Autohelm 4000 problem

[landonshaw]

Just bought for me a new autopilot, Autohelm 4000. Yes I know it is probably 3 generations old at least. My issue is that I attached the drive on the drive on the wheel. My wheel is wooden not metal spoke so that took some doing, and attached to the wheel back on the pedestal. All is good and looks fine. When the wheel turns, the drive starts to separate as though you are opening it to change the belt. Easy enough to snap back on but it does drag on the wheel and makes it difficult to turn the boat.
To solve the problem I placed a piece of rubber between the drive mechanism and the pedestal. This seems to solve the problem.
I am thinking that the wheel is not turning on a flat plane and has a wobble as it is rotated. Resolution is to replace the bearing in the pedestal that support the wheel shaft.
Has anyone else had this problem?

[atoll]

put a scribe on the wheel from a fixed point,this will find your center,and you will also see if there is a wobble on the axis,then adjust the wheel pilot drive wheel accordingly so it is centered with the steering wheel shaft.

[landonshaw]

Good plan and I will try it. Although by setting a point on the end of the shaft and it does not stay in one location, won't that indicate that the shaft is bent?