longer any bubbles in the hose. Tighten the bleed screw and you are done. The helm and autopilot are both being bled together during this process. There is no need to use the bleeders on the engine steering unit.