Windlass problem

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:36 am

hello all,
have a prob with my anchor windaess, yesterday I had to retrieve my anchor by hand as the winch would not pull, it does however drop the line , but does not pull back, the motor does operate, and it sounds like its working but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, nothing,
question is , is it worth looking into, ? Im not sure what brand it is, however Im thinking its been there llke forever, anybody hav an ecperience with this, before I delve into it? or if anyone has a used one, or similar they want to part with .

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:16 am

Any chance that it just needs tightening? Is there a hole in the top to accept a ratchet driver?
We need more info... what type of windlass?
Just because it is old does not mean it will not work well, in fact the older one's often work longer as they lack the modern design weaknesses that many newer designs have

... older windlasses tend to be a simple design and many will last forever.

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:15 am

there is a small hole at the top, I dont see any brand name on it,, Ill try to get more info, but tell me more about the hole, maybe some pictures

JuiceClark · Post by **JuiceClark** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:00 pm

Give us a picture if you can. Mine did the same thing once and it turned out to be a little set screw in one of the gears had worked loose after 20 years. I removed the top, diagnosed the problem and reassembled in less than 15 minutes.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:29 pm

Does it drop the line because it is a freefall type or does it just feed it out?
If the latter then my suggestion that it needs re-tensioning of the clutch is likely correct as it does not grip enough to lift the load.
If it is freefall then Juiceclark's idea may be right, or broken key causing lost drive.
Photos of mine is unlikely to help as it clearly has a hole in the top to take a octagonal driver.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:54 pm

guglielmo6160 wrote:there is a small hole at the top, I dont see any brand name on it,, Ill try to get more info, but tell me more about the hole, maybe some pictures

How small? What shape? Will a large Allen key fit in to turn it?

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:02 pm

the winch is not a free fall, it motors down and up, down works fine, when I go to retrieve the line, it motors only without grabbing the line at at all, it used to grap after a second or two and now nothing, Ill need to go back to the boat to get more info, on the type of winch etc, but as I mentioned I didnt see any markings on the top of it. I wasnt aware that there were any adjustments to the tension, I did remember seeing a small hole at the top of the winch, is that possilby the adjustment? that seems to be the only thing that may be ,, also i recall seeing grease fitting to the right side of the unit. where it rotates

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:12 pm

[img][img]http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63 ... G_0178.jpg[/img][/img]

this is an old picture of the bow, and the unit maybe someone can identify it from something theve seen, I will get some better pics when I get to the boat

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:34 pm

looks like a Goode,

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:56 pm

Its a "GOOD" and It should be a free fall ( you power down just to release the line then it falls on its own )

http://www.goodwindlass.com/Products/ro ... #topofpage

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:20 pm

GoodÂ® Automatic Windlass, Inc.
357 Route 72
Barnegat, New Jersey 08005
http://www.goodwindlass.com/support/support.htm
They must be almost local for you...

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:06 pm

well thanks,,, but thats news to me that its a free fall, seems I have to hold the down toggle to get it to lower the line, does anybody know if there is an adjustment to tighten the tension?
and thanks for the websites,, they do offer a power up and power down version windlass, and Im guessing by the specs , and the photo on their website that mine is a model 700 , so Ill call em in the morning and find out what I can do to remedy the issue, Im hoping its an adjustment, its kinda pricey at about a grand,, so it definately is worth fixing,
thanks alot for all your help, I appreciate it,
if anyone knows how I can adjust it, Id like to know

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 9:26 pm

Bill , By your photo it looks like the free fall but the angle of it makes it hard to tell for sure . look at the photos on the link I posted you can tell if it is a free fall or not. the 500 is free fall the 700 is power down . also the 700 is rated up 28 ft boats the 500 is rated for more

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:06 pm

Paul, it does look like the free fall version, but as I mentioned, I've been using it for a while now, and I have to hold the down toggle or the line does not go down. Is there another way to operate it? Ill give em a call tommorrow and figure it out,,, I see the series 700 is for up to 28 , so I dont think the previous owner would have installed a lesser version. a little confused

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:21 pm

Bill the free fall "release" could be stuck . the free fall and power down look a like except the right side where the free fall has cylinder shaped part sticking out.. look for numbers on the windlass if you can find them . Its possible they make a larger power down model way back when . ( but it would not have that part on the right side .

Trojan used Good windlass's as a factory option so you boat may have come with it , mines 32 y/o and working fine .(knock on wood)