Lewmar windlass slips

[pugtug613]

My Lewmar windlass seems to slip way too soon. I would expect there to be a point that the windlass would slip, but I almost can't pull in the weight of the chain. I went on You Tube and there are several videos on the clutch repair. I looked in the manual and the troubleshooting section is not very specific. Has anyone had this condition? Is there a way to adjust the pressure on the clutch? I leave the boat in the water and I would hate to have some of those little dogs fall overboard. Maybe if I remove that plate on the starboard side and add a washer? I assume this happens when the chain gets bunched up in the anchor locker and stops the chain from paying into the locker.

I looked in the manual for a shear pin, couldn't find one. Appreciate any help.
Chester

 

[HRowland]

Make sure the clutch nut on the side of the gypsy is tight. This is the three pronged large nut. Mine was not tight and allowed slippage.

You are probably doing this already- you need to shift the nylon rode to the starboard side of the anchor locker to allow enough room for the chain. If there is not enough room for the chain to drop while retrieving the anchor the clutch will disengage. On our R27s the locker is a bit shallow and does not have enough drop distance below the windlass as the locker fills. Lewmar suggests at least 12" of free space for proper operation. As the locker fills we do not have this much.

The Lewmar Pro series manual has nice exploded diagrams of the windlass.

Howard

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Adding to what Howard said you should have received a tool for tightening the windlass nut that Howard referred to. It may be inside of the chain locker or with all of your manuals and is specifically used for this one procedure.

Jim F

 

[pugtug613]

Yes I do push the rode to starboard. I like being on the bow when dropping or raising the anchor. I may drop the hook from the pilot house, but coming up, there is no way it would make it. That's what I figured happened in the first place. Maybe the previous owner raised the anchor from inside and the chain got too close to the lead in and jammed up. Who knows? It doesn't seem broken, just in need of adjustment. I will look at that nut. Thanx

 

[TonyM]

Hi All,
While on the Columbia River when the dams were releasing a lot of water I had the same problem.
If every thing is good in the locker then this should work.
Tighten as much as you can by hand and then tighten a bit more by using a ratchet in the 3 square holes located on the tension-er.
It doesn't take much pressure I forget which size but I think it was 1/2'' ratchet If not it will be a 3/8'' DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN
Good Luck

 

[pugtug613]

Yes, it was a 1/2 ratchet. Just a little force and it seems to work. Thanx