Windlass Wiring

[WiserTime]

Okay, so I have been trying to troubleshoot my broken windlass all summer. It is a Benson Rope only windlass on my 1987 Weekender 300. Basically, it will still pull up, but when I try to let line out, the motor just quietly hums.

So, I pulled the windlass electric motor and gear box. I opened the motor, and it was full of oil and water. I figured that is not good in an electric motor. So, I cleaned everything off with mineral spirits, and it looked brand new. Brushes looked good. All connections good. I also opened up the gearbox, and everything looked good there too. I replaced the oil in the gearbox and put everything back together. Then tested the windlass...same thing! It will only pull up, it will not let line out. So, I am leading myself to believe that the issue is in the electrical- either the switch, or a relay or solenoid.

So here's my question: Does anyone know the wiring for a windlass of this type. I just have the breaker and up/down switch at the helm, I do not have a foot switch on the bow or anything like that. Any idea of the electrical(relays, solenoids) that may lie in between the switch and the windlass and where they may be located???

Thanks!!!

 

[Quint4]

I am not familiar with that brand. My windlass (lewmar) "free falls" the anchor to deploy. It does not "winch" it out.

 

[WiserTime]

I am not familiar with that brand. My windlass (lewmar) "free falls" the anchor to deploy. It does not "winch" it out.

Mine is not a free fall windlass. I wish it was as the it does not drop the anchor fast enough. That and the fact that it is designed for rope only makes it a bad design in my mind.

 

[fc3]

Every windlass I've seen uses a reversible DC motor to drive the mechanism. Therefore, there must be a box with two relays in it to switch the polarity of the voltage sent to the motor. Sea Ray usually mounts the box near the windlass. But I've seen them mounted in all kinds of funny places.

A friend had a similar problem two weeks ago. Fixing it was easy. Finding that box was a pain. We had to open every single access panel in his boat before we located it.

Best regards,
Frank