This will only apply to a small section of owners, but I’m putting it out there nonetheless.
I upgraded all my Lewmar winches to electric, and it’s made life easier. Did the install myself, which wasn’t the hardest thing to do if your skills are at that level.
I’ve since helped a number of people convert their Lewmar ocean winches as well.
This subject is for anyone who has purchased the conversion kit in the last 2 years for any size of winch.
There is a critical 8mm square key which locks the motor drive shaft to the winch spindle.
While helping to install my buddy’s 2 conversion units, something stuck out immediately. The keys were carbon steel zinc plated; not stainless.
I confirmed this many ways, including the magnet test, scratching off some of the plating, etc.
These keys are a very tight fit, as the winch is high load, and instantaneous acceleration. Any slop in the key would gall up the keyway.
Any surface corrosion on this key would literally lock the shaft to the spindle, and there is no way to get spay lube in there.
Getting the drum off for regular cleaning & maintenance could be a fiasco.
I contacted Lewmar, and discussed this. It appears that the keys were no-stock, and I’m assuming someone in production just got an alternative that was available. Currently, the keys are still on back order.
I was going to get these machined, but was looking at $250 for 2 of them. Before you jump out of your seats, this makes sense. You can only get 8 mm stainless square stock in 1m length ($150 plus tax), and thus has to be done on a Bridgeport. This isn’t a hacksaw job.
I looked at buying ready made keys, but up at 8mm, you can’t get square; only rectangular. This makes sense, as keyways in the machinists handbook (holy bible of all things metal), specs keyways 8mm and larger to be rectangular. I assume that the shear force calculations dictate this.
So, got back to Lewmar, who back ordered keys for me.
So.. if you’ve done an ocean series motor conversion, it might be an idea to check the 8mm key: especially if you’re in salt water
I upgraded all my Lewmar winches to electric, and it’s made life easier. Did the install myself, which wasn’t the hardest thing to do if your skills are at that level.
I’ve since helped a number of people convert their Lewmar ocean winches as well.
This subject is for anyone who has purchased the conversion kit in the last 2 years for any size of winch.
There is a critical 8mm square key which locks the motor drive shaft to the winch spindle.
While helping to install my buddy’s 2 conversion units, something stuck out immediately. The keys were carbon steel zinc plated; not stainless.
I confirmed this many ways, including the magnet test, scratching off some of the plating, etc.
These keys are a very tight fit, as the winch is high load, and instantaneous acceleration. Any slop in the key would gall up the keyway.
Any surface corrosion on this key would literally lock the shaft to the spindle, and there is no way to get spay lube in there.
Getting the drum off for regular cleaning & maintenance could be a fiasco.
I contacted Lewmar, and discussed this. It appears that the keys were no-stock, and I’m assuming someone in production just got an alternative that was available. Currently, the keys are still on back order.
I was going to get these machined, but was looking at $250 for 2 of them. Before you jump out of your seats, this makes sense. You can only get 8 mm stainless square stock in 1m length ($150 plus tax), and thus has to be done on a Bridgeport. This isn’t a hacksaw job.
I looked at buying ready made keys, but up at 8mm, you can’t get square; only rectangular. This makes sense, as keyways in the machinists handbook (holy bible of all things metal), specs keyways 8mm and larger to be rectangular. I assume that the shear force calculations dictate this.
So, got back to Lewmar, who back ordered keys for me.
So.. if you’ve done an ocean series motor conversion, it might be an idea to check the 8mm key: especially if you’re in salt water