Chain slipping on windlass

[beormakate]

Since servicing our windlass, the chain has started slipping in the gypsy to the point that it will not winch in. With 60+ metres of chain down, this is no laughing matter. It is almost as though the gypsy is pulling at the wrong angle so the top link is taking the strain, then it slips backwards. The windlass was put back in exactly the same place after servicing (we needed to rebolt it to the deck as one of the bolts had sheared off previously).

We cannot work out what is wrong, everything seems to be exactly the same as it was before the service. We have even tried scrubbing the chain with washing up liquid to make sure there is no grease on it, to no avail. Has anyone got any ideas?

Cheers - Katie of Monty B

 

[dolphin]

check if you have a greese on the brake & tight the brake !
i have the similar problem after servicing of windlass - after tight the brake a little more, everything work smoothly
hope this help

 

[Norman_E]

Is the gypsy badly worn? Is the chain turning by more than 90 degrees around the gypsy? Is the chain correctly calibrated to the gypsy? If all are OK consider re-arranging matters so that the chain has to pass 180 degrees round the gypsy befor falling into the locker. This is much easier to arrange with a horizontal shaft windlass.
Though it cannot be seen in this photo there is a plastic roller ahead of the gypsy which forces the chain to go 180 degrees round it.

 

[nimbusgb]

Norman it looks like you have solved the problem that I have on my Beneteau oceanis. My chain does a 90 round the gypsy and then straight down the hawsepipe. Once the initial 10m of chain is in then it piles and jambs the hawsepipe every 5m or so.

I see you have done away with the pipe and routed straight forward. It looks like a good idea and also addresses the problem of having rope and chain spliced together!

Any chance you could send me a pic' or two of your roller?

Ian

 

[Norman_E]

No pic of the roller on file I'm afraid, but it is a simple enough thing on a stainless bracket. I did not fit it, but the charter company that had the boat before me.

As for the chain piling up and then jamming things, I am afraid that is what chain does, if the locker is not big and deep enough, and the only ways round it are to raise the windlass above deck, to gain more drop, or to live with it and use a boathook or similar to knock over the pyramid of chain at intervals, as the chain comes in.

 

[beormakate]

That just might work! We've had a go at re-routing the chain and it seems to be working. It is a bit cobbled together at present but we are going to try something more permanent tomorrow, in daylight.

Do you reckon if we got a new gypsy that it would resolve the problem once and for all?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Norman_E]

If the old gypsy is worn, then replace it, but having an inadequate amount of wrap round the gypsy encourages the chain to jump, which causes wear, which allows the chain to jump more, its a vicious circle of chain slip leading to wear leading to more slip, until you reach the point where the windlass cannot recover the anchor. The makers instructions for my windlass stress that there must be chain in full contact with the gypsy over an arc of more than 90 degrees. If the chain feeds at a downward angle from bow roller to the gypsy because the windlass is below deck level, then drops straight off the back of it, that is definitely not enough wrap.

 

[Gypsy]

I had a similar problem but it was evident from new...after much playing around with a better wrap on the gypsy (which helped) I removed the gypsy and took it to a chandlers to see how different chain fitted. It became immediately apparent that my gypsy was not matched to the 10mm chain. 3/8" chain fitted into the gypsy like fingers in a kid glove, very snug. 10mm links were slightly long and did not bed down into the gypsy and even when they were at their deepest there was an air gap between the links.

When I was fiddling around with this I saw that the gypsy size 3/8" was marked on the side!!! Happily the chandler had a 10mm gypsy and I was happy to pay Eu60 for it and have not had another problem over 6 years and am on my second new chain.

My windlass is the same as Norman_E's and mounted in a similar fashion but I can just let the chin follow its course down the hausepipe/hole.

As to why it is different after removal and replace without any angles changing, I can only suggest you may be hauling more weight more often the deeper waters of Kotor. Take a good look at how deep the links drop into the gypsy slots and in particular that when one is in deep the next one should drop in deeply with the cahin under hand tension with no air space between the normal inter-link contact points. It could be wear, it could be a mismatch which is now starting to show because of wear.

 

[beormakate]

Norman_E - you are amazing! Our windlass is the same as yours and we tried your plan this morning. The only thing we had to hand was some old piping that we ran the chain over - and it worked. Like a dream! Better than ever. Not a permanent solution but got our chain up so we were happy.

However, when we came to drop our chain at the end of the bay to do a shopping run, with such a flimsy structure in place, the chain jumped straight off the gypsy after the first 10 metres, and dumped the whole 80m (in 10m) in a matter of seconds. Saved only by a frantic Tim, grabbing the last few metres and flinging it around a cleat. How we laughed.

Our invention needs some work - but for now, you are a saviour! We owe you a pint.

And Ray, thank you for your comments. I think much of what you said could be true - we are hauling 60m metres several times a week with old old gear and it's showing the strain. We have always suspected that the gypsy may be slightly the wrong size and it is very well worn. That is our next line of enquiry. But we are considering using the Norman_E idea on a more permanent basis too as it definitely gives a better wrap. 60E for a new gypsy eh - not in Montenegro, I suspect.

As a complete aside, I am sitting on deck in the darkness (other than the screen), watching the lightening streak across the mountains and listening to the thunder reverberating around the bay. Magical.

Cheers guys!

Katie