Maxwell Windlass is slipping

[rickalan35]

My Maxwell 750 (1994 vintage) windlass was slipping at the end of last season.

On my first day-cruise with this new-to-me boat, last summer, I at one point changed the direction of the windlass pretty quickly (using the foot pedals) to eliminate some weeds and I assume that particular action may have damaged the windlass in some way. (I say this because afterward, when I read the manual, there was a statement therein instructing the user to avoid changing directions quickly.)

I managed to successfully run the anchor back up and got underway, but later on when I arrived back at the marina and was backing down into my slip, observers on the dock yelled "Hey Rick, you're anchor's hanging loose by about four feet." (I had forgotten to snub it down, which was just plain dumb)

The next trip out, when we were pulling the anchor to return home, it let go about halfway in as if it had a clutch and ran all the way back out. I ended up pulling it all in by hand and since its chain, it was very tiring.

Its a horizontal winder, not vertical

I do not have the flat bar that was supposed to accompany the windless assembly and must be lost plus although I see it in the manual I don't understand the purpose for this bar (apparently it may be inserted into the windless and used to loosen the mechanism in order that the center of the windless can pop up for other duties???

Thoughts anyone?? Prowler, Big D

[Big D]

Are you sure it's a Maxwell 750? Not sure I'm familiar with that one. For that vintage, I'd know the Freedom 500 and 800 series though. Do you have a picture of it that you can post?

Check your manual, usually there is a clutch and it probably just needs to be tightened. Fingers crossed!

[rickalan35]

Darn it. I apologize.

I went up to my box of manuals and paperwork for the boat and dug out the Maxwell manual and sure enough it is a Maxwell 500

The manual seems to be for two versions of this particular Maxwell 500 - the VWC and the VWCLP

I have the manual in front of me. Is there any particular added info that I can give you, Big D?

[prowlersfish]

Hopefully it just a clutch adjustment looking at the manual( on line )(500VW) the tool appears just a flat bar . so a peace of flat iron may work . Sadly the manual gives no info on adjustment . Perhaps yours has more info ? From the little info I have found it appears you turn it clock wise


Let me ad one thought as you know you should always snub the anchor down when its up . But you should always tie it off when at anchor . This takes the strain off the clutch . Many windlasses will tell you to do this even if they do not it is a good practice .

Wish I could be more help

[Big D]

....you should always snub the anchor down when its up . But you should always tie it off when at anchor . This takes the strain off the clutch.....

A definite + on that Paul. Unless the manual specifically states that the unit has a latching mechanism that locks the unit when it is not running (some designs have this), you must use an external stop for when you're at anchor or underway.

As with most, that unit will have a screw in the top center of the gypsy or capstan if you have one. There may be a slotted cap over the screw that needs to be removed first. If you have that, remove it and you should see the screw under that. Your manual should show this in the parts breakdown section. Loosen the screw, then use the bar, or fabricate one that will fit, and insert it into the clutch nut. Tighten clockwise until snug. Re-tighten the screw, I like adding some non-permanent Loctite to the threads first. Try deploying and retrieving and see if she still slips. If she does, repeat and tighten the clutch nut a little further.

Let us know how it goes.

[rickalan35]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

The first question I have is whether or not the clutch nut is visible?

I managed to pop off the cover and then loosen the screw last fall. It was difficult work because it didn't appear to have been done previously. It was pretty tight (screw) But I did indeed get it loosened.

Then I tried substituting a flat piece of metal for the bar. I slid it into a "slot" on the side of the windless that seemed to be the correct location to insert it and all in all, I wasn't really sure if I was actually tightening it. Afterward, I also tightened the "top screw" back down again. (I unfortunately managed to chomp up that screw head a bit before I was finished.)

In the diagram within the Maxwell manual, there is a draftsman's drawing of a cross-section of the entire unit. It's not easy to understand how the tightening of the clutch nut works when I look at this diagram. But there is a line drawn, extending outward from the centre of the unit at about 2:30 on a clock, that is entitled "12 19/32 Extent of the Clutch Nut Lever"

The second question is, does anyone have any idea where I might buy a replacement bar???

Thks

Rick

[Big D]

Yes the clutch nut will be visible. It's what you slide the bar into at the top of the capstan/drum. Found a manual that I think is your unit. If we're looking at the same parts diagram, it would be #3. Follow what I said above for tightening. You can try calling Maxwell. You never know, they might still have a bar in stock or may be able to direct you to a large dealer that could have one lying around. At the very least, they can probably give you the specs needed to fabricate one yourself.

http://www.c34.org/manuals/Maxwell%20_500VW_Manual.pdf

[rickalan35]

Okay, thanks Big D.

The manual that you included in your reply is much better than the one that came with my materials. The diagrams are better, especially of the "tightening bar"

One of the diagrammatics indicates exactly what the clutch nut looks like. I was looking for a normally shaped nut..... duh

I'm going to phone the Maxwell North American office in California tomorrow. Perhaps they'll have a tightening bar available, point me in the right direction or at least provide me with dimensions.

The end of the bar where it connects into the notches on the tightening nut may have a particular shape. The jury rigged bar I used kept slipping off.

Thanks

[Big D]

This unit has a quick release/free-fall feature so you shouldn't have to loosen the inside screw as I mentioned above to tighten the clutch nut. Simply insert the bar into the nut and turn clockwise. To use the free-fall feature, just loosen the clutch nut and the anchor will free-fall until you tighten the clutch again. This feature comes in handy when you want a quicker deployment than you would get by using the motor such as anchoring in tight quarters, or you want more precise anchor placement on a favourite fishing hole for example where you might drift while waiting for a slow motorized drop. This is much like the older Simpson-Lawrence Seawolf windlasses used on many makes.

These units need regular maintenance and lubrication. Check the manual, I think the clutches need lubricating too.

Note the statement on page 7 titled "Chainstopper"

[rickalan35]

Thanks, Big D,

I appreciate all the information and the attached manual.

Bottom line, I've really got to solve my lack of proper "bar"

Rick

[rickalan35]

My new clutch nut lever arrived from Maxwell Inc. It's a lot smaller than the original and so we'll see. Hope it's the correct one. Very nice people to deal with.

[rickalan35]

Our summer/16 shake down cruise on Big Rideau Lake today, proved to be a success. The new "Clutch Nut Lever" from Maxwell allowed me to tighten up a relatively loose clutch nut and today when pulling the anchor up, the windless performed flawlessly. Thanks for the advice and help back in April.

Rick

[Big D]

Sweet