Anchor windlass: ups but no downs

[Tiresias]

I have an old Simpson Lawrence electric windlass. It’s fine at winding in the anchor but has stopped doing the down bit.

The one-way needle roller clutch bearing at the top of the motor is in good nick. I understand that this is to hold the anchor when I take my finger off the ‘up’ button. To me that begs the question: given its one-way nature, how does the windlass wind down?

All the other bearings are working. All the gears/cogs engage. I can turn them by hand and the main shaft turns freely.

I suppose my real problem is that I don’t understand how the windlass actually works! If anyone could enlighten me I’d be most grateful.

 

[RupertW]

Dont know the model but normally you can loosen the clutch (with manual lever?) and the chain will freely fall until you tighten it again - that is far faster than a down switch. Where a down switch is really useful is letting a little more chain out when it is already under tension.

 

[Steve_N]

It's hard to give advice as you don't state the model, horizontal/vertical etc, but on my SL Seawolf the 'down' is achieved by slackening the fitting on the end of the mainshaft with the tool provided.
This allows the gypsy to turn freely on its cone clutches and the chain to run out.
Tighten it again and the gypsy is locked to the mainshaft and can haul the chain back in.

 

[Barleycorn]

Have you checked the solinoids or relays that are used to power it. Mine has separate ones for up and down. You may have a duff one.

 

[pelissima]

You check the voltage at the motor with the "down" pressed. If voltage is present, suspect the motor.
If no voltage, then check the "down" button if closes correctly.
If it does then most probably one of the relays ("down one") has bad connection (as had mine last week) or gone and needs replacement.

 

[oldsaltoz]

+ 1 for Barlycom's post.

The relays are often inside the locker and subjected to moist salt air.

 

[affinite]

If its a Simpson Lawrence Seawolf, it doesnt power down only freefall by clutch release.
I think we need to know if it has ever powered down.

 

[RAI]

If you have a down button as well as an up button, then it is probably the relay box. In my case, the box comes apart easily for servicing.
Make sure it is mounted the right way up, as gravity plays a role.

 

[prv]

I think I know the one he's talking about. Can't remember the name, but it doesn't have a manual clutch and it doesn't motor down. Rather, it has a clever mechanism which releases an internal clutch when you give it a short burst of "down" motor, then the chain free-falls out. The clutch is locked up again when you heave in. It's designed to be used remotely from the cockpit of a small motorboat, hence all control being driven by spinning the motor.

Sadly I can't remember the details of how it works or advise on the specific problem, but hopefully someone else will recognise it and advise.

Pete

 

[Tiresias]

Thanks for all the advice. Sorry for not identifying it before: it's a Simpson Lawrence Horizon 900, horizontally mounted.

Yes, in the past the 'down' button worked. It sounded and felt as if it was driving the chain down rather than merely letting it fall. That might have been an illusion, of course!

There are no obvious signs of any particular cleverness in its innards. To me, the big puzzle is the one-way bearing at the top of the electric motor. That acts as a brake when you take your finger off the 'up' button, but I don't understand how the 'down' function works. Even if the motor goes into reverse, that bearing will stop the shaft from following suit.

 

[philip_stevens]

Thanks for all the advice. Sorry for not identifying it before: it's a Simpson Lawrence Horizon 900, horizontally mounted.

Yes, in the past the 'down' button worked. It sounded and felt as if it was driving the chain down rather than merely letting it fall. That might have been an illusion, of course!

There are no obvious signs of any particular cleverness in its innards. To me, the big puzzle is the one-way bearing at the top of the electric motor. That acts as a brake when you take your finger off the 'up' button, but I don't understand how the 'down' function works. Even if the motor goes into reverse, that bearing will stop the shaft from following suit.

You probably have this already, but this is the pdf instruction manual if it is of any help
http://www.lewmar.com/%5Cassets%5Cimg%5Cdataset%5CManual-horizon600-900.pdf

Electrical and mechanical breakdown of installation.

Mention was made of the "free fall" - http://www.lewmar.com/\assets\img\dataset\Manual-Horizon_free_600-900.pdf

 

[RAI]

What sort of up and down buttons do you have? I changed the micro switches in my Lewmar foot operated buttons twice before giving up and fitting a hand controller.

 

[Tiresias]

Thanks for the pdf manual. I have the original print version which has no reference to freefall.

The up and down buttons are manual, push type.

 

[RAI]

The up and down buttons are manual, push type.

Check if the down button is actually closing circuit when it is pressed.

 

[knuterikt]

If you look at the diagram on page 11 in the manual http://www.lewmar.com/\assets\img\dataset\Manual-horizon600-900.pdf
You can see that there is only two wires going to the windlass, the polarity is switched in the box numbered 1 (left picture, detailed diagram page 12) or 6 (right picture, detailed diagram page 13).

Assuming you have an installation similar to the right picture..
The box (6) will have relays inside that give power to the winch when one of the buttons are pressed.
Since the winch go one way we can assume that the power supply is OK.

Some possible failure points;
-The switch
-A relay inside the box (500 SERIES CONTROL BOX)
-Cabling between the switch and the control box
-Connections

You don't give us a clear description of the symptoms.
Do you here any sound when pushing down button, click or other sound?

btw:
Manual free fall is described on page 16.

 

[Tiresias]

Thanks very much for all the advice. I'm going to the boat tomorrow to reinstall the cleaned, regreased windlass and will report back if and when I've finally solved the problem.

I remain puzzled over the needle roller clutch (i.e. one-way) bearing at the top of the motor. Whatever happens via the electrics, the shaft can't go into reverse. But then I'm no engineer!

 

[Tiresias]

In case anyone's interested...!

After a discussion with a very helpful chap from Lewmar, I've discovered how the windlass winds down, despite the one-way needle clutch bearing holding the motor drive shaft assembly at the top of the motor.

When the 'down' button is pressed, the motor changes direction and middle of the motor drive shaft assembly follows suit. The outside remains static, contained within the bearing.

I feel better for knowing that. Now to fix the relay box!