Just bought a lovely boat from a couple who "never used those winches"...One of the winches is super hard to turn, even with the handle, and it heated up when we squirted lubricating/cleaning oil into it while cranking the handle. Of course black stuff came out with the oil, so I know there's some corrosion there. We tried to get it loose from the boat by taking off the acorn nuts inside the cabin, but 2 of them won't come off, they just turn, bolt and all. So what's our best option? Cut the bolts off and buy a new winch? (or replace the bearings ?) Keep flushing oil through the existing winch? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks MLB PS..the winch is a Barlow Australia 16. It is one of the winches for the jib sheets. They are mounted on the roof of the cabin.
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Disassemble the winch on the boat.
You did not mention which brand of winch you are refering to. You can take a box and cut a hole in the bottom about the same diameter as the winch base (this keeps the parts on board). Place the box over the winch and remove the parts. Place the parts in a large coffee can and clean with something like paint thinner, mineral spirits etc. When all the parts are cleaned you can inspect them for wear. Replace the worn parts and reassemble. The parts need to be lubricated with a good quality winch grease during assembly.
You did not mention which brand of winch you are refering to. You can take a box and cut a hole in the bottom about the same diameter as the winch base (this keeps the parts on board). Place the box over the winch and remove the parts. Place the parts in a large coffee can and clean with something like paint thinner, mineral spirits etc. When all the parts are cleaned you can inspect them for wear. Replace the worn parts and reassemble. The parts need to be lubricated with a good quality winch grease during assembly.
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Mama Bruff
Can't get to the parts
Therein lies the problem. I can't get the winch "open" to work on it. It is a Barlow Australia 16. Do I need to cut the bolts off from underneath, or is there a way to open it from the top? Your box idea is great if I could gain top access. thx, MLB
Therein lies the problem. I can't get the winch "open" to work on it. It is a Barlow Australia 16. Do I need to cut the bolts off from underneath, or is there a way to open it from the top? Your box idea is great if I could gain top access. thx, MLB
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Ed
The parts need to be lubricated with a good quality winch grease during assembly ? ? . Cleaned our winches 3 years ago one was getting hard to turn. I like the box idea just make sure you tape it down real good. All I did was hand wipe the parts down good as harsh solvintes like paint thinner may damage your parts as well as your hull. The black you seen is normal for winches. When you rebuild your winch we used a greese that is used on dary farms for the milk line and is eatable. Also you do not need to use much greese as it will jam up the winch.
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Paul Mieszczenski
Barlows have a collar
If you look at the top of the winch you will see a circle just outside of the hole that you put the winch handle into. There should be two small holes on opposite sides for a spanner wrench to unscrew the collar that holds the whole thing together. Once the collar is off the drum should lift off and expose the inside. Be sure to make a sketch or a list of how things come apart so you can reassemble in the reverse order. A good cleaning and some white lithium grease should put you back in buissiness. If they were never used I doubt that you will need any new parts. Good luck PM
If you look at the top of the winch you will see a circle just outside of the hole that you put the winch handle into. There should be two small holes on opposite sides for a spanner wrench to unscrew the collar that holds the whole thing together. Once the collar is off the drum should lift off and expose the inside. Be sure to make a sketch or a list of how things come apart so you can reassemble in the reverse order. A good cleaning and some white lithium grease should put you back in buissiness. If they were never used I doubt that you will need any new parts. Good luck PM
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Allen Schweitzer
Self Tailing?
If you have a self tailing winch, you will need to remove the part of the winch that lifts the line off of the base of the drum & guides it into the crimping part on the top of the drum. On our Barient winches, you need to turn this counter clockwise. We had to hit it fairly hard with a 2' long 2x4 to get it loose. Once it was loosened, the rest of the winch came apart easily. Good luck. Allen Schweitzer s/v Drambuie Catalina 30 Hull# 632
If you have a self tailing winch, you will need to remove the part of the winch that lifts the line off of the base of the drum & guides it into the crimping part on the top of the drum. On our Barient winches, you need to turn this counter clockwise. We had to hit it fairly hard with a 2' long 2x4 to get it loose. Once it was loosened, the rest of the winch came apart easily. Good luck. Allen Schweitzer s/v Drambuie Catalina 30 Hull# 632
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com
Repacking winches
Paul is correct that your winch is made to disassemble as it sits on the combing. You do not *need* to remove it completely. You might search on Google to see if you can find instructions on how to repack that particular winch (where everything goes, etc). When everything is disassembled, clean with just about any solvent. If things are pretty clean, I like using WD40 cuz you can spray it where you need to and the clean up is easier than a bucket of gas, mineral spirits, etc. I use a soft toothbrush to clean out all the gunk - and it sounds like you'll have plenty of gunk! Once everything is nice & clean, apply a thin coat of grease (I use white lithium - super cheap at Home Depot) on every inner part EXCEPT the springs. There should be tiny little springs inside the pawls (these are what usually plop overboard and why you should use a box) and these should be lubed with a light machine oil, NOT grease. The grease will build up & can cause problems. Carefully reassemble everything just the way it was (make sure there are no leftover parts!) and voila! You'll have a perfectly useable winch again!! BTW, if you really want to take the winch off - not a horrible idea if you've never repacked a wich before since you can take it home & find any parts that fly off - disassemble the drum and then you should have access to the bolts that are turning. Just use a screwdriver on the top side & wrench on the bottom. Just be sure to use an appropriate sealant (3M 4200) when reinstalling it so there are no leaks. LaDonna
Paul is correct that your winch is made to disassemble as it sits on the combing. You do not *need* to remove it completely. You might search on Google to see if you can find instructions on how to repack that particular winch (where everything goes, etc). When everything is disassembled, clean with just about any solvent. If things are pretty clean, I like using WD40 cuz you can spray it where you need to and the clean up is easier than a bucket of gas, mineral spirits, etc. I use a soft toothbrush to clean out all the gunk - and it sounds like you'll have plenty of gunk! Once everything is nice & clean, apply a thin coat of grease (I use white lithium - super cheap at Home Depot) on every inner part EXCEPT the springs. There should be tiny little springs inside the pawls (these are what usually plop overboard and why you should use a box) and these should be lubed with a light machine oil, NOT grease. The grease will build up & can cause problems. Carefully reassemble everything just the way it was (make sure there are no leftover parts!) and voila! You'll have a perfectly useable winch again!! BTW, if you really want to take the winch off - not a horrible idea if you've never repacked a wich before since you can take it home & find any parts that fly off - disassemble the drum and then you should have access to the bolts that are turning. Just use a screwdriver on the top side & wrench on the bottom. Just be sure to use an appropriate sealant (3M 4200) when reinstalling it so there are no leaks. LaDonna
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Richard Brabazon
Winch Info
check out the Australian Winch Company web site - excellent information and good e-mail support if required. I have 8 Barlow winches and get excellent information from Arco. See attached link for address.
check out the Australian Winch Company web site - excellent information and good e-mail support if required. I have 8 Barlow winches and get excellent information from Arco. See attached link for address.
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Mama Bruff
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