Windlass Motor Replacement

[JeffM]

Hi Everyone,

One of my windlass motor connection studs has broken off inside the motor. According to Imtra's website, this can't be repaired and I have to replace the motor. I find that a little hard to believe...does anyone have any experience with this? Is this something a local electric motor shop could repair?

I'm not sure of the model Sea Ray used in 2000, but it is a Lofrans windlass. It resembles the Project 500 but I think that may be a newer model?

Also, if I do have to replace the motor, are there any on-line sources?

Thanks in advance!
Jeff

 

[Luckydogs]

I'm don't have any personal knowledge with repairing the broken post but if I remeber correctly,there are some discussions regarding this topic on this board. However, if you have to replace the motor, I have a brand new one that I can sell you; it's a 500 Watt,12 Volt Lofran's motor that I purchase and it turned out to be the updated version of the 400 Watt that my system required and it was not compatible to my wiring schematics.

 

[Nehalennia]

Jeff
Please take pictures of what decide to do. I dont have a windlass, but since we have the same boats, I can maybe consider adding one depending on what you do.

 

[JeffM]

Lucky, Thanks, I did search the archives with little luck. My motor is the 400 W motor, too, and has 4 lugs -- didn't you say your new one has two lugs? I appreciate the offer but I suspect it's not right for me, either.

Todd, will do. As I recall there have been a couple of discussions about adding a windlass. One of the possible hurdles may be running the heavy-duty 12v cables...in past threads, the opinion seemed to be that if the boat didn't have one installed at the factory, that the wiring harness didn't include the cables.

<edit>: Todd, check out this thread:
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=831&highlight=adding+windlass
...and from the owner's and parts manuals it appears the windlass wiring is a separate wiring harness.


Jeff

 

[Nehalennia]

Lucky, Thanks, I did search the archives with little luck. My motor is the 400 W motor, too, and has 4 lugs -- didn't you say your new one has two lugs? I appreciate the offer but I suspect it's not right for me, either.

Todd, will do. As I recall there have been a couple of discussions about adding a windlass. One of the possible hurdles may be running the heavy-duty 12v cables...in past threads, the opinion seemed to be that if the boat didn't have one installed at the factory, that the wiring harness didn't include the cables.

<edit>: Todd, check out this thread:
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=831&highlight=adding+windlass
...and from the owner's and parts manuals it appears the windlass wiring is a separate wiring harness.


Jeff

Thanks Jeff
I believe I recall that thread but at the time we didn't have this boat.
If I do add one it won't be this year. I want to see if it's really necessary. I don't think it will be but will play with the current set-up(I want to find a nice Plow Anhor to replace the Danforth that came with it) over this season.

 

[JeffM]

Lucky, do you still need a new motor? I called IMTRA and was told that the 500 W is a replacement for the 400 W and the new motor will come with instructions to connect to the existing wiring harness.

Jeff

 

[Luckydogs]

I still have the 500W motor but becuase it had more posts and no wiring instructions and the tech guy over the phone wasn't very helpful, it was a wash. Maybe if I had the correct instructions i could replace the motors again. I tinkered with it a little yesterday with no luck. I was able to pull the moro out a little, not enough to remove the whole motor because of the darn cleat bolt blocks it from coming all the way out, anyway, I hit the switch while the motor was free and I do not believe it operated although it still tripped the breaker, argggghhhhh!!!

 

[Bottom Line]

I'm don't have any personal knowledge with repairing the broken post but if I remeber correctly,there are some discussions regarding this topic on this board. However, if you have to replace the motor, I have a brand new one that I can sell you; it's a 500 Watt,12 Volt Lofran's motor that I purchase and it turned out to be the updated version of the 400 Watt that my system required and it was not compatible to my wiring schematics.

Do you know what the model is? Would it be Lofrans 500? Just curious. What model of boat did you buy it for?

 

[Hampton]

Hi Everyone,

One of my windlass motor connection studs has broken off inside the motor. According to Imtra's website, this can't be repaired and I have to replace the motor. I find that a little hard to believe...does anyone have any experience with this? Is this something a local electric motor shop could repair?

I'm not sure of the model Sea Ray used in 2000, but it is a Lofrans windlass. It resembles the Project 500 but I think that may be a newer model?

Also, if I do have to replace the motor, are there any on-line sources?

Thanks in advance!
Jeff

This happened to me. Our local generator shop replaced two posts of the three (they broke one). They cleaned the motor, painted it, and re-assembled it for a total of $75.

 

[Luckydogs]

Do you know what the model is? Would it be Lofrans 500? Just curious. What model of boat did you buy it for?

It's for a 02 280DA and it is a Lofran's 500. if my culprit is the control box, I may call Imtra to see if they will exchange the motor for a new control box.

 

[JeffM]

This happened to me. Our local generator shop replaced two posts of the three (they broke one). They cleaned the motor, painted it, and re-assembled it for a total of $75.

Thanks, John! I dropped the motor off at our local electric motor shop at lunch today and about 3 pm they called and told me pretty much the same...one of the other posts was iffy so they replaced both and it was $74.50.

The marina wouldn't even consider sending it out for repair. They wanted to sell me a new motor...for 15% more than dealer's list, and when I told them I would take it in myself they gave me a hard time.

I'm moving to another marina.
Jeff

 

[First Born]

Glad to hear it worked out Jeff :thumbsup:

 

[Woody]

Thanks, John! I dropped the motor off at our local electric motor shop at lunch today and about 3 pm they called and told me pretty much the same...one of the other posts was iffy so they replaced both and it was $74.50.

The marina wouldn't even consider sending it out for repair. They wanted to sell me a new motor...for 15% more than dealer's list, and when I told them I would take it in myself they gave me a hard time.

I'm moving to another marina.
Jeff

I'm curious, when you say they gave you a hard time, what did they do or say?

 

[gerryb]

I've seen where people have had this problem a few times now. Can anything be done to prevent the posts from breaking in the first place?

 

[JeffM]

I'm curious, when you say they gave you a hard time, what did they do or say?

The marina is under new ownership and I have had several issues with the new owner, who is very inexperianced in the marine repair business. This was the last straw. His main business is a gas station/auto repair shop, and he approaches boat repairs the same way: It's broken, buy a new one.

Jeff

 

[JeffM]

I've seen where people have had this problem a few times now. Can anything be done to prevent the posts from breaking in the first place?

IMTRA's website attributes the break to overtightening of the nuts cracking the lugs, with arcing and vibration causing the final failure.

Jeff