Windlas grease

[Tomion]

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?

[Roxanne]

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

[Tomion]

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.

[mjk1040]

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?

[Roxanne]

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

[Tomion]

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.

[mjk1040]

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

[Tomion]

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.

[Tomion]

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?

[mjk1040]

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.