lewmar electric winch clicking under load

[gordhodgson]

Hope someone has had this problem. My lewmar 48 electric winch will not turn under load and makes a clicking noise it started after using it to pull my son up the mast on one my hayards. I suspect the solenoid is the problem but talked to a lewmar marine mechanic and he said more than likely is the batteries, have no problem with the starting batteries but am having a problem tracing the wiring from the winch back to which batteries may be the power source for the winch. I have a generator starting battery and a engine starting battery as well as 4- 8d house batteries. Would anyone have any suggestions or know how these winches are wired or have a suggestion as to what the problem is?
Thanks
Dancer905

 

[larryw]

The wiring could have been MM'ed by the PO, but when you want to run the electric winch, try having the engine running to ensure enough voltage/current

 

[Ross]

I have always thought that the winch battery should be located reasonably close to the winch. That way the charging circuit makes the long run but the load circuit is short and reduces the power losses in the wire.

 

[gordhodgson]

I did try to run the engine but it made no difference, what did you mean by MM'ed by the PO, also I checked all the connections and they seem to be tight with good connection. Also the engine and generator batteriers are within 4 ft of the winch motor.

 

[Bill Roosa]

solenoid contacts fried

locate the solenoid box. It should have 4 large cables and one (duplex) cable going to it. 2 cables run to the batteries and 2 run to the winch. the smaller cable is the control from the winch switch.
Inside the box will be the solenoids that you hear clicking. One of them probably has fused or burnt contacts. Disasemble the unit and file off all the oxide and you should be in good shape. The contacts will be attached to the large cables

 

[woodster]

locate the solenoid box. It should have 4 large cables and one (duplex) cable going to it. 2 cables run to the batteries and 2 run to the winch. the smaller cable is the control from the winch switch.
Inside the box will be the solenoids that you hear clicking. One of them probably has fused or burnt contacts. Disasemble the unit and file off all the oxide and you should be in good shape. The contacts will be attached to the large cables

not to steal your thunder her Bill ....and make sure you disconect the battries befor you do the work that bill described here.....

regards

woody

 

[gordhodgson]

Thanks for the info so far it seems this was the problem, burnt contacts, to test the motor I hooked it up directly and it worked fine, cleaned the contacts on the solenoid and it worked fine hope this solves the problem, still made one click when starting but looks like it work under load.
Thanks for the info
dancer905

 

[Bill Roosa]

Disconnecting the batteries is for sissies

REAL men FOOL around with hot wires all the time and accept the occasional boat fire that ruins every thing in short order. We like to work around CNG and propane systems with lit cigarettes and occasionally drill holes in the boat below the water line while it is still in the water.
Oh yea, checking oil and other fluids, closing thru hulls when away from the boat and my personal pet little girly move working on 120 volt AC with out the circuits being energized are all things that sissy mechanics do.

I NEVER waste my time with any of the above.:Liar: