Oceanis 321 Winch Gear removal

[Gavmc]

Help, trying to remove the larger gear(s) from the Lewmar St40's for the jib sheets. The winch is mounted so the removal slots are facing the coaming and I cannot get the larger gear set out of the base housing. I have tried to get the smaller upper gear off the bottom gear by centering in the housing and lifting the smaller gear off, but not enough clearance to get the larger gear free!

Anyone figured this out, short of having to debed the housing from the boat?

 

[Gunni]

There is a pin that acts as the axle for the gears. You life the pin and the gear slides out it's slot. No tools necessary. Google up the Lewmar Winch Maintenance You Tube. These are very easy winches to strip and maintain.

 

[Beneteau 321]

We have a 321 had same issue ,contacted Beneteau and only way to remove botton gear is remove winch from boat.I serviced and cleaned bottom gear in place.If winch has to be removed access to bolts is quite good,port side from inside cockpit locker ,stb from aft cabin

 

[TAK]

Same issue on a Beneteau 381, but came off easily. Goes back on easier with a helper. No leaks after two seasons.

 

[woodster]

here is a diagram of your winch http://www.pyacht.com/lewmar-winch-parts-40st.htm

not sure why you would have to remove the winch from the mounting i have serviced several winches and always been able to do so without removing the base ....but you must be very careful when doing so as not to drop parts overboard

 

[cymeyer]

I agree.
We serviced the winches on our 2000 MY B321 and did not remove the entire winch.

 

[cymeyer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_MjOJYYZ4A

Here is a 4 min youtube video on how to take apart the winch. I remember ours being the same. I just googled "Lewmar Winch Servicing"

 

[TAK]

The original post indicated "The winch is mounted so the removal slots are facing the coaming and I cannot get the larger gear set out of the base housing." Attached pix shows the winch mount from a Beneteau 381 and how it is recessed in the coaming. If the 321 mount is similar then the larger gear is no coming out if the winch was mounted with the opening in the recessed part of the coaming.

 

[joker460]

I'm a bit late to the conversation but doing a search on this website reveals others that have the same issue.

http://forums.beneteau.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=966474&highlight=winch gear removal

Scrolldown to Kite Runner post, it shows a lewmar winch recessed on a hunter.

http://forums.beneteau.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1110037&highlight=winch gear removal

Scroll down to phennessey post with pictures, it shows a lewmar winch recessed on a Catalina.

Why the manufacturers of the boats do that is beyond me.

Once you finally get the winch out, a good suggestion from Ivan in one of the posts was to add a spacer when you re-install the winch. That way you won't have to remove the whole winch the next time around.

Good luck

 

[Gunni]

Make sure your Lewmar winch is correctly installed, the large drive gear should be on the outside and slightly aft where the working sheet comes onto the drum. That should place your gear where it can be removed. But even if I couldn't make that work, I would remount the winch to give me the ability to completely strip the winch. These are very stout winches, but it is most important that you keep them clean and lubricated.

 

[Gavmc]

Thank you all for your input! I had come to the same conclusion, that is they have to come off to get the large gear out for servicing. I also checked with Lewmar and they confirmed that the large gear should be mounted in the position it is in on the 321. So I pulled them off, serviced them, re-bedded them and all works well. I thought about putting a teak spacer, but figured I would do that next time!
Would love to know what you folks have used, the sealant to re-bed the leaking fixed top ports!?