Opinion on Simpson/Lawence Sprint 600

OK, today was my day to fool with the windlass. There is full power to the up/down control switch. But windlass just doesn't work when we flip the switch - or it works intermittently and then stops.

So I pulled the switch out and wired the power directly to the windlass (connected the power wires that used to go to the switch directly to the windlass wires that used to come out of the switch). So now, there is no way to reverse polarity so it only runs in one direction but the breaker turns it on and off.

The result of this test is that the motor turned - very slowly - but when we put any resistance on the rode at all, the motor just stopped.

So my conclusion is that it is the windlass (motor or gears or whatever) not the switch. So how to get this sucker out wo we can look at it / tale it to The Offshore Store / throw it in the garbage? I cut the big wires just at the butt connectors and removed the three nuts on the studs. The windlass does not budge. What is holding it in place? How do I remove the windlass? It sure seems like more than just sealant is holding it in place...any ideas?
 
OK, didn't need an Alaskan woman - Patty was up to the task. She was convinced it was just the sealant, and attacked it with a box knife first then a screwdriver then a crow bar and FINALLY pried that sucker loose. Making the case for sealing with 4200 not 5200 when you think you might want to remove the thing later. the unit is in the car, going to try to get it to The Offshore Store this week, which I understand is the Simpson - Lawrence repair center in Seattle (right?). Not much hope but got to try...
 
Yes, this sounds so familiar. Same symptom, same windlass. Apparently moisture gets past the upper gearbox seal, rust and corrosion happen and the sucker locks up. It's a known problem.

I talked to several friends with vertical windlasses and they too have had this problem. Mine was under the 3 year warranty so I asked to be bumped up to the horizontal Pro-Fish 700. It took 2 months but I got it 1 day before we left for the Broughtons. I was to pay $150 for the upgrade but haven't seen a bill yet!

Installation required a piece of Star Board to cover old holes. I love the new windlass.
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We are past three years...I just called the Offshore Store, and they will be happy to look at it but he warned me that it sounds like a motor problem, and motors for the Sprint 600 are no longer available... :( I will take it in anyway, just maybe it has a simpler solution, but I am not hopeful.
 
Pat:

If it turns out to be a motor problem you are welcome to the motor from my old windlass. My problem was in the gearbox, and the motor seemed to be working fine. Anyway, it is yours if you want it.

Jan
 
Thanks, Jan - if a motor will do it, I will definitely take you up on that! Will be back in touch after The Offshore Store guys diagnose it for sure, will let them know I have a line on a replacement motor!


C-Change":dqaxcme5 said:
Pat:

If it turns out to be a motor problem you are welcome to the motor from my old windlass. My problem was in the gearbox, and the motor seemed to be working fine. Anyway, it is yours if you want it.

Jan
Click to expand...
 
Well, the windlass has been delivered to Kyle at The Offshore Store, he has it on his schedule for Monday, when we will find out if a used motor will bring this sucker back to life or not! But I am now a little bit hopeful, since our gears turn, and the main problem is lack of power in the motor. Kyle emphasized again that most of the time this is due to not tying off to a cleat while anchored and leaving the strain on the windlass, causing the seal to fail and water to get into the motor. So we shall soon see!
 
Well, here is a data point for Sprint 600 owners, some good news actually. I took the our Sprint 600 (gears OK, motor dead) in to The Offshore Store in Seattle last week, and was preparing to see if installing the motor from Jan's dead Sprint 600 (gears all corroded, motor probably good). Talked to Kyle, the service tech, yesterday - he just found out Friday that the motor for the V700 fits the Sprint 600. One is on order, it just made sense to me to stick a new motor in rather than a used motor. And a heck of a lot less than a whole new V700...
 
I finally gave up and got a new V700 from West Marine. It took about an hour to take the Sprint 600 out and I had to drill one new hole (the single forward one) to mount the new V700. I was surprised to find out that they sealed the core where it went through the foredeck. I think this was installed by the factory so I was ready for a wet core.

The biggest job was pulling the old one out once I had the nuts off the underside of it. I just looped a line around the gypsy, tied it to the overhead of the boat house roof and gently lowered the lift :thup

Came out cleanly and easily.

The new one hooked up to all the old connections, had to do no wiring except hook up the new red/black to the old ones. I was even able to leave the metal plate under the deck in place, just drilled the new hole through it.

This new V700 works great.

Have not had time to take the old one apart but I would expect the gears are full of water/corrosion as others have found. I'll probably send it back to the factory to be rebuilt and sell the whole contraption to someone that needs a Sprint 600 replacement (after the factory tells me it's fine again).

The new V700 has a 5 year warranty, the old Sprint was 3 years.

Charlie
 
Well, I finally opened the bottom of the old windlass. No water, no damage or corrosion, just nice looking gears and good grease!

I guess this narrows it down to the motor since I used the old wiring/switches/breaker and all with the new V700. It works fine.

Not sure how much a motor costs, I know someone on this thread has one he wanted to get rid of, I'll PM him/her and ask about it.

Charlie
 
Jan on C-Change has a used Sprint 600 motor. PM him, Iam sure it will be a "deal"! But see my prior post, according to The Offshore Store, the V700 motor fits the Sprint 600 - it just might be better to stick a new motor on the good Sprint 600 than a used motor, no?
Captains Cat":omhate4m said:
Well, I finally opened the bottom of the old windlass. No water, no damage or corrosion, just nice looking gears and good grease!

I guess this narrows it down to the motor since I used the old wiring/switches/breaker and all with the new V700. It works fine.

Not sure how much a motor costs, I know someone on this thread has one he wanted to get rid of, I'll PM him/her and ask about it.

Charlie
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Pat. I found the post and have talked with Jan. He was on travel last week but is going to send me the motor this week. I have already installed a new V700 on the CAT but going to send the windlass and both motors to Starcraft Tom when I get the other motor. Since the new V700 worked fine with the old wiring and switches, I've just about concluded it must be the motor. If Tom can make it work for him, Jan and I will give him a good deal on it.

Chalrie
 
Thanks Pat. I found the post and have talked with Jan. He was on travel last week but is going to send me the motor this week. I have already installed a new V700 on the CAT but going to send the windlass and both motors to Starcraft Tom when I get the other motor. Since the new V700 worked fine with the old wiring and switches, I've just about concluded it must be the motor. If Tom can make it work for him, Jan and I will give him a good deal on it.

Chalrie
 
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