Windlass goes down but not up

[Zeusmt]

Another problem I’m having on my 2015 370 DA is the windlass lets out the anchor but does not pull it in/up. I had this same problem last year and MarineMax fixed it last year and MarineMax fixed it. Any thoughts or suggestions on how to fix it?

 

[66pony]

Check for loose wires at the relay. The wires are not always as secure as they should be.

 

[Zeusmt]

Check for loose wires at the relay. The wires are not always as secure as they should be.

Cool thanks for the info. Where’s the relay? I should mention that I have this problem at the foot pedal and at the switch at the helm

 

[Ferris]

It's probably the control box, which is really just a big box with two solenoids.

I'd check the connections first and also clean them if that's not it put a meter on the box inputs then the outputs. If you find that to be the problem you can either replace the box or carefully open it and clean the terminals and contact points, that's typically how the fail.

 

[Little Ducky]

It's not working with the helm rocker switch or foot switches?

 

[paulswagelock]

Control box has failed or corrosion on the up terminal of the box.

 

[Black Valkyrie]

When you say it doesnt "go down" can you clarify what happens when you try to let out chain? Does it make any noise? Can you hear anything trying to engage? Do you have access to the relay in the chain locker?

 

[Todd320]

I had the same issue. In my case, the relay was bad. The post on one side had moved, the plastic on the relay had slightly melted and the post moved enough to where it would not make contact when engaged. I would hear a loud click, but it would not engage. I was able to switch the wires, and sure enough, now it would go up, but not down, so I knew one side of the relay was bad. Took apart the relay and was able to rebuild it and get it working again. Will eventually need to be replaced (150$?). The relay is located in the bow anchor locker on my boat, mounted to a wall. Any time you hold down the up or down buttons, and the windlass is engaging but not strong enough to pull up (or stuck), the relay will heat up from the current flowing through, so best to let go of the up/down button immediately if you detect the windlass locking up, struggling or grinding.

 

[Zeusmt]

So it will let out the anchor but when I use the pedal or the switch at the helm it does not pull up the anchor. I do not hear anything when I try the pedal or switch

 

[Black Valkyrie]

Do you have easy access to.the windless and its relay?

 

[Zeusmt]

I haven’t looked yet. I’ll look this weekend

 

[Bayou340]

I had similar issues when we first got our boat last winter. It would lower the anchor, but when trying to raise the anchor I would hear the click in the bow but anchor would not come up. I checked controller in chain locker and tightened all connections everywhere which didn’t help. Checked voltage at the controller and windlass and everything checked out. Then I happened to notice that the starboard battery would drop below 12v when attempting to raise anchor with the engine at idle. So when operating the windlass I began to bump up the throttle to about 1000 rpm. This would keep the voltage from dropping too low. Windlass has worked ever since. I still wonder if ther is some sort of corrosion on the brushes in the motor though because there are days it will be really slow but the gradually speed up.

 

[Black Valkyrie]

If you can gain easy access and are comfortable with electricity you can take jumper wire and bypass the relay to easily determine if it is the relay or motor that is defective

 

[Zeusmt]

So I switched the relay wires and I have the same problem. The foot peddle does change but it only goes down and not up. Thoughts?

 

[Zeusmt]

I looked again an I seem to have a black wire that’s on not attached to anything

 

[bobeast]

I looked again an I seem to have a black wire that’s on not attached to anything

Yeah, the yellow terminal ring in the lower left of your picture seems to have lost its ground wire if I'm seeing it correctly

 

[Zeusmt]

Yeah, the yellow terminal ring in the lower left of your picture seems to have lost its ground wire if I'm seeing it correctly

So is that the issue? How would I fix that?

 

[bobeast]

So is that the issue? How would I fix that?

Its hard to tell from the picture, but if that terminal has indeed had its wire pulled out, you'll need to remove that nut, crimp a new terminal ring to the broken away wire, and then re-install it.

 

[Zeusmt]

Its hard to tell from the picture, but if that terminal has indeed had its wire pulled out, you'll need to remove that nut, crimp a new terminal ring to the broken away wire, and then re-install it.

Great. Thanks. That seems impossible to do bc of the small access port but I guess I’ll have to figure it out.

That wire has a black and a red wire in it. Would both wires go in the new terminal ring?

Thanks!

 

[Little Ducky]

Do yourself a favor before you fry your electronic's ..... refer to your owners manual for your windless. They normally have a wiring diagram.