Maintenance Guide
Well maintained and cared for, a correctly specified and installed Hiniu Marine Anchor Winch will provide years of reliable, trouble-free anchoring. Below is a brief summary of recommended procedures to ensure you get the best out of your Hiniu Marine Windlass year in and year out.
Tips and Guidelines:
- Accumulation of dirt and debris is the biggest problem for any equipment. Routinely wash down the above deck portion of the winch and chain with clean salt or fresh water.
- Remove any corrosion build up and coat with a suitable protective product. This applies especially to the gearbox and motor.
- Ensure that the clutches are in good working order by releasing and re-setting them during inspection and wash down. Periodic greasing of the clutch cones with a waterproof marine grease is essential.
Prior to Season:
- Above deck components should be removed and greased following the appropriate maintenance and installation instructions in the owner’s manual. Check the level of oil in the gearbox and top up as per instructions if necessary.
- Underdeck components should be sprayed, preferably with CRC-3097 Long Life or alternatively, CRC 6-66, CRC “Soft Seal” or WD 40
- Particular attention should be paid to the motor terminals, footswitch terminals, terminals on the reversing solenoids, plus the battery and isolator terminals to ensure all are in good working order
End of Season:
Before storage, carry out procedures under PRIOR TO SEASON
ABOVE DECK COMPONENTS: Clean the windlass with a cloth damp with kerosene (paraffin). Spray, preferably with CRC 3097 Long Life or, alternatively, CRC 6-66 or WD 40. Polish off with a clean non-fluffy cloth
GEARBOX: Our gearbox is a totally self-contained sealed unit. Providing the windlass is not abused this unit should give years of trouble free service. Every three years the gearbox should be removed, oil drained, cleaned and replaced with SAE 90
RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS: Gearbox Oil: SAE 90, (e.g. Shell Omala 320, Castrol Alpha SP 320). Mainshaft and bearing: Marine grease, lithium based or lithium complex based, (e.g. Duckhams Keenol, Castrol LMX). Do not use soap-based grease. Above deck components: CRC 3097 spray
Most anchor winches on vessels up to about 18 metres use 12V or 24V DC electric motors. It is important that the motor is kept well protected and serviced. Neglect of the winch’s electric motor is one of the most common causes of windlass failure.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Nothing happens when I use the Up & Down switch. What could be causing this?
A: It could be a shortage of power to the Up & Down switch. Check the connections and clean the terminals. See if the fuse has blown.
Q: The solenoid clicks and the windlass will not go up/down. What is the problem?
A: Check the power supply to the windlass motor and all connections/terminals. Use a volt meter to check for power to and from Solenoid. If there is no power in either direction, the Solenoid needs to be replaced.
Q: The windlass works normally, but doesn’t have enough power to haul the anchor. What could be causing this?
A: The windlass clutch is too loose. Use the windlass handle to tighten the top cap of windlass.
Q: The windlass operates normally, but the rode does not come in or gets jammed in my gypsy. Why is this happening?
A: Check to make sure the rode kit is not getting caught when going through the chain pipe which is the hole in the deck between the windlass and anchor locker. The hole needs to be cut at an angle to prevent the chain/rope from getting hung up. This is also a common problem with new galvanized chain (with a lot of galvanizing on the chain). Bring the chain out and then in again to make sure links are moving freely. Another problem can be the storage room (size of Anchor Locker) for the rode kit. If it is too small, the chain/rope can get jammed. You need to have a sufficient amount of “drop” from the windlass to the bottom of the anchor locker so the rode does not “pile up” and prevent it from falling into the anchor locker properly. If the rode gets stuck without you noticing, the main fuse might blow, so check that also.
Q: My windlass seems weak and powerless, and the up and down speed is slow. What causes this?
A: Your battery is weak, remember we are dealing with a lot of power consumption. Remember to use the correct cable sizes specified for your windlass. The main fuse might blow under these circumstances.
Q: The windlass runs slowly and at times jumps the circuit breaker.
1. Possible causes: Section of cables not suitable.
Solution: Increase the cable cross section according to the table advised in the manual.
2. Possible cause: Poor electrical connections.
Solution: Make sure that the connections are tight and clean.
3. Possible causes: Dirty brushes.
Solutions: Clean or Replace the brushes.
4. Possible cause: Water leaks in the electric motor.
Solutions: Replace the electric motor and reapply marine sealant. The motor must be protected from water contact.
5. Possible causes: There is no parallelism between upper deck and below deck.
Solution: Work sufaces and/or add shims to restore parallelism.
6. Possible causes: The gearbox has lost oil.
Solution: Uninstall the gearbox and check out its condition. Replace damaged parts aftter discoveriing the causes of the leak. Also, replace gaskets and screws. Check out also the engine condition, which may have been damaged during the malfunction.
7. Possible causes: The windlass works only in one direction.
Solution: Check out on the control box that between B2-C AND b3-cc CONTACTS There are 12/24V when the respective buttons are pressed. If this should happen and one of the solenoids does not work, replace the control box.
Problem: Windlass dose not work.
1. Possible causes: Protection switch in OFF position.
Solution: Check the protection switch and set it in the ON position.
2. Possible Causes: Lack of voltage in the system.
Solution: Check the charge status of the battery, check connections.
3. Possible causes: Failure of the control box.
Solution: Check the continuity to the relay by using a multimeter. If relay is burnt, replace it.
4. Possible causes: Failure of the control panel.
Solution: Check and possibly replace the control panel.
5. Possible causes: Failure of the electric motor.
Solution: Measure the electric motor voltage; If it is OK, check the brushes and clean them. If it does not work, replace the electric motor.
Problem: The electric motor runs but the shaft does not rotate either Up or Down.
1. Possible causes: Heavy wear or breakage of teeth of the crown / worm screw.
Solution: A service uninstall the windlass and replace the broken parts. Check out carefully that pieces or splinters of broken parts did not enter into the oil circuit and have ruined other mechanical parts. Take advantage of this opportunity to replace and other worn parts, especially gaskets, screws,tabs, seeger, and oil.
2. Possible causes: Breakage of the cectric motor’s spindle.
Solution: B (service) replacing of the engine. Care must be taken that the broken parts did not remain in the hold of the worm screw. Take advantage of this opportunity to replace any other worn parts,especially gaskets, screws,tabs, seeger, and oil.