Maxwell winch replacement

[flasailor]

My 86 has Maxwell winches mounted on cabin top. the port winch needs tlc. the stocking supplier of Maxwell replacement parts in in new Zealand, I am considering replacing the port winch, which I use primarily for halyards. any suggestions on a suitable 2 speed replacement winch? how difficult is the Maxwell to disassemble? did you use blacking plates for the replacement? Thanks for your help.

 

[markwbird]

I just did this replacement

I just replaced my old cabin top Maxwells. They'd had it. I got a couple ofused Lewnmar 40's on Ebay and they are great. Maybe more than I need but I like that. No back plate needed. The cabin top is pretty thick with a wood core. The hardest part is removing the interior liner on the starboard side. You will need help holding it up while you remove all the screws or it will break. Just bolts with nuts and washers for mounting the winches. I recommend filling the old holes with epoxy to make sure they are sealed. Let's be honest, Maxwell winches are crap.

 

[flasailor]

Re: I just did this replacement

Thanks Mark. Good news about no backing plate. Those Maxwells are really "Minwells"!!

 

[splax]

winch maintenance

I disassembled and cleaned both the cabin top winches last year. Not a big deal. One winch axel wasn't set right, the winch did not turn freely, and had to be knocked out and reset. They both work well now.

 

[Steve Dion]

I have taken mine apart and reassembled. The small parts can easily be lost and are difficult to replace so be very careful.

You may also check out Minney's Yacht Surplus in Costa Mesa California. They had a killer deal on some new winches recently.

 

[PGIJon]

The small parts can easily be lost and are difficult to replace so be very careful.

Since I am forever losing things overboard I cut out an opening for the winch in the bottom of a box and then slip the box over the winch. This helps contains small springs and others parts from flying overboard. -Jon

 

[splax]

Good Tip

Since I am forever losing things overboard I cut out an opening for the winch in the bottom of a box and then slip the box over the winch. This helps contains small springs and others parts from flying overboard. -Jon

Smart !

 

[srhummer]

I did the take apart and clean last year also - the winches would hardly turn - now they spin like new. I did not have any replacement parts but found that just cleaning and re-oil / grease did the trick. In fact it work so well on the two coach top winches that I did all four winches in a weekend, along with some other chores and docktails. I used two containers of mineral spirits - first to soak the parts in - gets bad fast - pulled out the parts and brushed them down, put back in, out, more brushing, then used second container to rinse the part clean. I let them dry while I did second winch then oiled and greased up the first winch and reinstalled. Take lots of pictures - I needed them for the first one of each type but not for the second, it was easy.

 

[heart of gold]

I wanted self tailers on the cabin top so I scrapped the Maxwells and installed a pair of Harken 20st's. They are reasonable at 400 or less each and my wife sure likes them better when handling the main. The Maxwells are solid winches though all except for the non standard winch handle insert. Arrgh.