Windlass locked up tight!

D

Dreamer

New member
After retrieving the TC today in Port Townsend, the anchor was a little loose. I hit the switch for the windlass to slightly tighten the chain. Nothing! A slight buzz in my VHF speaker when the switch was activated was all I heard. Breaker hadn't been tripped, battery voltage was 14.5v since I was home and on shore power.

It's a Lewmar Sprint 600, factory installed. I seem to remember a thread on some problems with these. Anybody else have them freeze up after a couple of years? Any success with the 3 year warranty? I'm sure I'm not the first. Thanks in advance.
 
The last trip out, Journey On's windlass quit working. Once I got home, I checked to see how far the power was going, and when I hit the switch, the voltage dropped to 0 (ZERO.) Worked my way back and found several loose connections. There is a breaker right in back of the engine controls (on a C-25.) Works fine (I hope) now.

Hope your's is that simple. There is a clutch you can loosen manually to see if the rode comes out smoothly. To loosen it use that small yellow plastic thing that came with the boat.

boris
 
Thanks Boris,

The breaker is good. I loosened the clutch with the yellow handle. The anchor usually freefalls at that point. Nothing. The gypsy is frozen in position. I'm presently researching warranty service centers. Thanks.
 
I had the same problem with my windlass last year. The Offshore Store (www.offshorestore.com, 206-632-3025) is the authorized repair center in the Seattle Area. You will need to remove the windlass from the boat and drop it off at their store. There is a 3 year warranty but if you look closely, it's 1 year for electrical parts. Turns out I had a seal leak which allowed water into the motor. I was prepared to argue the damage was a direct result of a failed "mechanical" seal but the subject didn't come up. I found the person (sorry, I don't have a name) in charge of warranty repairs to be a pleasant enough fellow but overworked. He indicated it would be a couple of months before they could repair the windlass. I offered to pay to expedite the repair as I was going on a boat trip. As it turned out, I didn't have to pay anything and I got the windlass back in three weeks. You will need to show proof of purchase.

Tim
 
Dreamer":m7407a88 said:
Thanks Boris,

The breaker is good. I loosened the clutch with the yellow handle. The anchor usually freefalls at that point. Nothing. The gypsy is frozen in position. I'm presently researching warranty service centers. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Roger-

With the clutch disengaged, does the motor then spin freely w/o a load on it when you hit the switch?

Have you checked the voltage and resistance out all along the route to the windlass? The Lewmar 400-600 Sprint and Horizon windlasses don't have solenoid/contactors, but use a double pole rocker switch with an "X" crossover on the terminals behind to reverse the polarity for the up/down motion. I'd check out the resistance on that switch real closely. 50 amps is a lot to put through a simple switch.

After removing the rode, can you then move the gypsy with the manual handle at all? (Can you feel any backlash in the gears?)

Can you see any evidence of water intrusion below the gypsy in the gears or motor?

If you're not afraid of complicating the warranty issue, you might drop the motor down free of the deck assembly and see if it will spin with and without the 12 volts applied, and whether the gears and gypsy are free or locked up.

I'd also call the Lewmar Technical Representative and get his advice on both the mechanical/electrical issues and warranty questions.

Let us know what you find out.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Roger - was this the first time you used the windlass after a winter hiatus? I assume yes but I wanted to verify.

I should add the windlass to the list of things to apply corrosion blocker.
 

Matt, Yep, first time in about 6 months.

Tim, Thanks for the heads up on The Offshore Store.

Joe, Thanks, good list and sequence of things to check.

I'm currently pretty busy being a "home care assistant" to Janet but will check all these as time allows. Roger
 
Well, I removed the windlass today. It is indeed frozen up solid. I'm not even going to start taking it apart. I'll drop it off tomorrow at the Offshore Shop. Being so close, I'll have to stop at Fisheries Supply. While it is in the shop, I'll work on installing the Permatrim's that arrived today. There's always something. Zincs today too and still an oil change to do.
 
My Lewmar 600 just arrived at the Offshore Store in Seattle this Monday from Alaska for warranty repair also.

It would let line out, but would lock up tight and pop the breaker on retrieval. The owner's manual was well written, so following the recommendations I removed the 4 screws that hold the gear box on, it was real easy to do. On mine it appeared as if salt water had found its way into the gear box thru the top seal (next to the chain/line cog). The white grease had turned a redish color. One of the shafts was broken in two. Kyle is the repair tech at "The Offshore Store" and has been pretty helpful so far.

Kyle says most of the time when the top seal lets water in, the anchor has been left set without cleating off the line, making the windlass hold the entire load. We have VERY seldom been guilty of this. Just thought I'd pass on our experience so far.
 
Wanted to update my experience with the Offshore Store.

It took them a while to get to my windlass, but when he did Kyle told me the top seal had allowed saltwater into the gear box, causing a gear shaft to eventually shear in two. THEN, he said the water continued into the electric motor. He said my windlass was trashed and he would just have Lewmar send me a BRAND NEW windlass.

Lewmar expedite shipped a brand new V700 windlass to me replacing my 600 for free. I didn't even have to pay shipping. I did have to cut my deck out larger for the new windlass, but otherwise the bolt holes line up. The windlass came with a letter from Lewmar explaining the proper way to baby your windlass for long life. I've seen recent Lewmar print ads spreading the same info. So they must be seeing more warranties than they think they should be dealing with. We were guilty of some of their sins listed. Such as leaving the anchor in the carrier under tension while underwear (sucked up tight)

Just wanted to pass along our experience for anyone interested.
 
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