My 1985 25.5 has Maxwell winches and the port winch is a bit stiff. I want to lube it, but I am looking for information about either Maxwell winches in particular or just some good information on winch care and maintence. I don't even know how to begin to service them. Thanks, Jeremy
Maxwell Winch Maintence...
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Jeremy, the most important thing is to
Only do one at a time. Keep the second for reference. Most anyone can clean these things and put them back together. Use mineral spirits for a solvent. Pour some in a wide plastic or stainless bowl. Use a brush like one used for washing car parts. A auto parts store will have them. A paint brush and tooth brush are handy too. By the way, I assume you know that all the parts of the winch are going to go into the pan and be washed in the solvent with the aid of the brush(s). Let's see,,,, Oh, after you unscrew the top retaining ring and remove the drum, cut a hole in the bottom of a cardboard box so that the box will just fit over the top of remaining winch parts. Then if anything gets away from you while removing or replacing, the box will catch it. For grease, I like automotive moly lube. It's the black stuff sold for wheel bearings on disk brake cars and all chassis grease fittings. It doesn't melt in heat and is waterproof and ultra high pressure. (working load) What more do you need for a winch grease? The Maxwell winch is probably the hardest winch to service. The pawl cups are bizarre. My models are even reversible. That cancels some of the benefit of only working on one winch at a time. They can be put together differently and correctly. But, take your time and maybe also take pictures with a good closeup digital camera as you take them apart.
Only do one at a time. Keep the second for reference. Most anyone can clean these things and put them back together. Use mineral spirits for a solvent. Pour some in a wide plastic or stainless bowl. Use a brush like one used for washing car parts. A auto parts store will have them. A paint brush and tooth brush are handy too. By the way, I assume you know that all the parts of the winch are going to go into the pan and be washed in the solvent with the aid of the brush(s). Let's see,,,, Oh, after you unscrew the top retaining ring and remove the drum, cut a hole in the bottom of a cardboard box so that the box will just fit over the top of remaining winch parts. Then if anything gets away from you while removing or replacing, the box will catch it. For grease, I like automotive moly lube. It's the black stuff sold for wheel bearings on disk brake cars and all chassis grease fittings. It doesn't melt in heat and is waterproof and ultra high pressure. (working load) What more do you need for a winch grease? The Maxwell winch is probably the hardest winch to service. The pawl cups are bizarre. My models are even reversible. That cancels some of the benefit of only working on one winch at a time. They can be put together differently and correctly. But, take your time and maybe also take pictures with a good closeup digital camera as you take them apart.
Winch Diagrams
Fred is correct about the winches. The biggest piece of advise I can give is to be careful with the pawl springs. There are eight of them in your 19's. If they look bent or out of shape replace them. You can purchase repair parts for your winches from an outfit out of Austrila. I use winch grease that I purchased from a marine store, a little expensive but you don't need much. The tube has lasted 2 years so far, and will probably be enough for 2 more.
Fred is correct about the winches. The biggest piece of advise I can give is to be careful with the pawl springs. There are eight of them in your 19's. If they look bent or out of shape replace them. You can purchase repair parts for your winches from an outfit out of Austrila. I use winch grease that I purchased from a marine store, a little expensive but you don't need much. The tube has lasted 2 years so far, and will probably be enough for 2 more.
In addition to...
... Fred's good advice re cleaning your Maxwells, here is another idea: using a digital camera, take images of the winch as you take it apart. I tend to lay out a clean towel on the cockpit locker and then lay the parts on it in the order that they came off the winch. If you have digital images of each stage of dissembly, reassembly is easier. FYI, I use white lithium grease on my winches and, with the use of winche covers, find it lasts at least one whole season and sometimes longer.
... Fred's good advice re cleaning your Maxwells, here is another idea: using a digital camera, take images of the winch as you take it apart. I tend to lay out a clean towel on the cockpit locker and then lay the parts on it in the order that they came off the winch. If you have digital images of each stage of dissembly, reassembly is easier. FYI, I use white lithium grease on my winches and, with the use of winche covers, find it lasts at least one whole season and sometimes longer.
Pictures, pictures, pictures 
I serviced my Maxwells before I found any of the resources mentioned in this thread. As I dis-assembled the first one, the Commodore took dozens of pictures with her digital camera. And I ended up peering at the laptop while figuring out which part goes where. Of course, the first one ended up turning backwards, so I got to figure out how to turn the little clutches over - neat design in my book! BTW, somewhere on this site there are some drawings of Maxwell winches. So go for it, Jeremy.... there's nothing cosmic about it! Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
I serviced my Maxwells before I found any of the resources mentioned in this thread. As I dis-assembled the first one, the Commodore took dozens of pictures with her digital camera. And I ended up peering at the laptop while figuring out which part goes where. Of course, the first one ended up turning backwards, so I got to figure out how to turn the little clutches over - neat design in my book! BTW, somewhere on this site there are some drawings of Maxwell winches. So go for it, Jeremy.... there's nothing cosmic about it! Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
Scott -
If possible, could you save these diagrams as pdf's and upload them into the new pdf area? that will make them a lot easier to people to access in the future. Thanks!
If possible, could you save these diagrams as pdf's and upload them into the new pdf area? that will make them a lot easier to people to access in the future. Thanks!
Jeremy, if it moves, grease it.
The grease I use even goes on springs. Just don't saturate anything that serves as a pawl. A light surface coat is what you need there.
The grease I use even goes on springs. Just don't saturate anything that serves as a pawl. A light surface coat is what you need there.
Phil, I can't get those PDFs to open. Help.
When I click on the files all I see is the IE placeholder for a picture/graphics. PDFs normally open with Adobe 7.0.
When I click on the files all I see is the IE placeholder for a picture/graphics. PDFs normally open with Adobe 7.0.
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