373 Anchor Windlass HELP

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Jun 23, 2013
271
Beneteau 373 Newport
Just purchased a 2004 Beneteau 373. Can not get the windlass to operate. Also tried to turn with the winch handle on the winch but seems like the brake is set. Yes I had the engine running. So what am I missing? Where is the relay that requires the engine on located? How big? Does it have a manual mode? Any ideas for troubleshooting much appreciated.

Bob
 
Jun 21, 2004
2,766
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Bob,
Checkout the troubleshooting schematic on your windlass instructions or your can
locate a copy of it on Lewmar's website.

Make sure the windlass breaker is on and functional. (located near start & house
battery switches)

Note that there is also an inline fuse for the handheld remote control. The fuse
should be located inside the windlass motor cabinet, located behind a wood panel in
the forward berth. The prongs on the hand held remote are also notorious for
corroding and failing; check them out also.

My Lewmar V2 windlass has a "stop" lever at the base of the windlass to prevent
inadvertent fall of the anchor from the roller. This lever must be disengaged for
the windlass to work. Not all models have this feature.

The winch handle can not be used to operate the windlass unless it has optional
manual overide component installed. The winch handle that is supplied is
primarily for tightening the tension on the nylon rode that is engaged by the gypsy.
You can also use the handle to disengage the gypsy to use the drum independently
from the gypsy.

Check all wiring connections for corrosion or loose connectors.

If the above does not help, you will need to trace the circuits using a multimeter
to determine if there are faulty connections/wires, contactor/solenoid, windlass
motor, hand held control, or faulty windlas breaker or hand held control inline fuse.

Be careful when troubleshooting & testing the actual windlass circuit becaue it carries
a substantial amount of amperage.

Hope this helps. David
 
Jun 23, 2013
271
Beneteau 373 Newport
David,
thanks for the quick reply.
I'll be on the boat later today - Will ck the remote fuse. Noted that the Beneteau schematic shows a relay in the return that is closed when engine is running - Do you know what this looks like and where it is located? was hoping to eliminate the easy stuff before tracing wiring, connections, etc.
BTW when I tried to use the winch handle in the drum I cannot turn it in either direction.

Bob
 
Jun 21, 2004
2,766
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Bob,

When I installed my windlass, I did not wire it thru the relay so I don't know much about the relay used in the factory installation. It would seem that if there is voltage thru the main windlass breaker, with the start key in the "on" posiition, the relay is not the problem.
You should definitley be able to tighten/loosen the retaining nut on top of the windlass drum. Corrosion may be a problem. Use some penetrating lubricant to free it up while attempting to tighten/loosen.
Also, if all circuitry is functioning properly, the main windlass breaker should "trip" if the windlass is binding and won't turn.
 
Aug 19, 2013
4
Beneteau 44.7 Hobart
If you have a Leroy Sommer winch fitted as original equipment see my earlier post about replacing the solenoid - quite an easy job.

If installed like mine you should have a set of heavy duty cables leading to the front of the boat - on ours it was inside a fwd locker in the heads underneath the anchor well. Check whether you have 12 volts there with a multi-meter - if you do then it almost certainly the solenoid housed inside the winch
 
Jan 22, 2008
169
Beneteau 343 Saint Helens, Oregon OR
My 2006 343 has a small automotive type relay mounted inboard of ground switch towards top of board with batt switches. Relay is about 1" cube. Red black wire from engine/control panel harness powers to close. Ground relay power is switched there. Ground relay next to windlass breaker.
 
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