Lewmar 185tt problem

[NBs]

It's a lewmar 185tt used with a sidepower joystick. When I press the power buttons the little solenoids/relays click on and when I turn the rod they click as they should.

The problem is that the contactor attached to the lewmar does not click when power is pressed on from the joystick. After a few minutes with the pins on, it may suddenly click and then the propeller will work normally until it can stop working again.

I went through all the connections and no oxidation or loose connections I also put wd40 on but that did nothing. The batteries are ok too.

I wonder where the fault could be?

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I have a 5kW 185TT and have had several faults on it over the last 12 years.
It sounds to me like the contactor is internally corroded. I've had that happen 3 times.
The simple solution is to replace the contactor. It is made by Albright, an American company that make contactors for thing like fork lift trucks. If you look up the Lewmar part number and try and order it through a Lewmar distributor you'll find that it is very expensive, and difficult to find in stock.
I've tried to buy it from a fork lift specialists, but I'm told that the part number is proprietary to Lewmar and can only be brought through them.
However, after talking to a fork lift truck spare parts company, I found that there was an identical part listed under a different part number, which was cheaper and ex stock.
The part number for the 5kW 12v version is Albright DC182-776L, yours may be different.
I found out stripping down the contactor and cleaning it was possible, but difficult. It's simply rusty inside, it's not a marine grade component.
There use to be a company in Aberdeen who could do that, but their expert engineer has now retired and they no longer offer the service.
I've looked at the contactor and it isn't obvious how it comes apart. I have a seized on in the garage at home, and at some time I might try and take it apart, but I'm away sailing at the moment.
If you want to know the name of the company I bought it from, PM me and I'll try and find it, but I'm not sure that I have the information on the boat.

 

[NBs]

Thank you for your reply.

I send PM.

NBs