Barient 25 winch detaching

[Craig Morford]

I am only beginning my second year of sailing and getting only days away from putting in and taking off for the summer, cruising the Great Lakes. While on the hard this week, I used the starboard jib's Barient 25 winch to help haul up a friend in a Bosum's chair and noticed the entire winch was rising right up and starting to come off its base. I could slide it off entirely, then carefully push it back down in place only to have it start to slide off once in use again.

Am I missing the snap ring? If so, are they easy and quick to get and install? If it's not the snap ring, what keeps winches from coming off the boat? Again, I am days away from scheduled departure. Can anyone help? Thanks!

 

[ggrizzard]

Sounds like a snap ring is missing. Not hard to install, just not sure you can find them and get delivery in one day.

 

[Craig Morford]

Wow, what took you so long?! (Just kidding--it's been posted only a couple minutes!)
Thanks. I was hoping my research was correct. Any recommendations as to where I should shop for such a part? Thanks again.

 

[silverbeard]

Did you try taking the portside winch apart to see what all parts it has and what the starboard is missing? There is a place in Australia that has some parts for Barient winches. Contact info: mailto:sales@huttonwinches.com.

 

[Craig Morford]

No, I was hoping that the same thing had happened to the seasoned salts out there. Thanks for the lead in Australia, but I don't think I could get a shipment from there in mere days. Unless you know better!
Bayfield! I hope to be over in that neck of the water this summer for the Great Lakes Cruising Club's get together in Duluth.

 

[kloudie1]

Info from this site: http://sbo.sailboatowners.com/downloads/Hunter_gen_99202845.pdf
Looks like a cap screw into the top cap ? Those should be readily available at a fastener place near you. Ya might want to take the correct part from the other winch and get them to match it.
http://www.packerfastener.com/#
EDIT: be very careful to not lose parts overboard!

 

[Craig Morford]

Another possibility. You're right. I should probably have a good hard look at the other side. And look at you--finding a place in my own back yard. Thanks so much!

 

[Benny17441]

The top cap and retaining washer are held in place by a 3/16 Allen screw. The top cap is what holds the drum attached to the shaft. If what you are describing is that the drum is sliding up then it means that the screw has come loose or has been sheared. Hope the threads on the main shaft have not been damaged. You should be able to find a 3/16 screw to rig a fix for your upcoming trip. Should I be mistaken and what you are describing is that the whole winch assembly is raising up then the problem should be with the backing plate or the base of the winch. If it is the base, it would be hard part to find on short order in the US and if you must have the winch for the trip then I would recommend purchasing a replacement from another manufacturer. Good luck and let us know.

 

[kloudie1]

Welcome, Craig.. and welcome to the forum !

 

[Joe]

You can find pawls and pawl springs for your Barient/Barlow winches at West Marine.... along with the proper grease for the bearings. I highly recommend you spend an hour or so doing some maintenance on your winches before taking off. Make sure the screw you are replacing is an exact fit. Wrap a towel around the base of the winch when you pull the drum up and off... don't want to lose any parts overboard. This first time you do this.. keep the parts in order or take pictures with your phone camera so you won't forget how to reassemble. Wash the parts in turpentine or similar cleaning solvent. Most of the interior parts are bronze on the older winches. They take a lot of abuse but will last many many years with regular maintenance. Clean the gunk... then put a very light coat of winch grease on the shaft, bearings and gears...use a small brush for this. DO NOT put grease on the pawls and springs. They are the small tabs that insure the drum's one way, ratcheting rotation. You can put a few drops of light sewing machine oil on the pawls... they must be able to move freely.

Although those winches are no longer made.. the company mentioned in previous post has tooling to make replacement parts... I have found that the Lewmar pawls and springs will substitute if you can't find the Barien/Barlows at the chandlery.

 

[Craig Morford]

Update.........apparently the slight upward pressure on the winch while hauling a pal up the mast caused the bottom clip to pop off. I could see it laying there in the base. Of course, to retrieve it and reassemble meant removing the entire thing from the boat and you should have seen the tool that we rigged up that allowed me to use a socket set from 3 feet away and looking through a mirror. Anyway, it's off and I've decided to take it completely apart and clean it. The clip ring doesn't seem to be damaged at all. It merely popped off.

 

[jssailem]

Not impossible but unusual for a clip ring to "pop off". The spring steel may be sprung.
I would try to get a new replacement.

 

[Craig Morford]

Without instant access to a new one, I popped the old one on and it's holding just fine so far. (I know, it will fail when I need it most) I will be sure to use it with only a perpendicular load to the axis of the winch. Thanks for your comment!