What Windlass is this one?

[Seevee]

All,


Have a Lewmar windlass on my 430 trawler. If you are a 430 owner and recognize this one, let me know the model number.


I have 3/16" chain.


Need a new one.


Thx.

 

[porman]

Seevee, that is a Simpson-Lawrence Horizon Express windlass. 1000 watt motor, 880 lb. chain pull, 1000 lb. rope pull, 90 amp current draw. No longer in production.

 

[jgwinks]

I picked a similar one up on eBay a few years ago, but it was a one of a kind new old stock. Had been sitting on a shelf for 20 years or more. It's possible there's another one out there someplace. Barring that most any windlass with similar ratings will work, you don't need the exact same model. Mounting holes probably won't match but that's easy to fix.

 

[Comodave]

The big thing is current draw. That is harder to fix than holes in the deck.

 

[jgwinks]

Right. And if the existing cables are too small that may be what killed the old one.

 

[Comodave]

Right. And if the existing cables are too small that may be what killed the old one.

Certainly could.

 

[porman]

I doubt the existing cables were too small. That windlass was factory installed by Mainship in 2003. It lasted 20 years. Mine is still going strong. At least until I said this. I opened it up last year and the gears and shafts looked like new. I moved some grease around and closed it back up.

 

[Seevee]

So, here's what I've done, now that I have enough info as to what I have:


1. Removed the cover to the gear side of the windlass, and the gears looked great and all turned without issue.


2. Remover the cover for the motor. Pulled out three of the four brushed (that were accessible) and they looked perfect. Cleaned and reinstalled.


3. Loosened the nut to the gypsy free fall, and once loose, it turned easily, no issues. Couldn't get the gypsy off because I couldn't get a key to line up with the slot.


4. Checked voltage drop from foot switch, to ground and got a drop.


5. Wired a temp 10gauge wire from the ground off the motor directly to a solid ground under the lower helm, and didn't work.


Running out of ideas.


Thoughts


(also posted on other sites)

 

[SteveK]

Have you ruled out a relay that may have failed. I do not see how you determined it is no longer good.

 

[Comodave]

Ok, maybe I missed it as to what is wrong with it, just that you need a new one. Then you say it has a voltage drop, what drop and where did you measure the voltage? Have you checked and cleaned every connection in the cable path?

 

[porman]

Clean and/or replace the wire that has the voltage drop. Start where you have a known problem.

 

[Comodave]

So, here's what I've done, now that I have enough info as to what I have:


1. Removed the cover to the gear side of the windlass, and the gears looked great and all turned without issue.


2. Remover the cover for the motor. Pulled out three of the four brushed (that were accessible) and they looked perfect. Cleaned and reinstalled.


3. Loosened the nut to the gypsy free fall, and once loose, it turned easily, no issues. Couldn't get the gypsy off because I couldn't get a key to line up with the slot.


4. Checked voltage drop from foot switch, to ground and got a drop.


5. Wired a temp 10gauge wire from the ground off the motor directly to a solid ground under the lower helm, and didn't work.


Running out of ideas.


Thoughts


(also posted on other sites)

#4. Checked voltage from foot switch to ground and got a drop.

The foot switch usually activates a solenoid that transfers power to the windlass. The switch usually cannot carry the current that the windlass uses. So that voltage drop may or may not matter. The more important place to check for voltage drop is at the motor when it is under load. Also check that the solenoids are getting power and actually activating when the switch is pushed. If the voltage isn’t present or has a large drop then you would need to troubleshoot where it is missing or has a large drop. Check and clean every connection that has to do with the windlass.