swing keel winch handle front panel cover removal

[marcial canals]

I have a 1981 catalina that recently was purchased and need help with removing the front panel that covers the winch mechanism. The handle goes through a round hole, I removed two of the top screws that held the panel in place but can't get it out since the crank handle is in the way. I tried to remove the crank handle but can't seem to get it off. Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Paul]

Jam the winch from behind.....

Hi,I think you can reach around behind the panel and jam a block, screw driver, etc in against the winch gear to keep it from turning. Then try and turn the handle loose. Mine was similar when I bought my 71 C22. I did not have a lock nut on the handle. The handle was threaded and just screwed on the winch shaft which extended thru the hole in the wooden cover.Good luckPaul

 

[John renfro]

winch

hello marcial, the handle is held to the winch by a threaded shaft that matches threads in the handle. The handle will not come off the shaft because of a nut, or an " E " clip on the end of the shaft. You will have seen the nut and removed it so I would think you have the clip retention, it looks like a washer with 1/4th of it missing to slip into a groove cut into the outside end of the shaft. once this is removed, the handle can be unscrewed counter clockwise.john