Hi guys. It's time to disassemble, clean, and regrease my winches. I will be using the "box with a hole in the bottom" idea for disassembly. I have the exploded diagram of the winch to help me. Two questions: what is the best solvent to use for parts cleaning? AND How much grease do I apply to the various parts? TIA.
Ready to regrease winches, some questions.......
- Thread starter Marcus14919
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I like mineral spirits.
It's safe but it eats up my 'acid proof' rubber gloves in about 15 minutes. The solution is to just not wear gloves. But I don't like grease under my fingernails. Some kind of hangup stemming from being a heterosexual male, if you know what I mean. As far as quantity of grease, just go easy. Note what's in there and duplicate the quantity. Try to keep the grease away from the pawls and their springs. Use an oil there, or just wipe off excess grease from the pawls with a paper towel. As long as they don't hang-up during testing after reassembly, they'll be fine. And for grease, I like moly bearing grease. Why? Time to fire up our viewers. First, It's waterproof. Second, it won't melt and run down the side of your boat. Third, it's very high-heat resistant. Fourth, it's very high-pressure (Load) resistant. Parts will break before they gall. Fifth, it's cheap. Sixth, it's available at any car store. Seventh, na, that's enough.
It's safe but it eats up my 'acid proof' rubber gloves in about 15 minutes. The solution is to just not wear gloves. But I don't like grease under my fingernails. Some kind of hangup stemming from being a heterosexual male, if you know what I mean. As far as quantity of grease, just go easy. Note what's in there and duplicate the quantity. Try to keep the grease away from the pawls and their springs. Use an oil there, or just wipe off excess grease from the pawls with a paper towel. As long as they don't hang-up during testing after reassembly, they'll be fine. And for grease, I like moly bearing grease. Why? Time to fire up our viewers. First, It's waterproof. Second, it won't melt and run down the side of your boat. Third, it's very high-heat resistant. Fourth, it's very high-pressure (Load) resistant. Parts will break before they gall. Fifth, it's cheap. Sixth, it's available at any car store. Seventh, na, that's enough.
Winch Cleaning
I usually use diesel fuel as a solvent and an old soft tooth brushwith the smaller parts and roller bearings in a tupperware bowl. Be aware that many roller beadings are loose fit into plastic housings and may fall out as you lift the winch drum. Pawl springs seem to like to jump overboard at the most in opportune time as well. If you don't feel comfortable with a total disassembly, the diesel fuel & tooth brush should get most of the old grease and dirt out; use paper towels and compressed air computer cleaner such as 'Dust-Off' before re-greasing with your selected winch lubricant. Fred's selection is probably a lot more cost efffective than the W-M products.
I usually use diesel fuel as a solvent and an old soft tooth brushwith the smaller parts and roller bearings in a tupperware bowl. Be aware that many roller beadings are loose fit into plastic housings and may fall out as you lift the winch drum. Pawl springs seem to like to jump overboard at the most in opportune time as well. If you don't feel comfortable with a total disassembly, the diesel fuel & tooth brush should get most of the old grease and dirt out; use paper towels and compressed air computer cleaner such as 'Dust-Off' before re-greasing with your selected winch lubricant. Fred's selection is probably a lot more cost efffective than the W-M products.
Some tips
Diesel works fine as a cleaner and getting some out of the bottom your racor filter (if you have one) is a also a good way to check on the condition of the fuel. Only use WD-40 or some other light lubricant (not grease) on your prawls. When greasing your roller bearings, make sure to really rub the grease into them. Also coat bearing surfaces with light grease before re-assembling. Do one winch at a time so if you have doubts about hopw its goes back together you have something to check against. Have fun.
Diesel works fine as a cleaner and getting some out of the bottom your racor filter (if you have one) is a also a good way to check on the condition of the fuel. Only use WD-40 or some other light lubricant (not grease) on your prawls. When greasing your roller bearings, make sure to really rub the grease into them. Also coat bearing surfaces with light grease before re-assembling. Do one winch at a time so if you have doubts about hopw its goes back together you have something to check against. Have fun.
Winch Cleaning
I've used both mineral spirits and diesel with good results. I prefer mineral spirits, however, only because every time I've used diesel, it seems to get on the gel coat, me, and everything else and it smells bad. Mineral spirits seem easier to clean up afterward. My preferred grease is white lithium. Comes in a tub, has the right viscosity, and lasts forever. I, too, use an old toothbrush to apply it. FWIW, I used to have Barient winches on my last boat -- and they are out of business. Sure enough, I needed to replace some worn out pawls and springs when I stripped one of the winches and wondered where to get them. Much to my delight, I found that some old Lewmar winch kits that I had in the tool box had extra pawls and springs and bingo! they fit the Barient perfectly.
I've used both mineral spirits and diesel with good results. I prefer mineral spirits, however, only because every time I've used diesel, it seems to get on the gel coat, me, and everything else and it smells bad. Mineral spirits seem easier to clean up afterward. My preferred grease is white lithium. Comes in a tub, has the right viscosity, and lasts forever. I, too, use an old toothbrush to apply it. FWIW, I used to have Barient winches on my last boat -- and they are out of business. Sure enough, I needed to replace some worn out pawls and springs when I stripped one of the winches and wondered where to get them. Much to my delight, I found that some old Lewmar winch kits that I had in the tool box had extra pawls and springs and bingo! they fit the Barient perfectly.
"Sailing" magazine
Check this month's issue of Sailing magazine for a very timely article on this subject. The article does not recommend the use of WD-40 because it is too heavy. John Richard
Check this month's issue of Sailing magazine for a very timely article on this subject. The article does not recommend the use of WD-40 because it is too heavy. John Richard
Take Them Home
I would not clean and rework my winche(s) on the boat. Unbolt them, take them home and do the rehab on the kitchen table. RD
I would not clean and rework my winche(s) on the boat. Unbolt them, take them home and do the rehab on the kitchen table. RD
John, are you sure you meant WD40?
The problem with the stuff is that it evaporates and has little film strength. It is most useful for drying out wet ignitions. They could be talking about LPS 3.
The problem with the stuff is that it evaporates and has little film strength. It is most useful for drying out wet ignitions. They could be talking about LPS 3.
Thanks all-
I especially like the "take 'em home" idea a lot--I've been messing up driveways and garages since I was 15. This is one suggestion that will save me a lot of extra work down the line.
I especially like the "take 'em home" idea a lot--I've been messing up driveways and garages since I was 15. This is one suggestion that will save me a lot of extra work down the line.
First things first!
First, you don't mention which winch manufacturer. Lewmars are the easiest to take apart and clean. Regardless, check with the manufacturer as to their recommendation for lubricants. Just some experience here - only do one winch at a time - cleaning complete to reassemble. Even with 2 of the same winches, wear may make some of the parts not interchangeable. I have Lewmar and clean all dirt with WD (can use kerosene, diesel, etc) and after thorough cleaning, use VERY sparingly lithium grease from Lewmar (doesn't really matter whose). The amount used should be so little that it you don't see it. Keep it extremely dry. Got this tip direct from Lewmar engineer. Too much grease and you will be gunking up your pawls, bearings, and the like with greasy dirt! Should inspected and cleaned at least once a year.
First, you don't mention which winch manufacturer. Lewmars are the easiest to take apart and clean. Regardless, check with the manufacturer as to their recommendation for lubricants. Just some experience here - only do one winch at a time - cleaning complete to reassemble. Even with 2 of the same winches, wear may make some of the parts not interchangeable. I have Lewmar and clean all dirt with WD (can use kerosene, diesel, etc) and after thorough cleaning, use VERY sparingly lithium grease from Lewmar (doesn't really matter whose). The amount used should be so little that it you don't see it. Keep it extremely dry. Got this tip direct from Lewmar engineer. Too much grease and you will be gunking up your pawls, bearings, and the like with greasy dirt! Should inspected and cleaned at least once a year.
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