Windlass Problems........

[brianontheroad]

I've got a Nilson Maxwell windlass (an older one but it resembles this one Vertical Windlass Range )

The winch has it's own battery with a two position switch and a circuit breaker in series

I have two foot buttons that activate it -- the windlass has never worked since I bought the boat in may, today I cleaned all the connections to the windlass and the solenoid

when I have someone step on those the solenoid just clicks and clicks, the voltage on the inside of the solenoid (connected to the battery) registers 12.8 the voltage on the other side (going to the windlass) reads something like .44

did I rewire the solenoid to the windlass wrong? The cables weren't marked....I should have marked +/- and ground but I didn't oops..... or is there something wrong with the solenoid? not enough power in the battery?

troubleshooting suggestions?

Thanks!

[Stillraining]

Yes you should get full voltage through it so Its the solenoid.

I just rebuilt a solenoid three days ago..I wish I would have photographed the process for you...I Am sorry I am still new to this seeming requirement all the good sailors here on this site seem to have to document everything all the time so I forget.
It is a simple thing to do though once open it will be fairly self explanatory as to what needs to be done..there are a couple copper carriage type bolts that make contact with a disk thease are high amperage contacts that either corrode from water or burn from current..it is a simple matter to clean theas up and put back togather,
If I were you I'd go by a new one for around 30 bucks put that on and if that fixes your problums great...then tear into the old one and learn on the fly and keep it around for a spare..It aint rocket science...