Carver Owners Forum

I recently serviced my Maxwell 1200 windlas. I think I over greased the brass clutch plates as it is not wanting to pull up chain. Does anyone know how much grease should be applied?

Do you have tension on the chain? When I was re-winding ours after we pulled up a tree from the bottom, I know that it just spins around without tension. Once I pulled against it it grabbed and started to wind again

Not much tension even with the tension plate tightened as much as I can get it. Going to put back together with just a smear of grease on clutch cones and hope it works better. I think I had so much grease on cones it would never cinch down tight. When I took it apart it only had a small amount of dried up grease on cones.

May I suggest going to the Maxwell site, I believe your model is in the obsolete section. I quick over view of the manual in the maintenance section may answer your questions. I did not see anything about greasing clutch plates?

Why is it the stuff that I need help with is in the obsolete section too!! Lol

Unfortunately they dont specify how much grease to apply. I read on another websire to use a very thin grease layer, so I will give that a shot.

I question weather u should grease clutch plates in the first place. I didn't read about applying grease in this area.

This is what maint manual says.

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.

After greasing clutch cones hand tighting the windlass was not enough to pull anchor chain up. I removed most of grease leaving behind a very thin coating. The windlass works well now but concerned about the clutch cones with minimal grease on them. I did discover there is a slot to use emergency crank handle to crank down harder on the clutch plates than you can do by hand. I am wondering if I should regrease the cones and then use crank handle to tighten them down?

Yes the handle is for both purposes. I do not think you can get them tight enough without the wrench. A light coat of good grease should be sufficient.