Windlass Lewmar V4

[Tpowis]

Am using a Beneteau Oceanis 50 and my windlass suddenly refuse to work . No symptoms, no warning.
Wondering if anybody know what mechanism is responsible for preventing the windlass to work when engine is not on. I have reasons to believ the problem is located there.
Any advice welcome.
Regards,

Thierry

[Rick01541]

Did you look for a circuit breaker or trip switch?

[estarzinger]

Windless suddenly stopped working . . . . Things to look at . . .

The easy ones:

Did someone turn the windless power switch off (don't laugh, happened to me once)?

Did the circuit breaker trip?

The harder ones:

The solenoid is broken or stuck (give it a wack with a hammer . . . Might unstuck it)

A wire to one of the motor brushes has come loose.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Thierry.

[Tpowis]

Originally Posted by Rick01541

Did you look for a circuit breaker or trip switch?

Yes I did check all switches or fuses. Even connected the battery directly after the fuse.
No reaction from the windlass.
Thanks for time to reply.
Rgards

[Tpowis]

Originally Posted by estarzinger

Windless suddenly stopped working . . . . Things to look at . . . The easy ones: Did someone turn the windless power switch off (don't laugh, happened to me once)? Did the circuit breaker trip? The harder ones: The solenoid is broken or stuck (give it a wack with a hammer . . . Might unstuck it) A wire to one of the motor brushes has come loose.

OK will try the solenoid. Hoped to avoid it as access is not very good but I believe no choice since I have checked all switches , fuses etc...

Regards

[Roy M]

You could always just remove it for a look-see. It's a pain, but boat equipment must be installed in such a manner as you can occasionally service and repair it. Besides, it will be one less thing to do if you need to replace or repair the motor. While you are at it, after repairing it, of course, use some Rustoleum Hydrophobic paint to protect the motor and gear case from condensation or seawater corrosion. I just tried it with another boat and am sold. I will be pulling my own motor assembly out for preventive maintenance this winter, and this task will be uppermost on my agenda. This is a pic of a V3 assembly I just did this to:

P.S.: here's a pic of the solenoid, mounted in a Newmar waterproof box

[Tpowis]

Originally Posted by Roy M

You could always just remove it for a look-see. It's a pain, but boat equipment must be installed in such a manner as you can occasionally service and repair it. Besides, it will be one less thing to do if you need to replace or repair the motor. While you are at it, after repairing it, of course, use some Rustoleum Hydrophobic paint to protect the motor and gear case from condensation or seawater corrosion. I just tried it with another boat and am sold. I will be pulling my own motor assembly out for preventive maintenance this winter, and this task will be uppermost on my agenda. This is a pic of a V3 assembly I just did this to: P.S.: here's a pic of the solenoid, mounted in a Newmar waterproof box

Dear Roy,
Thanks for the pictures and comments. Good idea to un mount it and protect it again can never harms and I may find the cause.
I guess I know now what to do this week end.
Thanks for advice.

[Roy M]

It's not too difficult (says the man who doesn't have to do it). If it's a newer version, it's a snap, otherwise, it's four nuts and removing the wiring. If you screw up when reassembling and reconnecting the wiring (up is now down), you can just switch the positions on the solenoid instead of crawling into the anchor locker, again. A small assistant is invaluable. Even if the motor is fine, it's not a bad idea to take it to a motor shop to inspect the windings and brushes, clean it out, and ready it for another decade of neglect. You could even take your alternator and starter motor in for a family discount.

[gjordan]

Dis you bypass the foot switch? (If you have one) They are famous for going bad. Just another thought. _____Grant.

[Roy M]

The foot switch was not an issue, in this case, it being someone else's boat. I agree with you, though. I installed my controls on a box attached to my pulpit where I can hang onto to something if it's pretty bouncy. I don't like accidentally stepping on a footswitch and having all that chain zipping past my feet in the dark.

[Tpowis]

Hi Everybody,

Today I found the cause. A relay was hidden behind the alternator. This relay is activated by the alternator and allow the windlass to work when the engine is running. Engine not running no windlass.
Thanks everybody for all ideas but it is a shame that the wiring drawings on the boat did not indicate this.
Happy sailing everybody
Thierry