Windlass problem

[iancoombe]

Hi our Maxwell 3500 windless is giving us grief.
What happens is if we haul 40 meters of chain continusly it will stop, not throw the circuit breaker just stops, after a few minutes it operates again.
It doesn't seem to be getting excessively hot.
I'm thinking maybe a self resetting thermal overload in the system?
Has anyone had this problem.
Tia.
Ian

[Cowpoos]

Email them. They are really good at helping their customers directly.

Make an enquiry

[StuM]

Just saying: Windlass

[iancoombe]

Yeah thanks I'll try that, and windless and windlass
Seem to be interchangeable when I checked Maxwell went with windless.

[noelex 77]

Ian, the first step is to measure the voltage at the windlass motor terminals under load, particularly when the fault condition develops. This simple test will show if it is an internal problem such as worn brushes or an external problem such as a faulty solenoid.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by StuM

Just saying: Windlass

Right??

It's killing me sitting here trying not to make jokes about getting a powerboat instead or bigger sails. Ha ha.

[Steven UK]

i was having the same problem, I was single handing so it was hard to see what was happening when it failed. i stripped the motor, stripped the solenoids. couldn't find an issue. The breaker never tripped the whole time it was happening. I never called the manufacturer because the system seemed so simple. But i will when i get back to the boat. the only thing i never changed was the breaker. also the problem started after about three months of sailing...

i'm watching this space.

[iancoombe]

We're heading for a marina today, we have a list.
So that was my plan to induce the problem and check the voltage at the motor, voltage can be deceptive, so I'll try rigging jumper leads directly to the terminals. Obviously as t hasn't been mentioned there's no thermal cut out switch and is protected by the breaker which I assume is current sensitive, we have popped that once bugging out of a lee shore situation.