Tough Winch Question

[Steve G]

I was taking apart one of my Maxwell 24 two-speed winches to clean and regrease them. I knocked over the clockwise clutch assembly, and didn't notice until later that I had lost all four clutch springs. A hands & knees search produced three of them, but one seems lost forever. I believe the 24 series is out of manufacture,and so the question; Will another company's spring fit, and if so, where can I order a few? Or; Anybody got some old springs hanging around? I'd hate to have a thousand dollar winch rendered useless over a one-dollar part.Thanks...

 

[Dave Busby]

What model Winch do you have?

If you know what the spring is, (size, diameter, tension, coils) you can get a replacement spring from McMaster-Carr in Atlanta, GA. I have supplied a link. The main concers is the size of the spring and tension. But you shoouldn't have too much difficulty. Good luck.

 

[Augie Byllott]

I have no doubt that you will ba able to replace the spring. However, I'll bet that if you assembled your winch with three pawls instead of the usual four, you'd never know the difference.

 

[Steve G]

Thanks Guys

My 11 year old daughter climbed under my workbench with a flashlight and came up with it. Dusty, but none the worse for wear. Now I just owe her an ice cream. Lesson (re)learned... Clear the benchtop before taking things apart. Dave, I'll save that link. Thanks again,Steve

 

[Clamhead]

Taking wiches apart

I learned a great trick from an old timer. Use a plastic storage tub and cut a whole in the lid leaving a few inches around the edges. Put the winch in the tub before you take it apart. That way if any of the pawls or springs go flying, they will be caught in the tub. I took this on step further and cut a slot and mast profile hole so I can slide it around the mast take my winches apart while they are still on the mast.

 

[Chuck]

winch repairs

good idea! you can also use the cardboard tray that bottled water or cans of soda/beer come in-cut a hole in it so it just fits over your deck mounted winch, and work away! anything you drop will be trapped by the tray