Pinnacle
Well-Known Member
Mike
I can't believe you have been brave/stupid enough to post those pictures in a thread that you know jfm will look as ( as he indeed has! ) given the colour of the teak!
Windlass winds in, but not out
- Thread starter jimmy_the_builder
- Start date
Mike
I can't believe you have been brave/stupid enough to post those pictures in a thread that you know jfm will look as ( as he indeed has! ) given the colour of the teak!
DAKA
Well-Known Member
my lewmar has a short tough spring about 1 inch long, 1 1/2 wide.
It pops the whole unit up when the top nut is slightly undone allowing free fall/winch up without having to turn the motor/gears.
There is also a small brass square pin (1/4 inch square x 3/4 ) that acts as a ratchet to stop it going back in when in manual recovery mode, ticks like a Swiss watch when correctly serviced.
It pops the whole unit up when the top nut is slightly undone allowing free fall/winch up without having to turn the motor/gears.
There is also a small brass square pin (1/4 inch square x 3/4 ) that acts as a ratchet to stop it going back in when in manual recovery mode, ticks like a Swiss watch when correctly serviced.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Mike
I can't believe you have been brave/stupid enough to post those pictures in a thread that you know jfm will look as ( as he indeed has! ) given the colour of the teak!
Teak cleaned in March - thats the sun for you!!!
jfm
Well-Known Member
Slackening the nut releases the cone clutch (clearly visible in Hurricane's pics) , so the gypsy becomes free of the drive shaft while the capstan remains splined to the drive shaft. But the question we're trying to fathom is how do you then manually turn the gypsy with a crank handle to haul in the chain manually?
mjf
Well-Known Member
I think you de- clutch with a anti clockwise turn and the chain runs free and a turn to clockwise will allow the speed to be controlled and even stopped. My understanding is that a further turn(s) starts the hauling up.
No?
No?
RobWales
Well-Known Member
Not sure if quoted within this thread previous but just took this from the Lewmar FAQ section on the website....
Can I get the anchor up if I lose power?
Most Lewmar windlasses have a manual recovery option however the method varies across the product ranges. Some Lewmar windlasses have built in manual recovery and others require an emergency manual recovery kit. Please consult your windlass manual for clarification.
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Its a while since I took mine completely to bits but from my best recollection........
There is a ratchet pin that allows the whole thing to turn to bring the chain up.
you put the handle in the offset hole.
It will not turn backwards.
if you put the handle in the centre hole it will turn backwards against the motor and loosen.
as you loosen the centre nut the whole unit pops up which
a) allows the chain to free fall
b) use the top half of the capstan as a rope winch.
It only works if the little ratchet pin is well serviced with light machine oil.
If the centre nut is too tight the ratchet will not work either.
if heavy grease is used the ratchet will stick and then you have to recover the weight of the chain and turn the motor.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I know the process may be different but I've just checked the manual for the Lofrans winch fitted to my boat. To loosen the gypsy, you turn the lock nut with the winch handle anti clockwise and, obviously, to tighten it again, you turn the lock nut clockwise. If you need to raise the anchor chain manually you have to turn the lock nut clockwise beyond the position at which the gypsy is tight and overcome what is called a 'spring mechanism'. After you've done that, you can use the winch handle to turn the gypsy and manually retrieve the chain. Not sure where the spring mechanism is or exactly how it works but I guess it's in the gear casing attached to the electric motor. I have to say that I have never tried this on my boat but the manual says that you are then manually winding at a 1:1 ratio so when retrieving the chain, in the words of the manual 'the stress will be hard'
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
No, this is the point
As you say, the clutch is released with an anticlockwise turn and you can "conrtol" the fall of the chain using the clutch.
But winding clockwise only tightens the clutch - you are, in fact, tightening against the motor/gearbox.
Whe I looked into it a few years ago, Aquafax contacted Princess to find out the exact model that we have fitted and the solution they reported was to change the gearbox for a special model containing a dis-engage lever. At £1500 + VAT, I am still thinking that if the motor should fail, I will retrieve the anchor using jfm's technique described eralier (using the stern winches if necessary).
It would be good to hear from DougH again on this point as it would be MUCH better if we could adapt the anchor windlass itself in the event of failure - even if it meant dismantling the capstan like my pics above.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Seems that the Lofrans system is better than the Lewmar one in this case, Mike.
The Lewmar definately just tightens when turned clockwise. If you see my pics, you can see that it isnt intended to do anything else.
mjf
Well-Known Member
Gotya! Sorry I simply thought that what it did - having dropped the anchor once by de-clutching the gear. Hauled in by motor as could see little point in manually winding the cable.......
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Yep - I think you've fallen into the trap.
I'm sure most people think that they can manually retrieve their anchors if anything goes wrong.
And in most cases, they cant simply wind it with a winch handle.
This ought to be made more apparent to owners/skippers.
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Not sure if this is very helpful , have you seen anything like this on your windlass
This is the brass bit on my lewmar I have to keep lightly oiled or the windlass simply operates as winch and will not manually recover without turning the motor as well.
This is the brass bit on my lewmar I have to keep lightly oiled or the windlass simply operates as winch and will not manually recover without turning the motor as well.
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I must admit I'm surprised. You would think that a method for manually winding the winch in an emergency would be a basic design feature but as I say, I haven't tried mine yet so I don't know how well it works. Having said this, I suspect that manually winding in the chain on anything but a small boat would be physically very demanding and possibly beyond the capability of many skippers/crew. I don't know whether there is such a thing as a long arm winch handle which could provide more leverage for this purpose?
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Actually, Mike, I think it would be much the safest way to recover the anchor in the event of a windlass failure.
You could "inch" it in "click by click" using the little "pawl" ratchet and some help from the helm/engines.
See here
DougH
Well-Known Member
You lot are really getting your knickers in a twist over a very simple device.
I will copy the instructions in the Sunseeker manual together with the picture illustrations as soon as I return back tothe UK.
Then I think you will give a collective AHHHHHHH.
I will copy the instructions in the Sunseeker manual together with the picture illustrations as soon as I return back tothe UK.
Then I think you will give a collective AHHHHHHH.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Thanks
I always get my knickers in a twist over a simple device
It will be great if there is an answer here.
Ahhhhhhh (in anticipation)
DougH
Well-Known Member
Apologies for the lack of visuals as I cannot get the illustrations in the Sunseeker manual to show very clearly.
However the instructions are as follows:
1. Ensure chain is locked in place using chain stopper or retaining strop.
2. Insert winch handle into centre of winch top nut and unwind in an anti-clockwise direction. Then remove top nut and washer.
3. Lift Rope Drum off the spline and put drum and top nut to one side.
4. Insert adaptor over the spline, line up lug on the bottom of the adaptor with the locating hole on the top of the gypsy and screw down using central dog on the top of the adaptor. (The adaptor has a distance piece the same length as the original drum.)
5. Use winch handle to screw down adaptor central dog.
6. Insert winch handle into adaptor BASE and rotate clockwise to draw in anchor rode.
If anyone is is Cala d'Or at any time send me a PM and and you can see the device in action.
However the instructions are as follows:
1. Ensure chain is locked in place using chain stopper or retaining strop.
2. Insert winch handle into centre of winch top nut and unwind in an anti-clockwise direction. Then remove top nut and washer.
3. Lift Rope Drum off the spline and put drum and top nut to one side.
4. Insert adaptor over the spline, line up lug on the bottom of the adaptor with the locating hole on the top of the gypsy and screw down using central dog on the top of the adaptor. (The adaptor has a distance piece the same length as the original drum.)
5. Use winch handle to screw down adaptor central dog.
6. Insert winch handle into adaptor BASE and rotate clockwise to draw in anchor rode.
If anyone is is Cala d'Or at any time send me a PM and and you can see the device in action.
jfm
Well-Known Member
That makes sense to me Deleted User. I think I said above that the trick gadget has to be in the gearbox. But my knickers are pretty twisted so I'll be delighted to hear Doug's explanation and AHHHH away
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Aaaaaahhhhhhaaa Aaaaahhhhhhaaaa
Brilliant
I'll give Aquafax a call now and see what the delivery/price is for a V.5 kit.
I owe you a beer - we are planning a few weeks in Mallorca this autumn - probably cross from Sant Carles during early Sept so maybe we can meet.
I was also thinking of leaving the boat in Mallorca for a week or two - maybe during last week of Sept/first week of Oct whilst I fly home. Then back in Oct for a couple of weeks before heading home to Sant Carles. Do you know anyone with a cheap 20m berth for a couple of weeks? It would be after the summer season has finished - best time IMO.
