Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass Intermittent

[BrontideRob]

The Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass on my 2000 Hunter 460 has begun to work intermittently. Sometimes when I press either the up or down button it will work. Recently, if it does work, it only works for one continue push. If I stop, it won't start again for that deployment or retrieval, but it may start again the next day.

When I push either button, I hear a strong click from the solenoid. However, the motor fails to run most of the time. But it does run some times. ?

I'm guessing that brushes on the motor have worn? (I don't know if the motor even has brushes.) So, my questions are:
1) Do you believe that the problem is with the motor?
2) Can the motor be rebuild?
3) Or, does the motor have to be replaced?

Thank you,
Rob

 

[woodster]

Re: Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass Intermitte

check your electrical connections for weak or bad connection

 

[Rich Stidger]

Re: Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass Intermitte

Based upon my experience you have failed brushes in the motor. The original motor is made by Leroy Somer in France and it is a piece of junk. Numerous people have had it fail, including me.

Here is a link I posted that has a supplier in the UK for a quality replacement motor. The cost and time to get replacement brushes is a high percentage of a new motor.

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=785675&highlight=simpson lawrence

 

[Kings Gambit]

The Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass on my 2000 Hunter 460 has begun to work intermittently. Sometimes when I press either the up or down button it will work. Recently, if it does work, it only works for one continue push. If I stop, it won't start again for that deployment or retrieval, but it may start again the next day.

When I push either button, I hear a strong click from the solenoid. However, the motor fails to run most of the time. But it does run some times. ?

I'm guessing that brushes on the motor have worn? (I don't know if the motor even has brushes.) So, my questions are:
1) Do you believe that the problem is with the motor?
2) Can the motor be rebuild?
3) Or, does the motor have to be replaced?

Thank you,
Rob

If the motor sounds and runs normally when it does run, then you likely have a connection issue. Check the connection between the motor wires and power wires or cables coming from the battery. I've had to monkey with this several times on my SL Sprint 1000. The last time, I replaced the power wires running between the battery cables up near the bow and the wires exiting the windlass motor. Also, if you have a 3-prong plug-in Quick "remote" [console] switch, check there as well. If it is the brushes, then I believe you can access the brushes via screw-cap ports at the base of the motor. However, good luck finding brushes. When I did replace brushes the last time I had the motor disassembled I found them in a McMaster-Carr catalog.

 

[gfrazzle]

Re: Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass Intermitte

We dropped anchor in the BVI on a charter last year(reputable charter company). Next morning the windlass wouldn't budge. Called maintenance and they arrived with a hammer! Pounded on the windlass and it worked like a charm. Said it was dirty/ corroded brushes- to just beat it when it quits which we did several times until we got back to base.
Not exactly high tech but it worked in a pinch. Brushes are cheap if you can find them and install, but as Rich says, it may be cheaper and easier in the long run to replace the motor

 

[BrontideRob]

Re: Lewmar Simpson Lawrence Horizon 1500 Windlass Intermitte

Thank you all so much for the good information. I'll post the final resolution, assuming I get to one.