Bloody Boats !! Windlass Only Going One Way ?

[stevensuf]

I was in the process of changing over the anchor chain and the windlass decided it will only let out chain and not pull up, the motor turns fine on down , when i click up i can hear the relay going but the motor doesnt turn!!! removed the chain so no load and still wont budge, any ideas before i start ripping things apart.

On a plus point i got a nice little work out! 80m of 10mm chain, fun!

[Lancerbye]

Check the connections and power available past the power relay or solenoids. Some use a solid state direction control unit while others use two solenoid type power relays. Solenoids sticking and not delivering power is a common fault.

[stacy]

exactly!

[stevensuf]

yeah been thinking that myself, if it turns one way, why not the other, no power after relay is my first thought, i can hear the relay clicking when i press but nothing after that, will strip it down and look to see if the solenoid is two way or two separate units, maybe a good old thump will do the job of releasing it!

[charliehows]

80m of 10mm chain by hand!?! yeah, thats a workout, I'm f##d if i have to pull 30m with my manual windlass, dont think i could actually pull 80m by hand

[GordMay]

What make & model windlass?

[stevensuf]

It is a lofrans airon, the prob was only one side of the two way solenoid was working, took it all to bits and sanded down all connection and its working again, till it breaks again that is!

[osirissail]

Most windlasses have two power supply cables and one common negative cable. These also have two separate windings, one for "up" and one for "down."

If yours is this way, switch the main positive cables and see if now the windlass will work in the opposite direction. If so, then it is a power supply/solenoid problem. If not, then one of the windings has an "open" and the motor needs rewinding or replacing.