Windlass Jamming

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npaige
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Joined: 9/4/18
Posts: 6
Windlass Jamming

We have a new-to-us 36' (2000) MKII with a windlass that won't free-fall smoothly. It has been serviced and cleaned and spins smoothly when the clutch is released, but when loaded with chain it just won't fall freely. I need to manually reverse the direction by hand, then it'll drop 8 inches or so and stop. Then I do it again and hand feed in the opposite direction, let it drop and get 8-10" out of it. Clearly it's not an effective anchoring solution as is. Anybody run into this before? Can't tell if it's chain wear (probably original windlass and chain) or internal troubles.

Sandy Paige / Meg Arnold
"Shenandoah"
C36 2000
Emeryville, CA

dpower
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Joined: 6/20/08
Posts: 237
When servicing the windlass, did you check the snap bushing which hold the two halves of the chain wheel together? It is plastic and can break which causes the two halves to move independently of each other. This in turn prevents the chain from moving smoothly.

David S. Power
Two If By Sea #1687
Burnt Store Marina
Punta Gorda, FL

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