Windlass Seized Up...What Do I Do Next?

[Panamajames]

Just bought a 1996 Hunter 42. The windlass has been used I guess 10 times in the last 5 years. I was lifting the anchor and it was very smooth and then the windlass seized up. The manuel crank up is seized also. Batteries are good.

The circuit breaker does not pop. I can hear the click on and off. Went sailing on the Panama coast for 5 days and pulled up by hand for that time.. Good exercise but I need to fix it.

Please help me with any ideas you might have. Thanks

[Vasco]

Have you tried hitting it with a hammer? I am not joking, this sometimes works.

[Panamajames]

I will try that.. It was running so smooth and then I got the chain a little stuck and then it jammed. What do you think could be wrong. It has very few hours on it. Hasnt been maintained for 5 year nor has it been used.

Thanks for the reply

[bstreep]

Originally Posted by Panamajames

Hasnt been maintained for 5 year nor has it been used.

I believe that may be your problem! It may need to serviced. What kind is it?

[Panamajames]

It appears to be stock from Hunter.. I am not on the boat at the moment.

It is a very difficult one to reach through the front bulk head. It seems that with little use grease would be there. But then maybe it was never serviced since new.

I will start taking things apart when I get back to the boat.

Thanks again

[Ex-Calif]

When you say the chain got stuck has that been cleared?

Step one would be to get the chain off the drum and see if it turns with the crank or the electrics.

Unfortunately step two might be to get the unit out so you can work on it if access is a problem.

[Panamajames]

Yes removed the chain from drum Put the winch handle in and tried manual and that did not work so we pulled the chain up by hand for 3-4 days while cruising the Panama coast.

The bulkhead to enter windlass area is tight so we decided to get back to port to work on it. . Will get into it later this week..

I step on the button and only hear a click.. Battery good, no breakers popped.

It is just frozen. It ran so smooth until I got the chain got off kilter and then I freed the chain and it does not work. hmmm. What could cause it not to work after it worked. Maybe just an adjustment. The plastic piece in the middle of windless where the chain rides seem stuck in tight.

Thanks for your help

[forsailbyowner]

Don't know what year or size you have, my brothers 2004 , 460 came with Lofrans horizontal as stock windlass. Guess first step would be to separate motor and gearbox narrows possibilities in half.

[s/v Beth]

You may have burned out the rotor secondary to rust seizing the gears. Pull it out- take the motor to a good electric shop and have it tested. The gears have to be cleaned and relubed and perhaps remachined. Then reassemble and pray.

[anjou]

Oh, bring it here and let me do it. Honestly, its probably so simple, it isnt worth explaining. Grrrr

Sorry, im in a kick ass mood today.
Roll on Friday.

[Pelagic]

Originally Posted by anjou

Oh, bring it here and let me do it. Honestly, its probably so simple, it isnt worth explaining. Grrrr

Sorry, im in a kick ass mood today.
Roll on Friday.

Give the wench the winch panamajames........

[anjou]

Give the wench a wrench

[osirissail]

>>>> I step on the button and only hear a click.. Battery good, no breakers popped.<<<< 1. That indicates that the contacts on the solenoid are burned or the electric is not getting to the motor. The solenoid closes but is not passing the electricity. Try using battery cables to bridge the solenoid and see if the windlass motor runs. 2. If not, then you are back to a burnt commutator, brushes, or winding in the motor. The motor should unbolt from the rest of the windlass and an automobile starter shop should be able to repair it.

[Minggat]

Originally Posted by Panamajames

Yes removed the chain from drum Put the winch handle in and tried manual and that did not work ....

The plastic piece in the middle of windless where the chain rides seem stuck in tight.

I'm not going to pretend to have the answer, but I can tell you... been there.

Where you are trying to crank with the winch handle is quite likely the clutch adjuster. No amount of cranking will do any good there. Try loosening, even all the way out and see what happens. The gypsy may need to be pried up to loosen the clutch at this point because you have tightened it just too much.

The plastic piece sounds like the stripper to me. It needs to be "stuck in tight".

[malovich]

If the motor has stopped due to some sort of jam or seizing then the fuse SHOULD have blown, because it did not you must assume no power is getting to the motor. The hand crank may not have worked because of a brake that engages on the windlass maybe? Check the solenoid and the wiring running to the motor and all connections.