Repairing Aluminum winch drums?

[pateco]

So my salvaged/bartered Bronze Barlow 28 ST winches (that won't fit my boat) are actually selling on E-bay,


So based upon that, I took the plunge, and bought a set of used winches on E-bay

PAIR OF VERY LIGHTLY USED? HARKEN 40 SELF TAILING 2 SPEED WINCHES W/ALLOY JAWS!

They should be here next week.

 

[kappykaplan]

Looks good!

 

[dLj]

Darned nice looking winches! Way better than the ones you had - hahaha.

dj

 

[Ken Cross]

Sounds like the right choice.
Ken

 

[pateco]

Darned nice looking winches! Way better than the ones you had - hahaha.

dj

Only thing I am not entirely happy about with them is that you have to remove them completely to perform a complete service. These were made by Harken from 1992 to 1998. Bearing 726073 in the diagram below can only be accessed from the bottom of the winch. Their newer versions have resolved this issue, but would have cost double what I paid for these clean used ones.

 

[pateco]

As of right now, someone is getting a steal on my 8" base bronze two speed self tailing winches.
Barlow Bronze 28 two speed self tailing winches Pair

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[justsomeguy]

someone is getting a steal on my 8" base bronze two speed self tailing winches.

$136.83 for shipping?
Now I'm gonna get ads for winches throughout my browsing.

 

[pateco]

$136.83 for shipping?
Now I'm gonna get ads for winches throughout my browsing.

Their big and bronze. 34 lbs each so shipping UPS 68 lbs from S Florida. It shows $85 to ship them to my own Zip code.

 

[justsomeguy]

It shows $85 to ship them to my own Zip code.

Ouch!
Guess I've got more time than money, 'cause I'd deliver 'em myself!

 

[dLj]

I fully understand the issue of having to remove the winch to service, same thing on my boat with old winches. Ya pays yer money an ya makes yer choices..

dj

 

[pateco]

So it looks like I have a new project for this Sunday. The new (used) Harken 40ST winches arrived.


A fellow club member gave me the pair of Lewmar 16s that used to control the traveler on his MainCat (THANK YOU SIR). So, Sunday, I will be replacing both of the cockpit winches as well as the cabin top winches with self tailers. YEAH!

Additionally, the Barlow 28s that I have on E-bay are scheduled to sell tonight. You can see in the picture below the difference in the base size that made them unsuitable for my smallish boat.

Wish me luck.

 

[pateco]

I am try to decide what to use for backings for these new to me winches. The factory original winches are only backed with ss washers, and I want to do something a little better. Has anyone here backed a winch with HDPE. I was thinking of buying a couple of cheap cutting boards, and fashioning backing plates out of that. I might also check our local nautical salvage place for Starboard pieces that could be cut to work.

 

[Gunni]

As long as you are making an effort to upgrade the mount why not make a pattern with the bolt centers located and have a local machinist cut you a piece of stainless plate and drill the holes?

 

[pateco]

As long as you are making an effort to upgrade the mount why not make a pattern with the bolt centers located and have a local machinist cut you a piece of stainless plate and drill the holes?

Only reason not to do that is time. I might try to pick up some scrap stainless today , and do it myself. I used a section of old kitchen sink to make the backing plates for my cracked companionway steps a while ago. It wasn't too hard to do.

 

[isaksp00]

Or depending on the space where these go, use flat, maybe 1/16 or 1/8 thick stainless flat bars say an inch and a half or so wide, one for each side. You may even be able to get away with aluminum bars?

 

[pateco]

Or depending on the space where these go, use flat, maybe 1/16 or 1/8 thick stainless flat bars say an inch and a half or so wide, one for each side. You may even be able to get away with aluminum bars?

Went to Habitat Restore during lunch, and bought another stainless kitchen sink for $16.50 Should have plenty of quality flat stainless to cut out the backing plates. I'll post pictures as I go.

 

[pateco]

I found the servicing video for the older Harken 40st winches.

Doesn't look too bad.

 

[Jackdaw]

Winches are in a shear load, not tension. If the deck construction is solid, washers should be fine. And they've lasted this far right?

 

[pateco]

Ok, so I started servicing the used winches after work yesterday, and then went to the boat to remove the old ones.

Lots of parts hope I don't lose or break anything LOL

The old winches came off easy.


However, I was mistaken in thinking they were backed in the quarter berth. They were just tapped into a plate molded into the deck.


The cabin top winches however, are backed with nuts and small washers.


Now I have a new issue. I was planning in filling the old holes with epoxy prior to drilling and tapping new holes for the new Harkens. However, the original primary winches were sealed on the deck with silicone, (the horror). The existing holes and tapped threads in the deck are covered in a thin layer of silicone sealant. I don't think the epoxy will seal the holes with silicone still in there. How do I reseal the holes in the deck without causing issues?


I need to do this before I mount the new winches. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

[jssailem]

Clean clean clean, scrape scrape scrape, clean clean clean, acetone, sand paper, clean..... get lucky.

Or just place the winches in a new place. No that would not look good.

Question. Did you get lucky? Are all the bolt holes in the same place?