Lofrans SX3 Vertical Windlass — Installation & User's Manual
INSTALLATION MANUAL
Specifications, gipsy and chain match, cable sizing, installation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting and the parts list for the Lofrans SX3 vertical windlass, with its drilling and chain-pipe templates.
DocumentLofrans SX3 Vertical Windlass Installation & User's Manual
FormatPDF · 22 pages · 2.7 MB
LanguageEnglish
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Technical Data
| 1500 W 12 V | 1700 W 12 V | 1700 W 24 V | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel length, heavy duty | 40–50 ft | 50–60 ft | 50–60 ft |
| Vessel length, light duty | 50–55 ft | 60–65 ft | 60–65 ft |
| Maximum linear pull | 1200 kg 2645 lb |
1600 kg 3527 lb |
1695 kg 3737 lb |
| Max lift working load | 165 kg 364 lb |
200 kg 441 lb |
215 kg 474 lb |
| Current at working load | 150 A | 180 A | 90 A |
| Max line speed | 40 m/min 131 ft/min |
35 m/min 115 ft/min |
35 m/min 115 ft/min |
| Line speed at working load | 17 m/min 56 ft/min |
14 m/min 46 ft/min |
15 m/min 50 ft/min |
| Net weight with drum | 35 kg 77 lb |
38 kg 84 lb |
38 kg 84 lb |
| Net weight, low profile | 32 kg 71 lb |
35 kg 77 lb |
35 kg 77 lb |
The SX3 parts list shows 1200 W and 1500 W motors (12 V and 24 V), not the 1500 W and 1700 W of the technical data (as printed).
| Gipsy | Chain supported |
|---|---|
| 8 mm | 8 mm ISO, 8 mm DIN 766, 5/16" G4, 5/16" BBB |
| 10 mm | 10 mm ISO, 3/8" G4 |
| 10 DIN 766 | 10 mm DIN 766, 3/8" BBB |
| 12 mm | 12 mm ISO; 13 DIN 766; 7/16" G4 |
Electrical System
| Model | Motor (W) | Voltage (V) | Contactor (A) | Cable 0–15 m | Cable 0–50 ft | Cable 15–25 m | Cable 50–75 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SX3 | 1500 | 12 | 100 | 25 mm² | 3 AWG | 35 mm² | 2 AWG |
| 1700 | 12 | 125 | 35 mm² | 2 AWG | 50 mm² | 1 AWG | |
| 1700 | 12 (as printed) | 70 | 25 mm² | 3 AWG | 35 mm² | 3 AWG |
Cable lengths are the total run, positive plus negative. The third row repeats 1700 W 12 V with a 70 A contactor (as printed); the technical data list the 1700 W at 12 V and 24 V.
- Wiring diagrams in the PDF (codes E0015-A, E0016-A, E0017-A) cover 2-, 3- and 4-terminal motors with control box, circuit breaker, 5 A fuse, footswitches, Type C rocker switch and the Thetis 1002 hand-held remote.
- Control box (solenoids): in a dry place near the windlass.
- Circuit breakers: use the Lofrans breakers, chosen for their trip curve rather than a plain rating.
- Remote control panel: where the operator can see the windlass during the manoeuvre, sealed so the terminals stay dry.
Requirements
- In the box: windlass with motor/gearbox, control box (DC versions), handle, screws.
- Tools: drill, 9 mm and 15 mm bits for wood and steel, 70 mm hole saw, 10 mm, 13 mm and 17 mm hex keys.
- Align the windlass precisely with the bow roller; bow roller height must keep the chain inclination below 5 degrees.
- The deck faces must be parallel; shim the difference if they are not.
- With all the chain stowed, leave at least 300 mm between the underside of the deck and the top of the heaped chain.
- Deck thickness: the studs suit 50 to 70 mm (1.96–2.76"); other thicknesses on request.
- Aluminium boats: insulate the windlass from the deck with a non-conductive gasket (not supplied), and insulate anchor and chain from the hull, including locker and fixings.
- Lofrans recommends a chain pipe to lead the chain straight into the locker: code 636311 for SX2 & SX3, 636312 for SX3.5, 636313 for SX4, 636314 for SX5.
Fitting
- Lay the drilling template on deck aligned with the bow; mark and drill. Leave the hole edges sharp but radius the forward edge of the chain hole at 45°.
- Clean the deck and fit the gasket supplied; set the upper part on deck. Silicone the base if you wish, but never a permanent adhesive.
- Below deck: grease the main shaft, offer up the gearbox with the motor away from the chain hole, fit washers and nuts to the studs and tighten; wire the motor per the diagram.
- Models up to 1500 W come with an IP cover that protects the motor from direct water and gives the IP67 rating. It must be fitted for the warranty to be valid.
- Chain: use calibrated chain matching the gipsy; feed it through the hole and make it fast, wrap it on the gipsy and motor it in, keeping it aligned. Always fit a swivel between chain and anchor.
- Templates: the SX3 drilling template is an A2 sheet and the chain pipe 636311 template an A3 sheet, both drawn at 1:1. Print at 100% and check the dimensions before you drill.
Operation
Lowering
- Electrically: clutch tight, chain stoppers off; switch on the safety switch and press DOWN; then switch off and re-engage the stoppers.
- By gravity: clutch tight, stoppers off, then ease the clutch with the handle. Clockwise brakes the chain (to a full stop), anticlockwise lets it run. Make the chain fast to a strong point.
- A fully released clutch drops the anchor at high speed and can damage the hood and bow roller: control the speed.
- Wait for the windlass to stop before reversing direction.
Recovery and Drum
- Breaker on, clutch tight, handle removed, stoppers off; press UP until the anchor seats in the bow roller; breaker off and chain on the stopper.
- Do not recover on the batteries alone: run the engine or generator.
- If the hydraulic-magnetic breaker trips on overload, reset it and wait some minutes before running again. It does not protect the motor from overheating on long runs.
- Warping drum: anchor secured; put the handle in the drum and turn clockwise to release the clutch (drum now independent of the gipsy); three turns clockwise, tail the rope and press UP; make the line fast on a bollard afterwards.
- Never use the windlass as a mooring point; hold the load on a chain stopper.
Maintenance Programme
| Use of the yacht | Less than 2 months | From 2 up to 6 | More than 6 | Charter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Every 3 months | A – A (as printed) | A – B | A – B | |
| Every 6 months | A – B | |||
| Every 12 months | A – B – C | C | C | C – D |
| Every 24 months | D | D | E | |
| Every 36 months | D – E | E | E |
- A – Rinse all surfaces and hidden points with fresh water and a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge. No chlorine, bleach or acid: they damage the stainless parts and seals. Polish the stainless parts with metal polish.
- B – Grease the rotating parts with non-conductive yellow marine grease, especially main shaft threads and clutch cones; check for corrosion and stress. Anti-seize on the clutch nut and main shaft thread (635490+630676).
- C – Check the motor terminals and test the voltage drop.
- D – Replace all gaskets.
- E – Remove the windlass from the deck, clean the salt from under the base and re-seal.
Gipsy Service
- Turn the hand-wheel anticlockwise with the handle and remove it.
- Remove the 2 M18 screws (as printed) at the side of the base that hold the stripper, and take it off.
- Slide off the upper clutch cone, gipsy and lower clutch cone.
- Wash with running water, never a pressure washer, and check for corrosion or stress; reassemble in reverse order, greasing threads and moving parts.
Disconnect power before any maintenance. Skipping the programme voids the warranty.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Possible causes | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Windlass does not run when a control is operated | Protection switch OFF; no voltage; control box, control or motor failure | Switch ON; check battery charge and connections; check/replace control box or control; measure motor voltage, if OK clean the brushes, otherwise replace the motor |
| Chain jams frequently | Locker not deep enough for the chain carried; chain does not suit the gipsy; chain not calibrated | Fit the windlass over the deepest point of the locker or carry less chain; change the gipsy; replace chain that is out of tolerance |
| Windlass turns slowly | Cable section too small; deck faces not parallel; bad connections; dirty brushes; water in the motor | Increase cable section; shim the faces parallel; check connections; clean brushes; replace the motor |
| Motor runs, shaft does not turn UP or DOWN | Worn or broken wormwheel/worm teeth; broken motor spindle | (Service) remove the windlass, replace the broken parts and check no fragments got into the oil circuit; replace the motor and check no broken piece is left in the worm bore. Replace gaskets, screws, keys, circlips and oil at the same time |
| Motor runs, shaft turns UP but not DOWN | The emergency mechanism engages: tangled chain in the locker, poor chain (burrs, zinc), chain stowed in a block, worn emergency spring, or stripper fouling the gipsy | Fit a swivel joint after the anchor; inspect and free the chain link by link; lower all the chain in deep water and recover it with the windlass; (service) replace the spring; reposition or replace the stripper. The emergency mechanism can be locked only with the owner's authorisation: this removes the emergency function |
| Motor runs but the drum will not warp | Drum used the wrong way, so the emergency mechanism engages | Warp with the main shaft turning in the same direction as the gipsy when it recovers chain |
| Motor and shaft run, gipsy stays still | Gipsy not closed on the clutch cones; clutch or gipsy cones deformed | Check clutch tightening, measure for deformation, shim if needed and replace damaged parts; replace the clutch and/or gipsy |
| Shaft runs out of line with the gipsy and/or drum | Shaft bent by excessive load | Check the windlass is used within its specification; (service) replace the shaft plus worn parts, gaskets, circlips, keys and oil |
| Oil leak between motor and gearbox | Loose motor coupling makes the worm run irregularly and the seal leaks | (Service) find why the fixings loosened, check the spindle and worm bore for ovality and repair on the bench; check for oil in the motor; replace gaskets, keys, circlips, screws, oil and worn parts |
| Shaft and studs too short for the gearbox at installation | Wrong deck thickness given when ordering | If the keyed shaft engages the gearbox along its full length, adapt the studs; otherwise order a longer shaft |
| Runs slowly and sometimes trips the breaker | Cable section, connections, brushes, water in the motor, faces not parallel, oil loss, motor labouring, or works in one direction only | Increase cable section; check connections; clean brushes; replace the motor; restore parallel faces; (service) inspect gearbox and motor; check 12/24 V across B2–C and B3–C on the control box with each button pressed, and replace the control box if a relay does not work |
| Finger broken | Poor lay of the rope or rolling of the chain broke the finger | Replace the finger; if the gipsy cannot work properly with the finger, fit the replacement kit (cap) |
Spare Parts
Item numbers are drawing references. The list gives no kit letters.
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| 226 | Washer for screw M8 |
| 227 | Nut – M8 |
| 260 | Spring washer for screw M8 |
| 309 | Bearing – 6203 |
| 311 | Thrust bearing – 51105 |
| 312 | Circlip – 43 DIN 472 |
| 350 | Round key – 4×6,5 |
| 351 | Hd cap screw – M6×20 |
| 417 | Hd cap screw – M8×30 |
| 418a | Electric motor 1200 W 12 V |
| 418b | Electric motor 1200 W 24 V |
| 418c | Electric motor 1500 W 12 V |
| 418d | Electric motor 1500 W 24 V |
| 450 | Key – 8×7×80 |
| 474 | Oil plug 1/4" |
| 524 | Seal 30×55×10 |
| 526 | Circlip – 30 DIN 471 |
| 534 | Gearcase upper |
| 535 | O-ring – 4500 |
| 536 | Seal – 45×60×7 |
| 537 | Bearing – 16009 |
| 538 | Circlip – 100 DIN 472 |
| 539 | Key – 8×7×35 |
| 540 | Sleeve |
| 541 | Spring |
| 542 | Dog clutch |
| 543 | Wormwheel |
| 544 | Gearcase – lower |
| 545 | Worm |
| 546 | Seal – 25×45×10 |
| 639 | Washer for screw M8 |
| 964 | Magnet |
| 965 | Sensor |
| 985 | Std main shaft |
| 986 | LP main shaft |
| 987 | Stainless steel bearing – 6006 2RS |
| 988 | Clutch cone |
| 989a | Gipsy 8 ISO |
| 989b | Gipsy 10 ISO – 3/8" G40 |
| 989c | Gipsy 10 DIN 766 |
| 989d | Gipsy 12 ISO 12 DIN 766 (as printed) |
| 990 | Spacer |
| 997 | Circlip – 55 DIN 472 |
| 998a | Finger |
| 1033 | Stud – M8×105 |
| 2031 | Base SX3 |
| 2032 | Stripper SX3 |
| 2033 | Gypsy cap SX3 |
| 2034 | Drum SX3 |
| 2035 | M8 bolts |
| 2036 | Base gasket SX3 |
| 2037 | Seal 35×52×7 |
| 2038 | Cone clutch SX3 |
Warranty
- 3 years from purchase by the end user, with the maintenance programme followed.
- 1 year for electric motors and equipment, electronic controls, hydraulic pumps, valves and actuators, gaskets and seals, and products used on charter boats.
- Not covered: wrong product choice, use outside the design application, corrosion, UV and wear, skipped maintenance, wrong installation, modifications, removal/transport/installation costs, maintenance by people not authorised by Lofrans.
Need a part that isn't listed? Ask us to source it and quote the part number from the PDF.
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