Windlass runs slow then stops

[KenO250explorer]

Team,  on my 2004 250 Exp,  the windlass runs normal paying out line,  when retrieving will run full bore for a few seconds,  then slow / stop -  need to feed in by hand and continually flip the switch up and down until it is in.   I have checked and cleaned the connections at the switch,  the dashboard mounted breaker / fuse,   but cannot figure out how to check the connections at the windlass itself -  or any other area I should be checking -   thoughts?    Thanks in advance

[RickK]

There should be a box with some heavy relays in it somewhere - called a "Contactor".  The Contactors might be out in the open in the rear of the boat, in cabinet. They probably ran 4ag or 2 ga up to the front from the back. I stuffed my Contactor box up in the cabin, ran heavy wire to it from the rear batts and ran short heavy wire to the windlass. The switch triggers the Contactors via light wire and the Contactors do the heavy lifting via heavy wire.
I think you might have some corrosion on the Contactor.
I have a topic on how I installed mine but Photobucket trashed the pics.  I'll have to upload them to fix the thread.

[RickK]

Ok, all repaired - my picture repair starts on page 3 but there is some good data from the start.
https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=8021.0

[KenO250explorer]

Thanks Rick!!!  Great Pic's,   when I pull the boat out of winter storage (yes, a northeasterner for now), in a week or so, I'll go on a treasure hunt for the contactor and LUK what I find.   I'm pretty sure it's a factory install, so I would hope it's in an obvious place.   

B/R

Ken O   

[wingtime]

I agree.  I'd get a look at the contactor.  Once you find it an easy test would be to simply reverse the positive leads going to the windlass at the contactor.  Basically this will make up down and down up.  If the problem switches over to down then you know it's the contactor... if it stays the same then it's the windlass or the wires feeding it.

[KenO250explorer]

Folks -  still on the treasure hunt -  haven't found the contactor yet -   as it was a factory install,  does anyone have breadcrumbs as to where it might be located? 

[wingtime]

Follow the big cables.  Ideally they are as close as possible to the windlass.  Either in the rope locker area or somewhere along the starboard side..  I'd bet it's somewhere behind the starboard aft cabin wall.  Remove the cover that is behind the helm and then remove the bulkhead panel to the left of the sink. (looking at the aft wall in the cabin)

[KenO250explorer]

thanks