Windlass winds in, but not out

[Nick_H]

I still can't see how this could cause the original problem though, if it hasn't actually broken off, unless the allen screw at the front had sheared and the chain had then become pinched?

My guess is that the stripper has been cracked for a while, and the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Nah. There is no bearing in it. It's a stripper, to peel the chain off the gypsy

Yes youre right, I can see what it does and it probably gets hammered when the chain jumps off the gypsy

 

[RobWales]

Nah. There is no bearing in it. It's a stripper, to peel the chain off the gypsy

Like this you mean

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I still can't see how this could cause the original problem though, if it hasn't actually broken off, unless the allen screw at the front had sheared and the chain had then become pinched?

My guess is that the stripper has been cracked for a while, and the problem lies elsewhere.

Nope, allen screw intact. In the absence of anything else (excepting electrical suggestions) I'm going to replace the broken part regardless.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

... 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

Pleasingly Aquafax have been in touch again to correct their apparent typo in the p&p, and so now I've got one on order. Thanks again Myag for the pointer.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[BartW]

Nope, allen screw intact. In the absence of anything else (excepting electrical suggestions)

I still believe it's a mechanical problem, (imho)

- there must be a system to lock / unlock the gypsy from the shaft,
can you dig further to see how this could work ?


- the small chrome part on the left side of the pic,
just aside the gypsy,
if this moves, it could fit in that gap in the gypsy,

what's the purpose of this ?
can this part move ?
how is it activated ? (look down below)

 

[jfm]

the small chrome part on the left side of the pic,
just aside the gypsy,
if this moves, it could fit in that gap in the gypsy,

what's the purpose of this ?
can this part move ?
how is it activated ? (look down below)

Bart, it is called a pawl. In 10 years of having Lewmar winches I have never used it. I'm not sure what it does. I guess it allows you to tighten the clutch

On some lewmars this functions like a ratchet and stops the anchor chain paying out, ie a safety lock. It is also helpful when raising the anchor manually if you have a motor failure. But the one on Jimmy's boat is the other way round, like all the ones i have had, and I dont know what it does. Maybe someone knows? I dont think it is connected with Jimmy's problem

I too think Jimmy's prob is mechanical not electrical/solenoid

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Bart, it is called a pawl. In 10 years of having Lewmar winches I have never used it. I'm not sure what it does. I guess it allows you to tighten the clutch

On some lewmars this functions like a ratchet and stops the anchor chain paying out, ie a safety lock. It is also helpful when raising the anchor manually if you have a motor failure. But the one on Jimmy's boat is the other way round, like all the ones i have had, and I dont know what it does. Maybe someone knows? I dont think it is connected with Jimmy's problem

I too think Jimmy's prob is mechanical not electrical/solenoid

Is it perhaps for those variants of the windlass that have the drum on top, so that you can use the drum as a winch but lock the gypsy off?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[wakeup]

Bart, it is called a pawl. In 10 years of having Lewmar winches I have never used it. I'm not sure what it does. I guess it allows you to tighten the clutch

On some lewmars this functions like a ratchet and stops the anchor chain paying out, ie a safety lock. It is also helpful when raising the anchor manually if you have a motor failure. But the one on Jimmy's boat is the other way round, like all the ones i have had, and I dont know what it does. Maybe someone knows? I dont think it is connected with Jimmy's problem

I too think Jimmy's prob is mechanical not electrical/solenoid

I thought that housed the chain counter detector which pics up the rotations of a magnetic dot in the gypsy?

 

[jfm]

Is it perhaps for those variants of the windlass that have the drum on top, so that you can use the drum as a winch but lock the gypsy off?

Cheers
Jimmy

Yeah but it doesn't lock the gypsy. The direction of it is such that it would let the chain pay out, on both yours and MYAG's.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I thought that housed the chain counter detector which pics up the rotations of a magnetic dot in the gypsy?

Nope, the chain counter pickup is mounted in the base of the windlass from underneath.

It looks like the pawl is a safety feature for when you launch the anchor manually:

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jfm]

Nope, the chain counter pickup is mounted in the base of the windlass from underneath.

Krect

It looks like the pawl is a safety feature for when you launch the anchor manually

Nah. That picture is of the new fall-safe model, which yours isn't. With the fall-safe model the recesses in the rim of the gypsy are shaped so that the pawl can operate the opposite direction to yours. Yours and MYAG's (and mine) do not prevent the anchor falling, as I say, which is what is so confusing...

 

[wakeup]

OK I often launch manually by releasing the clutch but the 'pawl' doesn't seem to move at all on my unit and neither hinders or helps the manual release. May be mine is bust.

I bet lots of us will now be checking for cracked strippers after this thread.

 

[noelex]

Nope, allen screw intact. In the absence of anything else (excepting electrical suggestions) I'm going to replace the broken part regardless.

Cheers
Jimmy

Order a new solenoid at the same time.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Order a new solenoid at the same time.

I haven't, because the solenoid is £120 so I want to be sure I really need one first.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Hurricane]

On some lewmars this functions like a ratchet and stops the anchor chain paying out, ie a safety lock. It is also helpful when raising the anchor manually if you have a motor failure.

I'd be interested in your comments on lifting an anchor in the event of a motor failure.

A couple of years ago, we overheated ours and there isnt a way to manually lift the anchor - even with a handle.

I did some investigation and it seems that a vast majority of production boats are similar to ours and people just dont realise that you cant winch in a Lewmar winch manually.
All the handle does is disengage the clutch which then lets the chain out manually.
There is a gearbox modification that will allow you to manually wind in but they aren't fitted as standard. I enquired about the price for the gearbox mod - £1500 for ours!!!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Nah. That picture is of the new fall-safe model, which yours isn't.

Ooh, none taken.

A bit more googling dug up the correct, vintage, manual for my windlass, and this suggests that the pawl is to help with capstan operation:

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I still believe it's a mechanical problem, (imho)

- there must be a system to lock / unlock the gypsy from the shaft,
can you dig further to see how this could work ?


- the small chrome part on the left side of the pic,
just aside the gypsy,
if this moves, it could fit in that gap in the gypsy,

what's the purpose of this ?
can this part move ?
how is it activated ? (look down below)

Hi Bart

Here's the diagram of the whole thing. I have the version without the drum.

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Hurricane]

Ooh, none taken.

A bit more googling dug up the correct, vintage, manual for my windlass, and this suggests that the pawl is to help with capstan operation:

Cheers
Jimmy

See - Emergency Manual Overide - Where Fitted!!!
They never do fit them and I'm sure most people dont know that.

 

[jfm]

I'd be interested in your comments on lifting an anchor in the event of a motor failure.

A couple of years ago, we overheated ours and there isnt a way to manually lift the anchor - even with a handle.

I did some investigation and it seems that a vast majority of production boats are similar to ours and people just dont realise that you cant winch in a Lewmar winch manually.
All the handle does is disengage the clutch which then lets the chain out manually.
There is a gearbox modification that will allow you to manually wind in but they aren't fitted as standard. I enquired about the price for the gearbox mod - £1500 for ours!!!

I don't get that mike. Mine wind in manually, just using the winch handle. I've tried it a few times, both on my previous electrics and my current hydraulic