Barient Winches: Adjustable Jaws

[Dean Strong]

A photocopied sheet in my H30 (1990) says the self-tailing jaws are adjustable by adding or lifting off spacers: "A series of spacers fit beneath the lower jaws to raise or lower the bottom jaw. This design accomodates a range of line diameters from 5/16" to 9/16" (depending on the model)" Mine are Barient 21s.Anybody ever done this? There is nothing in the archives about it. Heck, I don't even know how to take my winches apart (and they undoubtedly need maintenance.

 

[Jim]

Winch line spacers

Several years ago I had that type of winch, and if i remember correctly, the circle of metal at the top unscrews, allowing the line guide to lift off, once this is off, the spacers are visible. I forget if they are removed or just moved under the jaws to adjust the line size. Lift off the entire drum carefully to service the bearings. An old salt once told me to cut a circle in the bottom of a cardboard box just the diameter of the winch base and put the box over the winch. If you drop parts they go in the box, not the water! It was really an easy winch to service. Good luck!