> There is a lot of power, the wildcat turns, the clutch is > strong, and the > nut is well tight, but the chain does not grip anymore. It > keeps jumping on > the top of the wildcat, even if I apply some pressure on the > pin with a > spring (sorry I don't know the name). Ummm... hard to say without actually seeing it. Not sure what you mean by "pin with a spring". Let me try this and I'll do so at risk that it is talking about the same thing that you are. Most electric windlass' have a lever that fits over and down into the wildcat. This lever is spring loaded and is designed to press against the chain or rope as it travels around the wildcat. Its purpose is to keep the chain or rope down in the wildcat far enough for the wildcat to grip it. I believe in your model that this lever is on the top and the non-attached end is orientated to the front of the windlass. This all assumes that you haven't changed chain or rope or wildcats. If this lever is broke or misshapened or the spring is broken or weak, then the chain or rope can skip over the cogs in the wildcat. Surmising that everything worked well before, and without seeing your windlass, I'll take the chance and suggest that you start with looking closely at this lever and its spring. I'm pretty sure that West Marine stores carry this model, usually in stock. If you have one close by, take a few minutes and go look at one. Compare the tension on the lever on a new unit with the tension on your windlass. Windlass' also have a stripper- a bar that is fixed, located passed the deck hole but reaches up into the wildcat. Its job is to strip the chain or rope off the wildcat if it should get stuck and stays in the wildcat beyond the deck hole. It's hard for me to imagine how this could cause the chain to jump, but who knows, weirder things happen. Look at it too. It should be centered in the gap that runs around but low in the wildcat. Best of luck to ya'. If you got pictures, I'd be willing to look at them; send them to me- rudysechez@yahoo.com. Rudy Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl

On 2/11/2012 3:26 PM, Rudy and Jill wrote: >> There is a lot of power, the wildcat turns, the clutch is strong, >> and the nut is well tight, but the chain does not grip anymore. It >> keeps jumping on the top of the wildcat, even if I apply some >> pressure on the pin with a spring (sorry I don't know the name). > <snippage> > Windlass' also have a stripper- a bar that is fixed, located passed > the deck hole but reaches up into the wildcat. Its job is to strip > the chain or rope off the wildcat if it should get stuck and stays in > the wildcat beyond the deck hole. It's hard for me to imagine how > this could cause the chain to jump, but who knows, weirder things > happen. Look at it too. It should be centered in the gap that runs > around but low in the wildcat. There might be something (wood or stone) resting against the stripper that forces the chain out of the gypsy too soon. > > Best of luck to ya'. If you got pictures, I'd be willing to look at > them; send them to me- rudysechez@yahoo.com. > > Rudy Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl -- Peter Bennett, VE7CEI Vancouver, B.C., Canada GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vpsboat.com