Maxwell 500 VW, VWC & VWCLP Windlass — Owner's Manual

Location & Mounting

1. Dual direction UP/DOWN: “UP” is clockwise looking down. Point the deckplate towards the incoming chain, its left hand side parallel to the chain, with a clear run from a vertically grooved bow roller.
2. Chain outlet ideally right over the locker with at least 300mm (1ft) clear fall; if possible put the locker bulkhead between chain outlet and gearbox. The gearbox indexes through 4 positions on the spacer tube.
3. Standard units take decks up to 57mm (2¼"); extra clearance models 57mm to 108mm (4¼"). Pad and deck strong enough, gasket area and load washer seat smooth, flat and parallel; spot the holes with the gasket (do not drill through it).
4. With the windlass vertical, oil should show half way up the sight glass (top up with SAE90, do not over fill). Remove cap, screw, washer, clutch nut, drum (VWC), stripper arm, cone and chainwheel, keys and ring seal (remove the lower cone grub screw first), then the four bolts to free the deckplate.
5. Bed the deckplate on the gasket, fit washers and nuts from below and tighten progressively and evenly – no power tools, do not overtighten.
6. Lightly grease the shaft (Shell Alvania R2, Castrol AP2 or equivalent), feed it up through the deckplate, locate the spacer tube on the spigot, choose one of the four positions and bolt up evenly.
7. Grease the shaft thread, bores and clutch faces and reassemble in reverse order, making sure the keys are properly seated.

Electrical

• Footswitches at least 500mm (20") from the windlass (the VW 500 manual says a minimum of ¾ metre, 30"), outside the chain locker, breather holes clear.
• Reversing solenoid (dual direction only) dry and close to the windlass, never in the chain locker. Breaker/isolator panel dry and accessible within 1.8 metres (72") of cable length from the battery (mandatory for USCG).
• Control circuits in 1.5mm² (16 AWG) with a manually resettable ignition proof fuse or breaker within 1 metre (40") of the power source on line 2. Seal terminals with CRC2043, CRC3013 or CRC2049 after testing.
• Two cable ungrounded, fully insulated negative return system; isolated earth motor (no separate earth). Insulate deckplate, studs, anchor and chain on steel or aluminium boats.

Approximately 10% maximum voltage drop; insulation rated at least 90ºC.

Anchoring

• Under power: lever in the clutch nut, tighten clockwise, REMOVE THE LEVER, then hold the remote switch “DOWN” or “UP”. Jog in the last metre when docking the anchor.
• Manual lowering: lever in the clutch nut, stand clear and slowly back it off; tighten to slow, ease to speed up. Never let the chainwheel free wheel. Tighten firmly and stow the lever when done.
• Run the engine, motor up to the anchor, break out a fouled anchor with the engine against the chainstopper, and never use the windlass or stopper as a mooring point. Secure the anchor in the roller with a nylon line or a pin when under way.
• Do not switch directly from one direction to the other; the breaker gives no protection against heat build up from prolonged or overloaded use.

Warping Drum (VWC, VW)

• Back the clutch nut off counter clockwise until it stops: the capstan turns while the chainwheel stays still.
• Several clockwise turns, pull on the tail and hold “UP”; tail load controls the haul rate. Keep fingers clear and make sure no footswitch is operated while adding turns; never so many turns that easing the tail will not let the rope slip.