I have a Maxwell VW800 windlass on my (new to me) C36 MkII.
When I release the clutch nut on the top of the windlass (using the flat metal bar) so that it spins freely, the chain wheel stays locked and the anchor & chain will not free fall. I have to take the chain off the chain wheel and manually lower.
The windlass will haul up the anchor under power fine with no problems.
From my searching on the Internet, I suspect that the clutch cone is getting stuck. Before dismantling the windlass, just want to check if others have had this problem also.
Thanks
Jeremy
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Jeremy Westerman
"Odette", 2005 Catalina 36 Mk II, #2213
Benicia, CA
Jeremy,
I think you are correct with your research. I had the same problem. Taking the windlass apart is relatively easy. I found the grease between the two cones had congealed. A few minutes with a wire brush cleaned them up, and then a light coating of new grease made them work perfectly again. Hope this helps.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
I dismantle and do this annually as regular maintenance - just one time having it stuck in poor weather made me believe it was worth the few minutes each year....
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---
David S. Power
Two If By Sea #1687
Burnt Store Marina
Punta Gorda, FL
I have had the same exact problem with the same windlass. I cleaned it and greased it over and over again only to continue to have the same problem. I now believe it is a design flaw in the chainwheel as the top and bottom separate when you loosen it enough to freefall the anchor. I bought a replacement chainwheel for $238.00 from Defender that has 2 Allen screws that hold the top and bottom together and it completely solved my problem. No more ripping the chain wheel apart and rebuilding it each time you anchor. What a pain!
1999 Catalina 36 MkII
If you are a paid-up Member (capital M) of the C36IA, you have access to our extensive library of technical articles, accessible from the C36IA home page Members dropdown menu. If you check the Maintenance section of this library you'll find an excellent article by Steve Jones that describes the annual maintenance of the windlass, complete with photos. It has an attached PDF that can be printed out.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Torch52,
I'm completely confused. The chainwheel on my Maxwell VW800 windlass is one solid piece of cast, chrome plated, bronze. It is not two pieces joined together. Looking at diagrams in owner's manuals online for the VW500 and VW1000 it appears that their chainwheels are also one piece. The two friction cones surrounding the chainwheel and are a type of "circuit breaker" to avoid over-loading the motor. What am I missing?
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT
Mine is a Maxwell "Freedom 800" with two-piece chain wheel, so perhaps there are differences between models...
---- Howard & Linda Matwick ----
--- S/V "Silhouette" - Nanaimo, BC ----
--- 1999 C36 MkII #1776 M35BC ---