windless replacement 88 amberjack

[bk1987]

hi guys, this is my first post, I just bought a 88 Amberjack 270 and im having problems with the benson windless it starts and stops going up and down, it just not reliable enough i wanted to replace it with a freefall type of windless due to my anchoring requirements, so my question is in the manual it states there is 5/8 in line but does anybody know what size chain, i think its 5/16 but im not sure and also what is the pull power of the benson im thinking of replaceing it with a POWERWINCH 900lbs pull due to the sales there running now any input would be appreciated thanks guys

 

[JVM225]

I replaced my Benson with a Powerwinch last year. I'm sorry I went with it. Nothing but problems.
I contacted them and they gave me the number of a local guy who could look at it under warranty.
I contacted him and am still waiting for him to be available.
He told me on the phone that they were a good company at one time and then they sold out to an RV company in Colorado or something. The RV company farms out the manufacturing to China now, and the quality of their product is not good. He recommended that I toss it and get a Lewmar if I want reliablility. He said they are much better.

 

[bk1987]

I replaced my Benson with a Powerwinch last year. I'm sorry I went with it. Nothing but problems.
I contacted them and they gave me the number of a local guy who could look at it under warranty.
I contacted him and am still waiting for him to be available.
He told me on the phone that they were a good company at one time and then they sold out to an RV company in Colorado or something. The RV company farms out the manufacturing to China now, and the quality of their product is not good. He recommended that I toss it and get a Lewmar if I want reliablility. He said they are much better.

Thanks for the reply, i was wondering if they were any good, maybe thats why they seem to be alot less $$

 

[88dancer300]

I removed the benson on my 88 Sundancer 300, and installed an above deck Lewmar stainless steel 700 pro. Nice windlass, had it on my 268 for 5 years. Very powerfull and dependable.

 

[JVM225]

I removed the benson on my 88 Sundancer 300, and installed an above deck Lewmar stainless steel 700 pro. Nice windlass, had it on my 268 for 5 years. Very powerfull and dependable.

That's the one I wish I had installed.

 

[andyr]

I installed a Good windlass. rope/chain freefall. Had it for 10 years. excellent. Had the motor rebuilt once at the local electric shop.

 

[Iprof]

hi guys, this is my first post, I just bought a 88 Amberjack 270 and im having problems with the benson windless it starts and stops going up and down, it just not reliable enough i wanted to replace it with a freefall type of windless due to my anchoring requirements, so my question is in the manual it states there is 5/8 in line but does anybody know what size chain, i think its 5/16 but im not sure and also what is the pull power of the benson im thinking of replaceing it with a POWERWINCH 900lbs pull due to the sales there running now any input would be appreciated thanks guys

Here is the step by step replacement of my Benson with a Lewmar. http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28418
I have a powerwinch on my 2755 and don't like the free fall, put a power up power down. I have 1/4" chain 100 feet and 100 feet of rope for a total of 200' of rode. The system works great on my 300da.
The Benson cannot take chain only rope, mine came with 1/2" rope.

Ken

 

[bk1987]

ok a little update, i was playing around with the windless i opened it up greased it up a bit now the windless seems to go down but it wont come up when i hit the switch it does nothing i used to get a warning tone when it got stuck but now nothing could the problem be the switch or a relay problem

 

[Captain Crispy]

ok a little update, i was playing around with the windless i opened it up greased it up a bit now the windless seems to go down but it wont come up when i hit the switch it does nothing i used to get a warning tone when it got stuck but now nothing could the problem be the switch or a relay problem

1) Check the fuse or fuses
2) Check all electrical connections- every crimp, every solder, every switch, every relay, the ground bus, and the hot connection.
3) If you have an electrical meter [VOM- volt-ohm meter] and if you know how to use it, check the switches. When the switches are on, they should be a short [ they should have zero resistance on the ohm scale]. Unfortunately, you can't check the relays unless they are energized and you have a diagram of the pins to know where to check. You basically would energize the relay and verify an output of 12 VDC on the correct pin.

4) If all that passes, see if you can lug a battery up to the closest connector to the windlass, and hotwire it to the windlass just long enough to see if the motor engages.If it doesn't, the windlass needs repair.

 

[bk1987]

1) Check the fuse or fuses
2) Check all electrical connections- every crimp, every solder, every switch, every relay, the ground bus, and the hot connection.
3) If you have an electrical meter [VOM- volt-ohm meter] and if you know how to use it, check the switches. When the switches are on, they should be a short [ they should have zero resistance on the ohm scale]. Unfortunately, you can't check the relays unless they are energized and you have a diagram of the pins to know where to check. You basically would energize the relay and verify an output of 12 VDC on the correct pin.

4) If all that passes, see if you can lug a battery up to the closest connector to the windlass, and hotwire it to the windlass just long enough to see if the motor engages.If it doesn't, the windlass needs repair.

the windless is working in the down position when i try to pull it up via the switch all i get is a clicking sound in the relay, i was thinking of connecting the windless up to a battery like you said, now if the motor works going down would'nt that mean the motor is ok? i was thinking of reversing the terminals to the windless, would that bring the windless up?

 

[Captain Crispy]

If the motor works going down, it doesn't necessarily mean it will work going up because of the extra load [weight of anchor and rode] being pulled up.It is a good sign, though.
I do not know how your windlass reverses- whether it uses a solenoid to kick in a reversing gear, or whether it actually reverses the direction of the motor.
Try reversing the motor [pulling it in] without any weight attached.
Also, if you have a three position switch to activate it [ up, off, down] try reversing the up and down connections.
Last, if at has 2 separate relays for up and down, try switching them.
Before you start, you might want to label your wires and relays so you know which ones go where.

 

[bk1987]

ok there is a 3 position switch switching the connectors didnt change any thing down was still down, there are 2 relays they are 6 posts each and are jumped to each other i would guess they reverse the windless ( i can only get 4 post relays in my local boat store i believe the extra post are just for connecting the two relays together) also if before i try changing relays, will taking a battery to the windless and reversing the polls be a way to test it

 

[WiserTime]

ok there is a 3 position switch switching the connectors didnt change any thing down was still down, there are 2 relays they are 6 posts each and are jumped to each other i would guess they reverse the windless ( i can only get 4 post relays in my local boat store i believe the extra post are just for connecting the two relays together) also if before i try changing relays, will taking a battery to the windless and reversing the polls be a way to test it

I am working on the same thing! My Benson windlass will only pull up, not let anchor rode out. Sounds like I have done much of the same trouble shooting as you have. I found the 6 post solenoids online and ordered them. I plan to install them tomorrow to see if that works.
http://www.elecdirect.com/product/83c40589-ccf2-4ee3-b587-8d6bd5170ecd.aspx

I will post back if this fixes my problem. Good luck on your end!

 

[bk1987]

I am working on the same thing! My Benson windlass will only pull up, not let anchor rode out. Sounds like I have done much of the same trouble shooting as you have. I found the 6 post solenoids online and ordered them. I plan to install them tomorrow to see if that works.
http://www.elecdirect.com/product/83c40589-ccf2-4ee3-b587-8d6bd5170ecd.aspx

I will post back if this fixes my problem. Good luck on your end!

yea thats them, have you tested the windless directly to the battery? did it work? im going to look for the relays at some auto stores first before i by them online let me know if the new relays worked for you good luck

 

[JeffMendenhall]

From what I have read, the two relay system reverses polarity on the motor (up and down). If the relays are not bad, then chances are the motor is going bad. They are a pain to remove, but the motor can be rebuilt as long as the brush holder is still in one piece. I have had mine completely apart and put back together. Mine was very corroded and the brush holder was in pieces. I cleaned it up, super glued brush holder back together and it is working for now.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[WiserTime]

yea thats them, have you tested the windless directly to the battery? did it work? im going to look for the relays at some auto stores first before i by them online let me know if the new relays worked for you good luck

Hi guys. It worked! I just took my time and re-wired one wire at a time. Very happy this problem is solved after two years of troubleshooting.

 

[bk1987]

good im glad it worked for you I also fixed mine I pulled the motor out and found the magnets in the case had come off i just used some epoxy to reattached them and its been working great so far thanks guys for all your help and input