The day before we were to bring Roys joy home we sufferd our first mechanical failure and thought we were on fire . While maneuvering to the fuel dock at Brixham marina the Vetus bow thruster failed in spectacular fashion filling the boat up with smoke with a acrid electrical smell . After a quick inspection to make sure there were no flames and some careful maneuvering with a side wind we made it to the fuel dock . Since this we have been without the thruster which has not been a problem but it needed fixing . We have spent about 3 hrs on board trying to work out what went wrong but all we could get from the motor was the clicking of the solenoids . I have then also spent 2 hrs on the net researching this issue with minimal if info found , so the best thing was to remove the motor and get it home to try to sus out. The only thing visually i could find was a semi melted isolation washer for the supply to the field winding but otherwise that was it , First thing i wanted to check was the easy stuff , Brushes , connections , plugs etc . After the easy stuff i tested the solenoids which seamed to be working as they should , next was to take the whole motor apart and check the internals , Here there was some carbon build up and some light corrosion on some of the connections [ Remembering she hasn't been used in a very long time ] so these were cleaned up and the motor was put back together . Back to the solenoids , These are the easiest set ive ever come across to be able to check and fix . Take out 3 screws and you can take them apart to clean and inspect the contacts , simple .
So after going over them cleaning every part and abrading the contacts a little it was time to put them back together . 1st time i managed to fit the lower plastic spacer on back to front but 2nd time they went back fine and Tested all ok so now to put them back on the motor and see if there was any life . ALIVE and kicking , Seams it must of been the solenoids not having a good contact , Although there was voltage passing i didn't check to how much with the multi-meter at the start as no expert with them, But it has been a good exercise . I have now learnt how the whole unit comes apart and how to check everything for the next time we have an issue so one bonus out of it all .
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AuthorOne family renovating a Colvic Watson and preparing for an epic adventure Archives
April 2018
Categorieshttps://www.facebook.com/hambleys/
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