Seawolf 520 Windlass problem

[fsgjdsmith]

I have a Seawolf 520 Windlass on my Carver Santego since i purchased the boat a few years ago. Never had a problem anchoring most every weekend, until this past weekend when I proceeded to drop anchor and the Clutch Nut was very difficult to turn clockwise. In the past just a quarter turn or so and it would drop, and after the anchor bottomed, it had always felt like if i kept turning, with just using two fingers turning clockwise the nut would come right off. But not this time! And when I proceeded to turn the clutch nut counterclock wise to prepare to retrieve the anchor, it was like it was frozen in place??? When i stepped on the footswitch, I had elect to the windlass because the drum and the clutch nut would turn, but gipsy would not try to pull the chain up, like the clutch nut was locked down and wouldn't turn either way??? I don't know why, all of a sudden, I cant turn the Clutch nut at all???

 

[Shrew]

Welcome aboard fsgjdsmith!!!!

Moved from "How To Use The Forum, Site News & Account Concerns" to "Anchors and Anchoring".

Have you disassembled the unit for inspection and servicing? Corrosion and gunk build-up could be coming into play. I'd start by disassembling, cleaning, inspecting and lubricating. If there is a problem, it will become apparent.

There are fewer parts than you think in there.

 

[fsgjdsmith]

Thanks

I found a manual for it today. My boat is at a marina about an hour and a half away. I will do that for the first time this weekend. I've never had an Electric Windlass before, so i was a little intimidated at the thought of taking it all apart, actually the intimidation is trying to put it back together correctly. But I thought maybe there was some quick solution as to the reason why all of a sudden in one day, it went from working flawlessly to NOT WORKING??? So I will get really familiar with it this weekend. Thanks again.