Horizon 500 Windlass

A

ahill

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Manatee Pocket, FL
The windlass has been super reliable and used often. This trip it seems something locked up. On hitting down or up switch all I got at the windlass was a series of clicks.
Tried to free up the sprocket and tapped on the housing with no luck.
I've got the owner's manual and will take it apart this weekend.
Anyone with a similar problem?
 
Found the problem.
Horizon uses a Compound Gear Assembly that is a reversing gear in a one way bearing.
Using the windlass to pull the anchor without motoring up to the anchor(which I don't) can jam the gear. Also using the windlass to tension the anchor in the pulpit (which I do) will do the same only worse.
Disassemble the winch and use vice grips on the small gear, protect the gear, rotate counter clockwise to free it.
The Horizon rep I spoke with said once the gear is bound up, freeing it may not solve the problem.
New gear is $289.
I'll followup with my results.
 
ahill said:
Found the problem.
Using the windlass to pull the anchor without motoring up to the anchor(which I don't) can jam the gear. Also using the windlass to tension the anchor in the pulpit (which I do) will do the same only worse.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that you may have a costly ($$) lesson. Almost all windlass manuals are pretty clear about NOT doing those two things, as well as NOT riding to the windlass. The rode tension should be taken off the windlass by taking the rode to a cleat when riding to the anchor.

The photo below shows the positive pin lock used to secure the chain and hold the anchor in position, as well as the cleat used to tie off the rode when anchored.

Bow-3.jpg


Brian
 
Always cleat off at anchor. Knew not to pull anchor with the wibdlass.I bought the boat used and the windlass was used to tension the anchor in the pulpit. When its running again I'll install a tensioner.
I'm hoping that freeing the compound gear will solve the problem without expense.
 
Freed up the gear reassembled the windlass and it works fine on a test battery at home. Hope it works as well under load.
 
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