VETUS THRUSTER PROBLEM

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:29 pm

The thruster on our 32+2 has stopped working. When I push the button "on" the control panel, the small green light comes on. When I push the switch in either direction all I hear is a "click" from the relay, but nothing else happens. I have checked the thruster propeller by getting in the water and the blade turns freely. Any suggestions as to how to fix this?

Thanks,
Doug

Post by **RicM** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:34 am

The click is the solenoid, so your switch is OK. Check voltage to thruster motor. If you have plenty of juice to the thruster motor and it doesn't turn, check the brushes in the thruster motor.

Post by **Mariner** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:26 am

There has been much discussion on this topic here in the past. Typical causes are corroded wiring, broken shear pins, and fried motors due to undersized wiring.

hjonas · Post by **hjonas** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:00 pm

Sounds like you have broken the cotter pin. The propeller should be fine. Call Vetus and ask them to send you two cotter pins and directions on how to put one in. You do not have to go overboard its an easy fix from directly overhead the unit.

Hank Jonas
Albin 28 TE
On-Rush

Post by **Mariner** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:06 pm

Yeah, if the prop spins freely, I would agree that it's probably the cotter pin.

Post by **RicM** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:32 pm

If he pushes the joy stick and hears a click but nothing happens then it's not a shear (cotter) pin, the electric motor is not turning. If you hear the motor turning and nothing happens, then it's the pin.

Post by **RobS** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:33 pm

If it were the pin I think you'd hear the motor spinning which it sounds like you are not.

stevediebold · Post by **stevediebold** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:45 pm

I have been going through a bow thruster breakdown as well. Call Dave Barrett at Vetus at 410 712 0740 and he can talk you through the diagnosis.

Post by **AlanD** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 8:33 am

Mine failed at Seatrial when she was new and had the exact same thing happen, the clicking sound but no love. I ran voltmeters across the unit, did the official wiggling and unplugging of connections with the service guy, and we found that the actual solenoid was hosed. The clicking was the contact closing, but the solenoid was not allowing the primary voltage to conduct to the thruster.

A quick replacement of the Solenoid and she was back in action. No issues since.

Post by **joe.baar** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:24 pm

My solenoid gives the same clicking symptoms with no dice. Ballard Electric bench-tested it and gave a clean bill. Voltage to solenoid looks good, control wiring all seems to work the way it should. Next on this list is the motor brushes and wiring but since it's "summer" in the Pacific Northwest these issues are no longer high on the Big List. I'm getting fairly competent at manuevering the old-fashioned way by now, which is a good thing anyway.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:41 pm

I removed the thruster and took it to a starter / alternator shop. They found the armature had a flat spot on it and the thruster needed new brushes. $95.00 later, all is well. I installed it yesterday and everything works as it should.
Thanks for your comments.
Doug

Post by **RobS** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:49 pm

Well done - got to be happy anytime you can get out from under something for less than $100. Wonder why the flat spot? I could understand corrosion, wear marks, grooves, etc. - but a flat spot seems odd. Did they say?

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VETUS THRUSTER PROBLEM

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