Maxwell 500 not working

Tug · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:14 pm Post subject: Maxwell 500 not working

Today was the first time this year i attempted to use my Maxwell 500 Windlass, I turned the breaker on, had the motor fast idling and flipped the switch to lower the anchor.. NOTHING.. it worked great last year before i stored the boat . I even checked the wiring, cranked the anchor up manually to see if there was a jam somewhere, switched battering but it was DEAD. I am looking for my owners manual today but does anyone have any suggestions. Thanks Tug

redbaronace · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:42 pm Post subject:

This same thing has happened to us quite a bit of late. Ours is a different brand, but the symptoms seem to be the same.

Ours was intermittent and whenever it failed to operate, I would check the fuses and then start wiggling wires. While this seems hardly scientific, it would work 50% of the time.

Finally, I got my wiring troubleshooting friend to come take a look, his best guess was that my wires connections were corroded. We went ahead and took a wire brush to all the loops at the battery terminal end and buffed them up. In fact, I believe we used a brush attachment at the end of a dremmel to remove the corrosion. We followed that up with some Corrosion X spray.

Since that time, the windlass has performed 100%. It has only been down/up 4 times, so time will tell whether the solution holds. Just thought I would share our fix.

Tug · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:00 pm Post subject:

I am on my way to the marina with a electrical tester, I will check that . Thanks Tug

thataway · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 1:22 pm Post subject:

A digital volt meter aboard is an essential. You probably have reversing selenoids. If this is the case, you need to check out two circuits. One is the circuit at the switch at the helm, the other is at the windlass. First check voltage at the input lines to the dash switch, then out put lines--both up and down. Next check voltage to the selinoid--then check voltage on out output side (this takes either a second person, or a set of small jumpers at the dash switch.

Agree that corrosion is often the problem. This may be at the battery on up. to the windlass itself.

If these all check out well--then it is probably the motor, and you will most likely have to pull the windlass.

I have owned several Maxwell windlasses, but they were considerably larger than the 500.

Rick from Maine · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 3:45 pm Post subject:

My experience with this windlass is the switch fails. Try taking voltages in and out of the up/down switch.

Tug · Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:42 pm Post subject:

Checked all the voltages and connections , everything seemed good. Than I removed all the ( 2 ) battery connections and used a piece of sandpaper and sanded them to a shine. I reconnected the batteries and tried the Windlass, worked like a charm. I would not of tried that because everything else worked . That was a quick fix with great results. I am buying the beer. lol. Thanks for the help. Tug