Windless problems

C

Capt. Charlie

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Can anyone offer me some help with this problem please... The anchor on our 272 seems to have met a dock pole and the windless is having a problem now. I can retrieve rope , but it will not pay out rope. Any ideas on how to fix the windless?
 
Doesn't sound like a problem with the windlass, but instead maybe a bent shank on the anchor, or something else causing the anchor to bind. Have you checked the roller to be sure it is free, and in alighment? Does the windlass pay out or allow freefall once the anchor is clear?
 
I have taken the anchor off to free the line and it will run up but not down.
 
I had an identical problem with my Horizon 500. It was caused by using the windlass to tension the anchor chain in the pulpit. This causes the compound gear to seize. The gear is a 2 way gear with the end shaft set in a oneway needle bearing. I couldn't figure it out until an Horizon(Lewmar) Tech Rep explained it to me.
You have to completely disassemble the winch to get to the gear. Download manual from internet.
Spray the compound gear shaft with PB Blaster and let sit a few days. Put the compound gear in a vise, protect shaft and try to rotate the shaft each direction. It might take some force but once freed the shaft should rotate stop to stop freely. Regrease before assembly. The Rep told me that once the gear binds it may bind again. Mine has been back in service several months with no problem. I did get a chain tensioer mounted on the pulpit to tension chain.
A new compound gear is nearly $400.00.
 
I was afraid that I was going to have to do that...thanks for the info. I have already rigged the anchor to release the tension on it.
 
The switch was my first hope. The switch is wired + - for one direction and - + for the other merely reversing polarity and motor direction.
 
ahill said:
The switch was my first hope. The switch is wired + - for one direction and - + for the other merely reversing polarity and motor direction.
Click to expand...
Did you switch the wires and give it a try?
 
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