I installed the Lewmar OP2 (larger than the OP1) on my h40.5 at delivery in early 1998. Although it makes horrible noises (always did) it has performed OK for the last 19 years.
A couple days ago I used it to ascend my mast twice. I normally do this twice per year- spring and fall. I did not charge my batteries before this exercise, so the battery voltage was in the 12.4-12.5 range. On the second ascent, the winch stopped and it then was able to restart a minute later. There was a electrical "hot" smell and the winch itself was quite warm as well as the fiberglass area where the winch motor and control box were located. I believe that the motor and/or control box have a thermal protection device that will open and then reset if the equipment gets too hot. I can't find this statement, and this winch was discontinued at least 15 years ago.
So later the next day I used the winch to hoist my mainsail with no problems. Upon lowering the mainsail, the winch did not run at all. I have a furling boom that requires the sail to be winched up with the halyard and winched down with the furling line. So I manually winched the sail down and it was a difficult effort. The only response to operating the control button was clicking from the control box.
So today after the batteries were topped off, I gained access to the control box. My goal was to see if the control box was supplying power to the motor so I could determine the failure- either the control box or the motor. To my surprise the motor ran when I pushed the control button. I did notice that the motor terminals on the control box had gotten hot enough to melt the rubber boot over the wires. So other than having a higher battery voltage (14.0+) and moving the control box, I have done nothing.
QUESTION (yes, I have one): Has anyone had any issues with their OP2 winch of any sort? Please describe problem and your fix.
I plan on tightening the motor connections to the control box and remounting it in place. I can't remove the control box without removing the winch due to a clearance restriction.
I have searched for potential replacement parts and found none. I haven't yet called Lewmar to ask them. My concern is that this winch will fail again and leave me with no good way to raise or lower the mainsail (or reef) thus screwing up the sailing season. Harken has a 2-speed electric that is recommended by my rigger, but the cost is about $4K.
A couple days ago I used it to ascend my mast twice. I normally do this twice per year- spring and fall. I did not charge my batteries before this exercise, so the battery voltage was in the 12.4-12.5 range. On the second ascent, the winch stopped and it then was able to restart a minute later. There was a electrical "hot" smell and the winch itself was quite warm as well as the fiberglass area where the winch motor and control box were located. I believe that the motor and/or control box have a thermal protection device that will open and then reset if the equipment gets too hot. I can't find this statement, and this winch was discontinued at least 15 years ago.
So later the next day I used the winch to hoist my mainsail with no problems. Upon lowering the mainsail, the winch did not run at all. I have a furling boom that requires the sail to be winched up with the halyard and winched down with the furling line. So I manually winched the sail down and it was a difficult effort. The only response to operating the control button was clicking from the control box.
So today after the batteries were topped off, I gained access to the control box. My goal was to see if the control box was supplying power to the motor so I could determine the failure- either the control box or the motor. To my surprise the motor ran when I pushed the control button. I did notice that the motor terminals on the control box had gotten hot enough to melt the rubber boot over the wires. So other than having a higher battery voltage (14.0+) and moving the control box, I have done nothing.
QUESTION (yes, I have one): Has anyone had any issues with their OP2 winch of any sort? Please describe problem and your fix.
I plan on tightening the motor connections to the control box and remounting it in place. I can't remove the control box without removing the winch due to a clearance restriction.
I have searched for potential replacement parts and found none. I haven't yet called Lewmar to ask them. My concern is that this winch will fail again and leave me with no good way to raise or lower the mainsail (or reef) thus screwing up the sailing season. Harken has a 2-speed electric that is recommended by my rigger, but the cost is about $4K.
