Search/Spot Light

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Sun Sep 12, 2010 8:10 pm

The search/spot light out on my bow pulpit light up and will turn to the port and down, but not to the starboard and up.

I guess it could be something in the light or something in the control at the helm.

I guess the motor would be up inside the light itself.

Has anyone dealt with this issue?

Thanks

Tom

g36 · Post by **g36** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 6:54 am

is it the jabsco itt round spotlight similiar to this? only older? mine was the original from 1978.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... ck+Control

it is most likely the little motors in the lamp housing. if you will get someone out by the lamp you can get them to listen and you control the lamp in all ranges and let them listen for the motor sounds. in my findings on my boat. the motor is probably working and the fault is the small slip discs/friction discs in the unit. i took mine apart and repaired it. if like mine, in the light the small motor uses friction on small discs that move the lamp around and this keeps it from having a switch or grinding a gear off when you run it to the stop on whatever axis you are moving the light to. if you open it you have to remove the small motor and dissassmeble the discs. i installed a thin spacer i cut out of automotive gasket material to make a spacer which adds a bit more friction to the setup. i tried a couple different times without and just cleaning and adjutment but doing this i would get it working and then latter it would start slipping and not moving again. this has now been working with the spacer for about 2 years so far so good.. i had to come up with some thin plastic/rubber to recreate a seal at the bottom where the light attaches to the base to seal the pivoting area hopefully yours isnt rotted away. it was worth the trouble in my mind but maybe not for everyone. its not that difficult to repair. new ones like this are expensive and i dont use a spotlight enough to see spending big money on one. handhelds now days are anohter option of course. i will be happy to help with other questions if you need

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:54 am

It looks like pretty close to that light. The control is different.

I went out to the light and had my son move it around. I can hear the motor running when it moves down and left. When he tried up and right, I didn't hear anything.

If the discs were slipping, I would expect to hear the motor running.

Wouldn't this indicate a problem with the control?

g36 · Post by **g36** » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:46 am

the control is different that was an example i could find. yes if you dont hear it make noise it sounds like the control.on my f32 there is 2 controls one in lower and one at the flybridge so thats easy but sounds like you only have one,
if it is the vintage of mine at least. the direction of the up and down and left and right is accomplished by reversing the polarity of the motor up and down is a motor and left and right is another so there are only 2 motors in the unit. the momentary switch in the control should be checked but also check for any loose connections. you can also take the actual lamp out of the front of the spotlight unit to get a look inside. just loosen the collar around the outside and take it out.

tsawyer · Post by **tsawyer** » Thu Sep 16, 2010 8:42 pm

That is the switch. Does that part look familiar to anyone? Know where I can find one?

Is this OEM or has it been replaced before?

g36 · Post by **g36** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:29 am

i wonder did you switch around the leads on the controls/or verify by other means that this is the problem with your light?. this is oem to the period. mine look the same.

first i think i would call beacon marine the sponser of the site and found out if they have this. since they do have tons of parts good chance they might have it laying around

the electronic components arent hi tech so should be able to adapt something if you cant find the original style.