Windlass winds in, but not out

...suffice to say that with three bits of ply and some appropriately deployed sika flex...

Is this a case of do unto yourself what the construction industry does unto others?

And don't you need a length of 4x2 for a proper job? :D
 
although I'm not absolutely clear on what this component does. It also didn't look like a particularly new break - but broken is broken so I will endeavour to source a new one before I head back down.

looks like the stripper, should be easy to source from the winch manufacturer
 
I've seen a small traffic cone placed in the anchor locker of one boat to ensure the chain 'flaked' in the right way. Cheaper than stainless steel :D

good idea wakeup,
I'm going to try this out,
plenty of space in my chain locker and good acces,
and defo cheaper then 100m 12mm SS chain :eek:
 
Yup. With galvanised chain it forms a cone as the chain is recovered, then on your next trip you hit a wave and the cone falls over and jams.

I had the same issue with my galvanised chain when a much longer than standard chain was introduced.


Seeing as I dont often use the full length, after 1/2 is recovered I go forward and knock the pile to the side.

I havent had problems since.

(apart from the eel/snake that jammed it up).
snake1.jpg


SS chain links may fail if put under heavy snatching.
 
Just google the Lewmar Mod numbr i.e Lewmar 700 parts lists! loads available in pdf online.

Hi Rob

It's a Lewmar V2/3 and I can find parts list etc online easily enough (and I have the manual with the exploded parts diagram on the boat) but these don't tell you what the components actually do. So I guess my question is - if the broken bit is the stripper, what does this part actually do? (... and by implication, if it was broken, would it be causing the problem that I'm experiencing?)

PS thanks also for the Lewmar contact details above.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
the chain stripper helps to get the chain out of the gypsy
or avoids that the chain sticks in there,

but it is not obvious from the pic, if this is related to your problem
 
Evening all

Couple of things:

1. I think the reason that the chain is jamming is mainly because there is a moulding from the forward cabin that protudes into the anchor locker, conveniently providing a trap for chain, particularly now there is more chain. It's a bit hard to describe, but suffice to say that with three bits of ply and some appropriately deployed sika flex, I can remove the chain trap.
2. I took the above-deck part of the windlass to bits this morning, and I did find one broken component, although I'm not absolutely clear on what this component does. It also didn't look like a particularly new break - but broken is broken so I will endeavour to source a new one before I head back down. It's a bit hard to spot, but the break is in the dark grey component that has the bright blue shim on top of it:

0fdddde4.jpg



Cheers
Jimmy

Is the picture how you found it Jimmy, or was the part broken in two and you've pushed it back together to show where it went? If it was broken, then the loose bit could have jammed in the gypsy cover I guess, but otherwise I can't think how this break could cause your problem.
 
good idea wakeup,
I'm going to try this out,
plenty of space in my chain locker and good acces,
and defo cheaper then 100m 12mm SS chain :eek:

Definitely cheaper if you happen to find one in the street. The police cones are the best i'm told at keeping unruly chain in order :)
 
Is the picture how you found it Jimmy, or was the part broken in two and you've pushed it back together to show where it went? If it was broken, then the loose bit could have jammed in the gypsy cover I guess, but otherwise I can't think how this break could cause your problem.

That's how I found it. If you pick it up it holds its form, the break doesn't get any bigger.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
as per Divemasters post I would still go through the big electrical cable connectors. I have had similar too in the past. I had a bow thruster that did the same and an anchor winch on a different boat. Although the connections are pretty big it doesn't take much corrosion to create a significant resistance at very high loads. I'd take them off one by one de grease with meths and clean them with wire wool. The stripper looks cracked but I don't think that's the issue
 
IMHO, the clicking is simply the chain jumping off the gypsy as it strains to wind the chain out. Again IMHO, if it was a sticky solenoid, it would happen when you were winding the chain in as well which it doesn't seem to do. Not something to particularly worry about but it doesn't do the winch any good. That component which is cracked looks like a support for the shaft and gypsy arrangement and the crack may have been caused by the chain jumping off the gypsy.
Its good practice to have the anchor chain hatch open when dropping the anchor just to check that the chain is coming up freely. You can usually see when a snag is about to happen and clear it before it reaches the gypsy
 
Its called a "stripper ring", this is what happened to one I had on a previous boat after a couple of weeks daily heavy usage. They are just not man enough imo. I replaced the part (bought in the US but sure you can find in UK) with a ss version, never had the problem again.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|10391|29596|321922|322387&id=1212230

Myag, this is super helpful, thanks. Some further googling suggests that (a) failure of the plastic stripper ring is relatively common (b) as a result Lewmar now ship the windlass with the ss stripper ring as standard but (c) the ss stripper ring is not readily available in the UK - 14 days special order from Lewmar via Aquafax. I'm just waiting for a price now.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Myag, this is super helpful, thanks. Some further googling suggests that (a) failure of the plastic stripper ring is relatively common (b) as a result Lewmar now ship the windlass with the ss stripper ring as standard but (c) the ss stripper ring is not readily available in the UK - 14 days special order from Lewmar via Aquafax. I'm just waiting for a price now.

Cheers
Jimmy

... and hilariously Aquafax have just told me that altho the part only costs £5.49, the p&p is £34.50...! I'll have to think of some creative way of getting one back from the US.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
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