IP 38 steering

I just purchased a 1988 IP38, I have questions on how easy/hard the wheel should turn. Some literature indicates finger tip steering. My wheel feels as if it has the brake on. It has an autohelm 6000 system. Mike

Today was an epic summer sailing day on the SW Fla coast 22 kts on the beam south bound from Edmont key to Venice. Just a reminder that if you can't turn the wheel ease the main, and then ease the vang for some twist. Move the Jenny car forward to even the twist up. And let the traveler off . When in doubt let it out. But you knew that. So is the wheel hard to turn at the dock ? If so there are no grease fittings on the rack and pinion on my packet. The steering shaft goes through the seat on its way to the rack and pinion , a bushing here requires lube, time to take it apart and with a bucket of mineral spirits clean it of old hardened grease, 4 bolts on the rack and 4 more on the pinion remove the wheel, and there you are the heart of a bullet proof system. Reassemble with plenty of lube even the bushing in the seat, winch lube works great. Adjust the rack cam that allows free travel without allowing the rack to move up and away from the pinion, sloppy steering will result. lube the top of the rack allowing free movement lock to lock.. There is an adjustment behind the rack with a lock nut.
But before going that far do follow Hayden's advice. check all pilot attachments. All else fails, a bent rudder shaft, heaven forbid. If you are handy take it apart, photo as you go and do it up, you will have an understanding of a great system.
Fair winds
Thor

Mike,
Let's look at it this weekend. You're welcome to come over and look at mine. My pilot is a chain drive and imparts no additional feedback when it's off and I'm hand steering. This is unlike the Raymarine mechanical ram on my old Catalina (can I use that word on this forum?). On that boat you could tell the difference when the ram was disconnected, but it wasn't significant.
I'm with Hayden on this one. Probably should look at the simple stuff first. Does the steering feel the same at the dock, under power and under sail, or just under one condition? Could be a simple lubrication issue. My experience is the vast majority of sailboats get rudimentary maintenance at best during their lifetime, even Island Packets.
I had the rudder bearings replaced on the Catalina (there's that word again) just before it sold. That was a pain, but Crosswinds did most of the work. You definitely want to rule out simple stuff before embarking on that project. At least I now know what that feels like when hand steering. It was really, really, really hard to move the wheel.
See you out there.
Jeff