Windless replacement from Lofrans

[nealtrombley]

I have the original Lofrans progress 1 in my 410..it has 20ft of 5/16 BBB chain and my guess 150ft of very old and tired 3 strand rope...

the windless works mechanically great, but it is starting to slip, even the chain,
Ok
with some input and horrible grammar from me, i was able to located the handle and tighten the drum... it seems much better
again my apologies

I don't want to rebuild a 20 year old windless, am I stuck with the lofrans upgrade project 1000 or can I switch to maxwell RC10/8 with 200ft of chain.
has anyone switched out to another brand other than Lofrans..

Thanks

 

[Lazy Daze]

I have the original Lofrans progress 1 in my 410..it has 20ft of 5/16 BBB chain and my guess 150ft of very old and tired 3 strand rope...

the windless works mechanically great, but it is starting to slip, even the chain, I noticed this morning after using it yesterday with difficulties it was not tight in roller, off course its fastened off with anchor safety snap.. but when I hit up the anchor with chain dropped where the safety chain saved it... I hit back up again and it grabbed and when I went to tight it fell again, it seem to have a sweet spot for tight... I know this is not normal...

I dont want to rebuild a 20 year old windless, am I stuck with the lofrans upgrade project 1000 or can I switch to maxwell RC10/8 with 200ft of chain.
has anyone switched out to another brand other than Lofrans..

Thanks

Neal, it's a little hard trying to follow what you're saying - especially in the middle paragraph. Can you re-read it and fix it - maybe add some punctuation or change the words that were typed wrong?

BUT, I think I got the jist of it. Have you tried tightening the clutch?

 

[bobeast]

Is the rode slipping on the gypsy, or is the gypsy turning when it shouldn't. I've never heard of the former happening with chain. If it only happens with rope, it would likely be a worn pressure finger or spring. If the later, it probably just needs the clutch adjusted.

 

[nealtrombley]

Neal, it's a little hard trying to follow what you're saying - especially in the middle paragraph. Can you re-read it and fix it - maybe add some punctuation or change the words that were typed wrong?

BUT, I think I got the jist of it. Have you tried tightening the clutch?

Yea I butchered that
I’ll rewrite in the morning

 

[nealtrombley]

Is the rode slipping on the gypsy, or is the gypsy turning when it shouldn't. I've never heard of the former happening with chain. If it only happens with rope, it would likely be a worn pressure finger or spring. If the later, it probably just needs the clutch adjusted.

It’s the later
How does one adjust the clutch ?

 

[Loveit]

I just snapped the clutch lock nut trying to adjust it on mine same project 1000 unit. You will need to grab a manual handle from one of your chain compartment doors and tighten the lock nut. It's reverse tread and nut will say lock or unlock.Note that this handle is also used to manually wind your anchor back when electrical fails. To tighten it you want to make it hand tight (center nut) counterclockwise. New nut was $120 and mine had some stress cracks on it so it was time. in emergency you can loosen that net and let the chain out to set up your anchor.

 

[dtfeld]

The Progress 1 will work quite well with all chain, if everything else is in good shape, even if your missing the pressure finger/post(very common).

I’d start with new all chain rode, see if that fixes things. If not, a new windlass could be installed. The footprint and bolt pattern would be the issue, but it can be done.

 

[brewster16]

clutch adjustment

 

[stephens013]

I have the original Lofrans progress 1 in my 410..it has 20ft of 5/16 BBB chain and my guess 150ft of very old and tired 3 strand rope...

the windless works mechanically great, but it is starting to slip, even the chain, I noticed this morning after using it yesterday with difficulties it was not tight in roller, off course its fastened off with anchor safety snap.. but when I hit up the anchor with chain dropped where the safety chain saved it... I hit back up again and it grabbed and when I went to tight it fell again, it seem to have a sweet spot for tight... I know this is not normal...

I dont want to rebuild a 20 year old windless, am I stuck with the lofrans upgrade project 1000 or can I switch to maxwell RC10/8 with 200ft of chain.
has anyone switched out to another brand other than Lofrans..

Thanks

Well what ever you do I know it will be a challenge rebuilding the windless. Had mine go out last season, just couldn't find the parts. Even the sailing community was nil on Spain and second hand items. Cost effective for me to go with a new windless, AnchorLift.

 

[nealtrombley]

Well what ever you do I know it will be a challenge rebuilding the windless. Had mine go out last season, just couldn't find the parts. Even the sailing community was nil on Spain and second hand items. Cost effective for me to go with a new windless, AnchorLift.

How has that worked out
They are in my back yard here in Cape Coral
Heard pros n cons on their stuff

 

[nealtrombley]

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ54Mpw6IMhdaevr4xhSAkw

some good info..

I was able to tighten the gypsy and all seems good. Still looking to go to all chain or at least 100ft with 150ft 5/8 rode

 

[stephens013]

How has that worked out
They are in my back yard here in Cape Coral
Heard pros n cons on their stuff

I did the install. Interesting project. I have no complaints about the windless unit itself. Anchor goes up and down so I'm thinking it's working out pretty good.

 

[stephens013]

I have the original Lofrans progress 1 in my 410..it has 20ft of 5/16 BBB chain and my guess 150ft of very old and tired 3 strand rope...

the windless works mechanically great, but it is starting to slip, even the chain,
Ok
with some input and horrible grammar from me, i was able to located the handle and tighten the drum... it seems much better
again my apologies

I don't want to rebuild a 20 year old windless, am I stuck with the lofrans upgrade project 1000 or can I switch to maxwell RC10/8 with 200ft of chain.
has anyone switched out to another brand other than Lofrans..

Thanks

On my 400DA I used to soak the rope part of the rod in fabric softener. Just put a bucket of the fabric softener mess on the bow and put the rope in said bucket. Kept the rod soft and supple just longing to be grabbed by a ravious old gypsy. But I digress; made the rope easier to grab on to the machinery.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I was able to tighten the gypsy and all seems good. Still looking to go to all chain or at least 100ft with 150ft 5/8 rode

Good deal - sometimes we get lucky with "freebie fixes"

If you go with all - or at least a lot of - chain, just keep in mind that if you're anchoring often in shallow water you'll want to use a snubber to avoid the noise that the chain makes in the chute every time the boat straightens out the chain. In other words, depending on how/where you anchor, it might be simpler to keep what you've got.

 

[HawkX66]

Good deal - sometimes we get lucky with "freebie fixes"

If you go with all - or at least a lot of - chain, just keep in mind that if you're anchoring often in shallow water you'll want to use a snubber to avoid the noise that the chain makes in the chute every time the boat straightens out the chain. In other words, depending on how/where you anchor, it might be simpler to keep what you've got.

This is the route I'm going with my Progress 1. I put a new finger and spring on, but it's still not grabbing the rope anymore. What do you consider shallow water? I'm thinking the norm is 20-40 feet mostly. I'm going with 200' 5/8" ht chain.

 

[techmitch]

This is the route I'm going with my Progress 1. I put a new finger and spring on, but it's still not grabbing the rope anymore. What do you consider shallow water? I'm thinking the norm is 20-40 feet mostly. I'm going with 200' 5/8" ht chain.

Is your pressure and finger holding the rode tight against the gypsy?

 

[techmitch]

This is the route I'm going with my Progress 1. I put a new finger and spring on, but it's still not grabbing the rope anymore. What do you consider shallow water? I'm thinking the norm is 20-40 feet mostly. I'm going with 200' 5/8" ht chain.

Just saw this part. "I'm going with 200' 5/8" ht chain." Doesn't sound right at 5/8" and 200' of that seems like a lot for a 290 anchor locker?

 

[bobeast]

Just saw this part. "I'm going with 200' 5/8" ht chain." Doesn't sound right at 5/8" and 200' of that seems like a lot for a 290 anchor locker?

Agreed. I can barely fit 150 in my 310, without hand-flaking it.

 

[HawkX66]

Is your pressure and finger holding the rode tight against the gypsy?

Edit: I've been writing 5/8", but I meant to write 5/16". Way off... So half the size. Are you guys thinking 5/8" and would my 200' estimate of 5/16" be ok?
I'm only continuing to hijack because the OP fixed his issue....
Not tight enough. Even with the new spring. I actually felt like it was worse with the new spring. At the price of new springs, I didn't want to keep throwing new ones at it.
Good to know about the length being an issue. I didn't realize that. So 150' would be ok? I thought I got 200' from somewhere on this site, but I must have been mistaken.

 

[bobeast]

Edit: I've been writing 5/8", but I meant to write 5/16". Way off... So half the size. Are you guys thinking 5/8" and would my 200' estimate of 5/16" be ok?
I'm only continuing to hijack because the OP fixed his issue....
Not tight enough. Even with the new spring. I actually felt like it was worse with the new spring. At the price of new springs, I didn't want to keep throwing new ones at it.
Good to know about the length being an issue. I didn't realize that. So 150' would be ok? I thought I got 200' from somewhere on this site, but I must have been mistaken.

I have 150' of 5/16" chain on my 310. It piles up pretty close to the top in the locker. I fear that 200' might be cutting it close. It may depend on the lay inside the locker. It is as much about shape as it is capacity. If the chain tends to flake well, you may be able to fit more.

I would start with 150' and see how it flakes. Then if it looks like there is more room, you can splice in another 50'.