Help - Windlass doesn't work - 2006 31 PC


M

More Leverage

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Windlass worked fine last year. Not this year. Left windlass battery on boat over winter (like every year) due to tight quarters. Neither Cockpit or remote controls work. Won't hand crank either. What am I doing wrong. Hopefully someting silly. Any suggestions?
 
More Leverage said:
Hopefully someting silly. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Ok, since you mentioned something silly, I'll bite.

Was the Windlass/Thruster Master Switch (inside the engine room day hatch) on prior to you trying to get it to operate? How about the helm switch in the windlass detent......as opposed to the thruster detent.....if so equipped?
 
Yes, unless you have a locking mechanism on your particular model windlass. (I'm not talking about the chain safety lock.)

Beyond my pay grade at this point.
 
i'm sure you've already checked but i see the switch was mentioned but not the actual breaker. might wanna give it a look too.
 
Agree on the breakers, had that happen to me last year. This year had another issue, was getting power but just clicking...whacked the motor a few times with no luck. Started taking it a part and out of nowhere it started working. I think the dried salt bound it up (wish I had a wash down up there. Drenched it with CRC 656, and dumped the anchor in the slip and pulled it all up (with dock water wash down) with no issues.
 
My '95 has a power switch and an up/down switch on the dash. The power solenoid failed, replaced it and all was well. If you have the same configuration you can bypass the power solenoid and try dropping the anchor.
 
I am having the same problem for a week. I shut all breakers while replacing batteries and when I tried the windlass next unfortunately at a time I needed it, I hear the same faint clicking described prior, but its not turning. I'll try giving it a rap. I've found with my home computer that usually makes it worse :) There doesnt seam to be a switch to turn in on and off at the unit. I do have one on the helm panel. I was planning on taking it apart Saturday any advice would be helpful. It is weird, my issues seem to happen just as other have th same issue. Sor some reason, it makes me feel better to not be the only person ;-)
 
That sounds like the same clicking I would hear. Take it apart and spray it down with crc or wd-40 as you're pulling it apart, you may find it working again.
 
Replaced the solenoid myself on the Maxwell this spring. It works.....sort of....most of the time....seems to me the motor itself gets stuck and doesn't want to fire up. I think this thing needs a lot of power to kick over - when I hold in the par. battery switch and sort of toggle the windlass - it kicks on in a few seconds.
Just a thought - the prospect of R&R'ng the motor is something I will put off as long as possible.
 
i just started having issues too. when the windlass is engaged, my vhf and stereo turn off, then come back on when the switch is released. i'm thinking this is a battery issue but i haven't checked it yet.
 
Y'all are making me glad that mine is still an Armstrong. Zero amp draw and only jams up on bad weather days when Arthur visits.
 
Tap trick didn't work. All fuses are engaged, master swicth and dash switch on. I'm thinking it is the battery (anyone successfully removed the windlass battery successfully??) but expect it is jammed since I cannot hand crank it....


stay tuned.
 
Ditto on the Tap trick not working. Also, I tried to take apart to clean but could not figure out how to remove? I unscrewed / removed the piece that turns the chain and removed some other bolts. I was left with a threaded bar coming up through the bow but no way to get at the motor below? Does anyone have suggestions on how to get at the motor?
Also, More Leverage asked about the battery. The Windlass runs off the batteries in the cockpit bilge, not a dedicated battery in another compartment, correct?
 
The windlass does run off the battery under the vberth on the cabin. (At least on my 2008 it does, and I think the design is similar).

Getting that battery out is super easy...just remove the mattress, take off the square cover and remove the 2 cables and 1 screw that holds one of the cables and lift out.
 
WE CAN ALL SIT BACK AND COMMENT ON WHAT WE THINK IS THE PROBLEM, BUT REALLY, THE VOLTAGE NEEDS CHECKED AT THE MOTOR.
IF THERE IS NONE, START BY GOING BACKWARDS TOWARDS THE BATTERY. CHECK THE SOLONOID TO SEE IF ITS WORKING. IF ITS CLICKING, IT MAY NOT BE WORKING PROPERLY. IT MAY HAVE CORROSION ON THE CONTACTS. TOO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST, BUT START BY CHECKING TO SEE IF YOU EVEN HAVE POWER TO THE UNIT.
 
The week before I last, I replaced my bilge batteries and switched power switches in the engine bilge to the off position. Painfully embarrassing to admit, I forgot to switch the windless to the on position after changing the batteries. Big Thanks to Gary for suggesting using a battery tester. Once I realized there was no power in the system, I concentrated on the bilge, not the forward cabin compartments.
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On my configuration, there is no battery under the V-berth, there is only a switch. The switch has one 12V line going in and 2 coming out feeding the windless. The switch is for operating the windless up or down and this has two power lines, a big line for powering the windless and a smaller line for operating the switch (up or down). I had found the windless breaker at the helm panel and thought that was the breaker powering the windless, but it was in fact only powering the switch (which was operating and making clicking sounds). The true Windless breaker was a big red round switch in the bilge. Once on, everything is working properly.
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I'm looking forward to someday understanding all systems involved so 2 minute issues don't take 2 weeks. I guess when that happens, its time to buy a new boat. More Leverage, Best of luck, I hope your issue is easily solved as well.
 
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