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Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 00:05

Can anyone please help with my issue.

We have a Maxwell windlass and found the problem as to why it will go down, but not up.
150lb + chain is out.
Is there a workaround besides manual pull.

Pic is obvious, one of the posts has sheered off clean internally, no idea why.
Not melted. Just a clean break.
I pulled the silver end off but wasn't quite prepared to bust it apart further.

Thanks in advance.

Paul L · 18-06-2017, 00:22

Not sure where you are located, but you can take the motor to an Auto electric shop. A place where they fix alternators and starters, etc. I took a Lewmar motor like that to one and they put on a new lug.
The damage probably occurred on installation when the outer nut was tightened without a spanner holding the inner nut, causing the bolt to slightly turn.

**JPA Cate** · 18-06-2017, 00:51

If you have taps on board, you could try to tap in threads, then screw in an appropriate size bolt, then hook everything up. It's a really long shot, doesn't look like much meat there.

Or you can take it to your favourite boat work shop, tomorrow. Or, (gasp! :-() buy a new one!

If you are on the hook now, you do have a problem, with these strong southerlies. Wait till they back off, if you want to try and recover the anchor by hand. Being a trawler type yacht, it lacks all the winches of sailboats, so you really need to wait for no wind. Then, you may be able to slowly recover it by hand. Take up a bit, then wait, then take up some more.

When you get down to 2:1 scope, let the engines idle, you will be able to keep on going, slowly is the trick, till you're 1:1. Then slowly let the engine break it out. Now your work begins--you're hauling the weight of both chain and anchor-- keep on hauling, mate. Some of us prefer to do this sitting down, to protect our backs from strain. It can be done, it will help if you have other bodies to help you with it.

Good luck, mate, luck never hurts!

Ann

Paul L · 18-06-2017, 01:17

Have you tried reversing plus and minus and see if the motor runs the opposite direction?

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:27

Thanks for that and thought as much.
I was hoping to access the back and find a loose bolt head and a hole where I could replace with s/s for now.

Have reassembled without the motor in case we had to pull by hand.

Electric motor in front of me, I unscrewed the bottom nut a few threads and pushed it back in to make some sort of dodgy connection, hoping it may have been dodgy for a while, yet still working.
Then looped wire around the bolt/nut, around the motor and twisted the wire to pull tight.
Did the same on other side of bolt to get even pull.

Multi meter shows continuity of sorts, perhaps when current goes through it may "melt" a connection without killing the motor?
Surely the circuit breaker will trip before the motor actually smokes.

We are at Svendsens beach Great Keppel Island so will call an auto electrician tommorow at Yeppoon and see how we go.
Supposed to be a 20's today and 30's tomorrow but as yet, at 6:20pm its still only about 5 knots.

Put it on tomorrows ferry will get it there in the arvo.
If the wind doesn't look like getting us I may do the 10 nm dash in the tender and get it done asap.
Tender is a 4.2 tinny with a 30hp so up for the run in 15knots or less.

**Jim Cate** · 18-06-2017, 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul L

Have you tried reversing plus and minus and see if the motor runs the opposite direction?

I think this may well work. Simply put the old UP positive wire on the center terminal, and the old NEGATIVE wire on the remaining terminal and see if it doesn't work going up.

Jim

Wanderlust · 18-06-2017, 01:29

A broken stud is a common occurrence and any auto electrician probably has one in stock. It happened to me and the first place I called had one. I think the stud was about $15-20 but there was a fair bit of labour.

Before trying Paul L's suggestion, I would try with a multimeter to see if the motor casing is also connected to earth .... I suspect it is. If so, the short should just trip the circuit breaker, but it may blow a main fuse instead. If the casing is not earthed it's worth a try.

Maybe a better solution? Can you swap the chain over so it pulls up with the down function. You may need to feed and stow the chain in short bursts ... just take care with fingers.

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul L

Have you tried reversing plus and minus and see if the motor runs the opposite direction?

Tried that in the control box with the solenoids.
No joy there.
Switch worked opposite but still no up, all down.

Paul L · 18-06-2017, 01:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Tried that in the control box with the solenoids.
No joy there.
Switch worked opposite but still no up, all down.

No, you have to swap the actual plus and minus at the motor, not swap the so!Inoid wires. Make sure the case is not grounded somewhere on the windless other than the gnd minus connector before you try swapping.

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I think this may well work. Simply put the old UP positive wire on the center terminal, and the old NEGATIVE wire on the remaining terminal and see if it doesn't work going up.

Jim

Oh, OK, try it at the winch end not solenoid end.

Will try that for sure.
Don't care if we free spool drop as long as up works.

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul L

No, you have to swap the actual plus and minus at the motor, not swap the so!Inoid wires.

OK, so at the windlass end swap the centre wire for an outer wire.
Breaker will trip before damage is done?

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:39

Shall I call Maxwell in the morning to confirm?
Would hate the smoke to come out of that motor, it's very expensive to get it back in. :-)

Simi 60 · 18-06-2017, 01:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanderlust

Maybe a better solution? Can you swap the chain over so it pulls up with the down function.

Vertical probably but this is a 3500 horizontal so probably not without losing fingers.

Paul L · 18-06-2017, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Shall I call Maxwell in the morning to confirm?
Would hate the smoke to come out of that motor, it's very expensive to get it back in. :-)

It should not be a problem with a brief test. Just make sure the windlass is not grounded by some other path. My windlass is grounded through a lightening ground, so that would have to be disconnected first. Same if the bow roller were grounded and the chain came in contact. This is assuming the motor case is grounded internally, which it probably is.