What's Missing From This Clutch?

[njwtech]

I have a Lewmar clutch rack on my boat and ever since I got it they don't always engage the lines properly. Today I happened to pay attention when one of the clutches was open, and noticed that there is a spring inside that is not connected on one end. I opened the other clutches to see if they were different and they were all the same. They all had a spring that connected to nothing on one end. When I played with it I discovered that if I pulled with a little pressure on that spring as I closed the clutch all of a sudden the clutch would grab reliably every time. But there is absolutely nothing in the clutches to which those springs can attach. I have come to the conclusion that there are parts missing. Can anyone tell me what is missing?

 

[gruenlich]

I don't own these clutches, myself, but I've attached the parts breakdown. What I don't see is part #8 - the "Dome Plug." It looks like it should be in the round holes on the far right of your picture, and appears to have a lip on the bottom that the spring should loop around.

-Ian

 

[DougM]

They appear to be broken or at least improperly assembled. The eye ends if the springs should be pinned to something within the clutch. The springs themselves seem to be intact. When the clutches are open the springs are relaxed,and when closed, should be in tension. Look for a broken eye or stud that might have been an attachment point. Absent that, is there a missing cross bolt that would have captured all three of those spring eyes?

 

[Tim R.]

I think gruenlich is correct but I do have these clutches and can check them when I get home tonight.

 

[njwtech]

It looks like you guys have hit it on the head. It looks like part #8 is an assembly. The description says "Dome plug and spring" or in my case just "spring". I don't know if those are still available from Lewmar but even if they aren't now that I know what's missing I should be able to whip something up on the lathe in just a few minutes. Tim, when you check your clutches could you tell me what material those plugs are made from? Thanks everyone.

 

[Marty A]

Not much help, but I installed these clutches on a previous boat when I led all my halyards to the cockpit and they worked GREAT!. You've already identified the reason for their failure to work for you. I always assumed the plug was some version of a plastic, but given the spring tension it may have been anodized Aluminum.

FWIW, my current Jeannau has cam-style clutches that I hate - they chew up line, they release 'all at once', and they are ugly. *sigh* But there are too many to even consider replacing them all. If I was ambitious I could replace them one set at a time but they aren't quite that bad...

Good luck and good sailing!

Marty

 

[cbsailor]

P/N 29100001. Available at WM for $6.95. Hardly seems worth firing up the lathe unless you get your jollies from DIY manufacturing.

 

[njwtech]

P/N 29100001. Available at WM for $6.95. Hardly seems worth firing up the lathe unless you get your jollies from DIY manufacturing.

Ha. Hadn't even thought of WM for parts like that. Called the local store and he said their store didn't have them and the east coast warehouse didn't have them, but the website said it did and I can ship to store so that's what I did. I do like DIY parts because I know they fit and what they are made out of, but these were cheap enough and easy enough to let Lewmar make them. Besides I end up with spare springs in the deal

 

[Tim R.]

Here are the photos. The plug is plastic.

 

[RobertLangdirect]

Thanks!

Here are the photos. The plug is plastic.

Tim -- thanks for doing the photo and opening your clutch to show us how it works/looks/is set.

 

[Tim R.]

Tim -- thanks for doing the photo and opening your clutch to show us how it works/looks/is set.

No problem. I have no issues exposing my clutch to the general public

Sorry for the poor photo quality. I was pretty tired last night when I got back to the boat from a long bike ride. Used my ipad with a flashlight. Stupid ipad has no flash

 

[njwtech]

Thanks Tim. I am thinking the material is the reason the parts disappeared in the Florida sun. Maybe after I get the parts I'll think about breaking out the lathe anyway. I'm pretty sure I can think of a better material for use in the sub-tropics...

 

[SamLust]

As I recall from installing my Lewmars a number of years ago they ship with the springs loose at one end. the attachment point puts the spring over the screw hole. The instructrions explain that they must be connected after installation. Amazing how well things work when the installer reads the instructions!

 

[njwtech]

As I recall from installing my Lewmars a number of years ago they ship with the springs loose at one end. the attachment point puts the spring over the screw hole. The instructrions explain that they must be connected after installation. Amazing how well things work when the installer reads the instructions!

That would also explain why all of them are missing without a trace. Those clutches look like they are old, too... So no one noticed in all these years. I probably wouldn't have noticed either except that I was going to reduce my halyard size from 7/16 to 3/8 and they just pulled straight through the clutches. The 7/16 lines worked most of the time, but the 3/8 wouldn't work at all unless I pulled on the spring to get it to seat. The previous owners probably had that heavy line just because it worked in the clutches. In my opinion it was way heavier than it had to be. The sbo store sells 5/16 for my boat as the standard size and 3/8 as heavy duty.

 

[SamLust]

based on my experience with several other brands of line clutch Lewmar is absolutely the best. I have about 8 lines worth on my Hunter 33 and will be replacing the Spinlocks on my Com-Pac Horizon with Lewmars. I might even read the instructions before installing.