[C320-list] Maxwell 500 Parts Diagram

[Scott Thompson]

My manual says to drain and replace the oil every three years, and to 
use SAE 90 gear oil.  (I think this is the same stuff used in the lower 
units of outboard motors.)

The sight glass is useless on our boats because of the horizontal 
mounting method that Catalina uses.  (It's only a valid sight when the 
windlass is mounted vertically so that the motor is horizontal.  Our 
boats have the windlass horizontal and the motor vertical.)  Assuming 
you don't want to remove the motor, it isn't obvious what to do, and the 
manual is no help.  I had a chat with someone at Maxwell once about this 
and they didn't offer any terrific suggestions.  My recollection is that 
they suggested making sure that the oil level was at least up to the 
level of the contact point between the worm gear and main drive gear, 
but not much higher.  I'm not sure if you can see inside well enough to 
check this.  You might try removing the sight glass and peering inside 
with a strong light.  I replaced the oil when I had the motor out of the 
boat once several years ago.  It seemed to be clear and in excellent 
shape even after 5-6 years of minimal use.  When I change the oil again, 
I will use suction to extract as much as I can and then refill about 
half way, measuring and using the amount extracted to help me estimate 
how much to add.  In retrospect I should have tried this when I had the 
motor removed.

I've sent a scan of the owner's manual to Karl, who will be posting it 
soon, I'm sure.  It's too big to email around generally.  The manual has 
complete maintenance suggestions, which I would take with a grain of 
salt, given how little use the windlass gets on most boats.

Scott

Robert Seastream wrote:
> Me, too, although the chatter on the list is that the kit is 
> discontinued.  Probably because it works and is a good idea :-(
> 
> When/how to add lubricant to the windlass and how much is enough?  I see 
> a sight glass, but am unclear on what I'm looking for.
> I've looked through my records, but don't see any documentation on it.
> 
> Bob Seastream
> Intuition # 906
> 
> 
> On Jun 15, 2009, at 9:40 AM, Julian Elliott wrote:
> 
>>
>> Joe,
>>
>> I am curious where you purchased the chain conversion kit and its 
>> price.  I
>> would very much like to do this conversion.
>>
>>
>> Julian
>> Polaris #340
>>
>> On Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:36:12 -0400, Joe Abbagnaro <jabbagna at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> Anyone have or know where the diagram is for the Maxwell 500
>>> I am assembling the Chain conversion kit and want to confirm I have
>>> the parts in the correct order on the shaft
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> Joe
>>> #574
>>>
> 

-- 
Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653