ThirdHatt
Legendary Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2005
- Messages
- 2,324
- Status
- OWNER - I own a Hatteras Yacht
- Hatteras Model
- Not Currently A Hatteras Owner
After reading most if not all windlass-related posts on this board, I believe that I may have a new problem. When I reeled in the anchor last Sunday it slipped even after I tightened the top bolt. It happened several times and I had to pull the all chain rode and anchor in by hand. I figured the clutch plates were worn so I called Galley Maid on Monday to order parts. They insisted I let them fax me a diagram and I break the windlass down to the deck to determine the problem before selling me parts needlessly. Good advice.
After removing everything on the shaft above deck, I noticed that the c-clip in the groove on the shaft was about an inch above the deck. Galley Maid said that the groove where the clip goes is a reference point for them to set the shaft properly with the groove/clip at deck level. They said that because my clip was an inch higher than the deck that my shaft was actually being pulled up out of the gear each time I tightened down on the top bolt instead of forcing the clutch plates together. Apparently, there are two set-screws that hold the gear on the shaft and they often work their way loose and allow the gear to slide down the shaft as a result of the torque being applied above deck, which allows the shaft to lift out of the gear to the point where the threads bottom out on the shaft and the windlass will not lock. When I asked about stopping this from happening again, they suggested putting two bolts in the threads behind the set screws to lock the set screws in. Sounds good.
Now its time to go below deck, into the anchor locker and drop the motor and gear housing. Once I got the motor and gear housing dropped, I saw the problem. Just as GM said, the gear had slid down as the shaft was pulled up through the deck. Problem is, there are very deep grooves worn where both set screws have gouged the shaft in the same two areas over the years. I guess the previous owner anchored alot and has run into this problem before.
What can I do to ensure the best chances of this not happening again? It is not a fun project, and I can't wait to see how tough it will be to re-align the 8 bolts to re-install the gear to the deck plate. I thought about rotating the gear on the shaft so the set screws would not go back into those grooves, but the shaft has a key and the gear only goes on one way. I can tighten the heck out of the set screws and run bolts in there to hold them, but I feel that the grooves will allow the shaft to work its way up again. Loctite comes to mind as well, but again I believe the grooves will allow the shaft to move. I will call GM again tomorrow with this, but I thought I would post it here to see if the wealth of knowledge here could help figure out a decent solution that might last a while.
After removing everything on the shaft above deck, I noticed that the c-clip in the groove on the shaft was about an inch above the deck. Galley Maid said that the groove where the clip goes is a reference point for them to set the shaft properly with the groove/clip at deck level. They said that because my clip was an inch higher than the deck that my shaft was actually being pulled up out of the gear each time I tightened down on the top bolt instead of forcing the clutch plates together. Apparently, there are two set-screws that hold the gear on the shaft and they often work their way loose and allow the gear to slide down the shaft as a result of the torque being applied above deck, which allows the shaft to lift out of the gear to the point where the threads bottom out on the shaft and the windlass will not lock. When I asked about stopping this from happening again, they suggested putting two bolts in the threads behind the set screws to lock the set screws in. Sounds good.
Now its time to go below deck, into the anchor locker and drop the motor and gear housing. Once I got the motor and gear housing dropped, I saw the problem. Just as GM said, the gear had slid down as the shaft was pulled up through the deck. Problem is, there are very deep grooves worn where both set screws have gouged the shaft in the same two areas over the years. I guess the previous owner anchored alot and has run into this problem before.
What can I do to ensure the best chances of this not happening again? It is not a fun project, and I can't wait to see how tough it will be to re-align the 8 bolts to re-install the gear to the deck plate. I thought about rotating the gear on the shaft so the set screws would not go back into those grooves, but the shaft has a key and the gear only goes on one way. I can tighten the heck out of the set screws and run bolts in there to hold them, but I feel that the grooves will allow the shaft to work its way up again. Loctite comes to mind as well, but again I believe the grooves will allow the shaft to move. I will call GM again tomorrow with this, but I thought I would post it here to see if the wealth of knowledge here could help figure out a decent solution that might last a while.
