rodsuter
Active Member
Please can someone help - my boat is fitted with a Lofrans Leopard Windlass for a 10mm chain. How do I find out if the gypsy is for an ISO or a DIN chain ? There are no markings on the gypsy or windlass.
Lofrans Leopard Windlass - Chain Size ?
- Thread starter rodsuter
- Start date
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
On Lofrans, the part number is usually cast into one side of the gypsy. If not, the best bet is to take it off and wrap a known chain around it, just laying chain on the normal quarter turn isn't accurate enough.
RichardS
N/A
Do you have any chain running over the gypsy at the moment? If you do and it is is good condition and it runs smoothly you could measure a chain link with a vernier. That's what I did.
From memory the inside link measurement of DIN is 28mm and ISO is 30mm but you can check this online.
Richard
From memory the inside link measurement of DIN is 28mm and ISO is 30mm but you can check this online.
Richard
rodsuter
Active Member
I lost the original chain (and anchor) to something solid in deep water in Greece a few days ago.
After some wire brushing I can see the numerals "10" on the gypsy - but whether it is ISO or DIN is still the problem. The boat was built by Westerly in the UK in 1990, and the windlass comes from Italy. That being so, if I had to guess I would choose DIN; I have a 10mm DIN chain piece and it appears to fit quite snugly. The ISO chain, with a greater inside dimension, the "horizontal" link when on the gypsy would probably be a bit loose ? The outer dimensions are the same.
Any flaws in my reasoning ?
After some wire brushing I can see the numerals "10" on the gypsy - but whether it is ISO or DIN is still the problem. The boat was built by Westerly in the UK in 1990, and the windlass comes from Italy. That being so, if I had to guess I would choose DIN; I have a 10mm DIN chain piece and it appears to fit quite snugly. The ISO chain, with a greater inside dimension, the "horizontal" link when on the gypsy would probably be a bit loose ? The outer dimensions are the same.
Any flaws in my reasoning ?
Tranona
Well-Known Member
You can get the installation instructions and manual in pdf form from the Lofrans site. Clearly states in the specification that the 10mm chain availability is ISO standard.
RichardS
N/A
I think you are suggesting that the outer long link dimension for both ISO and DIN is the same. I'm not sure how that can be the case. If the inner DIN dimension is 28mm presumably the outer dimension is 28 + 10 + 10 and ISO would be 30mm + 10 + 10?
I might be talking rubbish though.
Richard
rodsuter
Active Member
Richard - there is no flaw in your reasoning that I can see , but the info I am working with is commonly published - I am using Vyv Cox's site (https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Chaindefinitions.aspx).
Would be interesting to know how this anomaly came about. Vyv ?
, but the info I am working with is commonly published - I am using Vyv Cox's site (https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/Chaindefinitions.aspx).Would be interesting to know how this anomaly came about. Vyv ?
rodsuter
Active Member
Tranona - I read the manual as specifying both ISO and DIN 10mm ?
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Richard - there is no flaw in your reasoning that I can see
Would be interesting to know how this anomaly came about. Vyv ?
Sorry Rod, cannot explain why it is so. I assume the standards organisation adopted non-German dimensions, which were different.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Bit confusing as it seems to show 10 ISO and then 3/8" - 10mm DIN 766. according to Vyv's chart the ISO links are longer so a DIN would fit comfortably in an ISO gypsy, but probably not the other way round. Probably best to try and find a bit of ISO chain, although one would think if the gypsy was 3/8 it would say so.
FWB
N/A
The markings on mine are...
10 ....... 3/8HT
P30
10 ....... 3/8HT
P30
Last edited:
Toutvabien
Well-Known Member
When confronted with the same dilema a few years ago I purchased one metre of 10mm chain from the nearby chandlers and took it to the boat to size it up on the windlass, it was the wrong, ISO, version so I then had to sail 100 miles to a chandlers that had the correct DIN chain for my windlass where I then purchased 70 metres of the correct size.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
10mm din chain appears to fit when just laid on the ISO gypsy but is too tight and either skips or jams under load, as I found out the hard way! That's why I suggest a complete wrap of chain so any run-out will be clearly visible. From memory, our gypsy wasn't marked ISO or DIN.
rodsuter
Active Member
Thanks for all for the inputs.
To close the topic for future reference:
Tried a length of chain of both types, and ISO seems to run much more smoothly.
The factory in Italy were not able to help with any certainty.
Through the factory, eventually found a Lofrans agent in Athens (Alex Marine : George Partheniadis : george.partheniadis@alexmarine.gr ) who is very sure that the marking on the gypsy indicates it is ISO chain (marking photo attached).
So have taken the decision and ordered 100m of 10mm ISO chain, sustaining significant damage to my wallet.
