Broken gear on Maxwell 24ST winch

[Claude L.-Auger]

Good morning guys. After 26 years of ownership and 37,000 + nautical miles sailed with my Hunter 34, all the way from Montreal to Labrador and the Bahamas, it finally happened: A gear broke inside the port Maxwell 24ST primary winch. I am not complaining but I am puzzled as to what I should do now. I know about Arco Hutton in Australia as I have ordered parts from them before. If I can get the broken gear, rebuilding could be an option. My mind is telling me that the other parts inside that winch probably need to be replaced, including other gears, bearings, springs and pawls. And of course the starboard winch is the same age with the same wear and tear. So should also be rebuilt. Because of the price of parts and of course considering the 42 years of the winches, I guess the smart move $$$ wise would be to look for aother pair of winches. But I am thinking as I'm getting older, I would be better off with bigger winches. My problem is that I have not found anywere the specs of the Maxwell 24s other than Base at 6'' wide and Height at 7 & 1/4''. No specs found as to 1st gear and 2nd gear ratios or workload capacity. The other issue is that while I'd like to get bigger (i.e. more powerful) winches, I also want to install them in the exact same location the 24s are currently. Can anyone help with specs so I can compare with what I find or can anyone having dealt with that issue make a recommendation. Thanks for your help.

 

[Allan12210]

Good Morning Claude. I don't have engineering dimensioned drawings for the 24ST but here is what I do have. Depending on which gear broke, can a machine shop replicate a new gear for your? Some in those winches are quite complex. At least you still have one other winch to copy the part from.

 

[dLj]

Here's a pair of 26's for sale on ebay... No idea if they could work fo ryou.

dj

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[Claude L.-Auger]

Good Morning Claude. I don't have engineering dimensioned drawings for the 24ST but here is what I do have. Depending on which gear broke, can a machine shop replicate a new gear for your? Some in those winches are quite complex. At least you still have one other winch to copy the part from.

Tks Allan I had already found these pdfs here on site. Unfortunately that info doesn't allow me to compare with other brands such as Lewmar, Andersen, etc. If I don't rebuild, I'd like to go with something a bit more powerful. Thanks for trying to help.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Following my post of yesterday and your answers and suggestions I did a search and came across a Maxwell 24 non ST that seems in really good shape. The Maxwell service manual shows that you can make the non-ST a self-tailing with a kit. Since I already have a 24 ST, I'm thinking that I could get the non-ST and use its parts and gears to fix mine. Assuming of course that the innards of the non-ST are the same as the ST ? Seems like it if I am to believe the pixes in the service manual.
That would obviously be the cheapest way if it can be done. Ideas anyone ?

 

[Allan12210]

Claude,

Looking at one of those documents, you are correct that the non-ST 24 can be converted to a ST. The kit looks like it just swapped out the drive shaft and the very top pieces. I'd venture to say that the guts inside the drum remain the same. Looks like a viable option to use a non-ST winch for donor parts. But, with one caveat, I found on our boat the cabin top winches were numbered the same. They were both non-ST 20s. But on disassembly, they were different inside. One had pawls and springs and the other had the clutches like our 24s. We must have gotten the last one of the old design. Is yours that way too? I hope that isn't a possibility for you with different innards on a 24. Is there any way for you to check first?

 

[kloudie1]

I agree with Allan..
My previous owner installed Lewmar 43 ST winches forward of the Maxwells. I don't have any documents that would help with the mounting dimensions.. The stuff on the General Downloads on this site were scans of documents that my P.O. had on board... but your plan of getting a "parts " winch looks like a good alternate!.. Interesting that my boat came with Maxwell 25 ST..

 

[dlochner]

Maxwell sheet winches are no longer made, with production stopping in 1995 (see this 50th Anniversary Brochure). Someone at MaxwellMarine.com might have access to old sales literature indicating the power ratings.

If contacting Maxwell doesn't work, you might try estimating the power rating by measuring the drum diameter of the Maxwell 24 you have and compare to the dimensions of a Lewmar. Measure both the outer drum diameter at the base and the diameter where the line wraps. If you can find them.

For reference, I have Lewmar 40STs for sheets and 30STs for halyards and main sheet. The 40s are fine for trimming the 135% Genoa on my 36' Sabre. I think you will find them adequate for your boat.

We also have an eWincher which makes all of our winches electric. It is wonderful for raising the main, hoisting the dinghy, and hoisting the dinghy motor. We don't use it much on the jib sheets as we can handle the loads manually and rarely, if ever, sail upwind in more than 10 knots.

EWINCHER | Electric Winch & Winch Handle for Sailing Boats

Smart Electric Sailing: we design electric winches and electric winch handles packed with advanced technology for sailing boats.

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[Claude L.-Auger]

Follow up on Maxwell 24 ST broken gear. I did receive the Maxwell 24 non-ST found on market place. It is in great shape and does look like new old stock! Therefore I plan to proceed with the change of drive shaft to make it a ST. I found another issue however when I totally dissassembled my 24 ST and cleaned it in preparation of the exchange of gears. The drive shaft shows a minute hairline crack at the bottom splined area. So I contacted Arco-Hutton and they replied within 12 hours. Fabulous service. And they do have a drive shaft but the cost would be US $160 + US $35 to ship it to me in Canada. And I have no idea what custom duty would be. Considering the winches are 42 years old and they do show wear and tear on all parts, I don't think it would be wise to spend that much on the broken one knowing the other one is just as old and worn out. So my plan is to try to use the non ST gears with the ST damaged drive shaft until it breaks. If it lasts me the season, I'll have the whole winter to look for other winches. If it breaks this summer, then I'll bite the bullet and order 2 new 40ST winches (brand unknown at this time but at my age I won't be looking for something that would possibly last 40 years LOL). And I would try to sell the 1 working 24 ST + the 1 working 24 non ST + the non working 24 ST for parts. Comments everyone and Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[dLj]

I'm wondering if the drive shaft on the winch you just bought will fit the winch you are fixing, or if the self-feed mechanism on the winch you are fixing would work on the which you just bought?

No idea how useful or useless those two thoughts are...

dj

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Claude,

Looking at one of those documents, you are correct that the non-ST 24 can be converted to a ST. The kit looks like it just swapped out the drive shaft and the very top pieces. I'd venture to say that the guts inside the drum remain the same. Looks like a viable option to use a non-ST winch for donor parts. But, with one caveat, I found on our boat the cabin top winches were numbered the same. They were both non-ST 20s. But on disassembly, they were different inside. One had pawls and springs and the other had the clutches like our 24s. We must have gotten the last one of the old design. Is yours that way too? I hope that isn't a possibility for you with different innards on a 24. Is there any way for you to check first?

Allan, unfortunately your caveat turned out to be true as far as the Maxwell 24 Non-ST I picked up on market place. While the dimensions are exactly the same as my 24 ST, the inside was totally different with different size gears + pawls and springs. So...I put it back together and forgot that idea. The driveshaft for the 24ST could be had from Arco-Hutton in Australia (got service from Allen Hutton as far as answering emails !) but figuring the 160 US$ price + 35$ to ship it to me, figuring that the other parts of this whinch and the 2nd one were just as old and worn out, I decided to bite the bullet and ordered 2 Harken 40.2 STC Radial from the local boat parts store. Got great price and they are going to be delivered here this afternoon. Soon I'll have them installed and shortly thereafter I'll put the 3 Maxwell 24 I currently have for sale: 1 chrome non ST (looks like new), 1 fully operational ST, and 1 ST for parts. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and help.

 

[FastOlson]

If only.... if only...... you had bought two new Lewmar ST winches when the annual WM BOGO sale was on in March!
I did that a few years ago and upgraded my original housetop winches from Lewmar 30ST to Lewmar 40ST. It was a Great upgrade.
Yup, I did have to epoxy in the old holes and drill/epoxy/redrill for the new holes. That's par for the course after all these decades, tho.
Best of luck on finding your solution.