Lewmar windlass drum removal

[bmadan]

I'm looking to lubricate my windlass and I'm scratching my head on removing this drum. There's no key or slot where the handle is inserted. No. Key ring round the cap either. There's a large washer above the gypsy that looks like it might take a slotted screwdriver and hammer. Before I pull out the hammer I figured I'd ask around

 

[dlochner]

What is the brown stuff inside the handle socket? There may be a screw beneath it that screws into the spindle. Some older Lewmar winches had a similar arrangement. I wouldn't be surprised to find the same engineering on the windlass, after all it is just a powered winch.

 

[Hello Below]

Although I cannot identify the model of your windlass from your pics, I believe the more recent ones pretty much disassemble the same. Place a standard winch handle into the gypsy drive cap, rotate anti-clockwise and remove the cap, the washer and the top cone.
Lewmar website will have the user/service manual for your windlass once you have identified it.

Lewmar Windlasses

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Lewmar website will have the user/service manual for your windlass once you have identified it.

Just remember, refer to the manual as a last resort when all else fails .

 

[Joe]

It may be as simple as this:

Here's a link to manual of model similar to yours:
V-1... V-6 manual

 

[jssailem]

Have you looked at the unit from beneath the deck. There is often a motor mounted there, and a ring of nuts 6-8 holding the windlass to the deck. Remove the motor then remove the nuts and lift the gypsy and windlass spindle up out of the deck.
Good idea to free the chain from the windlass first. It helps ease the lift and remove.

 

[bmadan]

Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I'm very grateful. I'll be on the deck again a few hours and give you the update.

 

[bmadan]

I got out there yesterday and today. The correct approach was to go counter clockwise with the winch handle which removed the cap, freed the drum and led me to the allen head screw that holds the gypsy. Thank you 'hello below.' since there was a winch handle in the locker I figured it was for manual retrieval of the chain. Not so, it's for removal of the cap. Thank you for the manual, Joe. Mine must be circa 2000, and doesnt match any of the newer models. Lubrication begins and we'll see what happens.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Thank you 'hello below.' since there was a winch handle in the locker I figured it was for manual retrieval of the chain. Not so, it's for removal of the cap.

Pretty hard to say seeing as how you DON'T supply the model of your windlass. Your windlass may be a few years older that the V series of Lewmar winches so we're at a loss.

The hole which accepts the winch handle MAY be for the windlass clutch. The clutch is used in deploying the anchoring gear rather than powering it all the way down. My windlass was installed in the factory in 1998 and is the V-1 in @Joe 's link to the manual. Yours looks to be older.

 

[Hello Below]

since there was a winch handle in the locker I figured it was for manual retrieval of the chain.

Not so lucky with Lewmar. You will need a manual retrieval kit which will set you back about $400. I personally have never met anyone that has one.