My maintenance literature recommends periodic disassembly, inspection, greasing, and reassembly of the three winches on my '86 Cat 22. But I've not been able to find detailed info about doing that. Can anyone point me toward such, or tell me what's involved in the job? I would hate to take one apart and create a problem by not knowing how to properly do the work and reassembly.
What's involved in rebuilding a winch?
- Thread starter jfrench
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Hey man, I'm surprised no one has weighed in on this, but here goes. I've been into several winches, (Lewmar, Arco, etc.), but none of the "high tech" winches. They all seem very straightforward. You strike me as a smart fellow, and mechanically inclined, so I would just tear in to it. They mostly have a circular type snap ring on top that is very easy to remove.
To start with, the advice I've seen about cutting a round hole in a box, just big enough to slip over the winch seems like a good idea, especially if it's done over the water. You will drop parts. And they are stainless parts mostly, except the springs, so a magnet won't help much.
Anyway, after the clip is off, the winch drum will slide smoothly off the base. No surprises, nothing goes "kasproing". You know, like an electric motor brush will do. Then it's simply a matter of cleaning the old oil/grease out of it. Here's where I like a piece of plastic layed around the thing, sort of like the aforementioned box, just to keep the mess off the side of the boat. I think a light oil is good, personally, because I like a winch to be very smooth turning. I tried a grease once, made it too slow, stripped it back down, and went with something lighter. I think winch grease is available, but in my stupid opinion, anything with a picture of a boat on it, is four times the price.
West Marine sells a "winch rebuild kit", but what a joke. It does have the springs, and pawls that one wood need if you lost these parts, but there is an odd number of parts in the "kit", which would necessatate buying two of them. (They've got it figured out at W.M.) Note the sarcasm.
And, an '86 model can not possibly wear out these parts yet, so just a cleaning and re-greasing should be all there is. It's really easy.
To start with, the advice I've seen about cutting a round hole in a box, just big enough to slip over the winch seems like a good idea, especially if it's done over the water. You will drop parts. And they are stainless parts mostly, except the springs, so a magnet won't help much.
Anyway, after the clip is off, the winch drum will slide smoothly off the base. No surprises, nothing goes "kasproing". You know, like an electric motor brush will do. Then it's simply a matter of cleaning the old oil/grease out of it. Here's where I like a piece of plastic layed around the thing, sort of like the aforementioned box, just to keep the mess off the side of the boat. I think a light oil is good, personally, because I like a winch to be very smooth turning. I tried a grease once, made it too slow, stripped it back down, and went with something lighter. I think winch grease is available, but in my stupid opinion, anything with a picture of a boat on it, is four times the price.
West Marine sells a "winch rebuild kit", but what a joke. It does have the springs, and pawls that one wood need if you lost these parts, but there is an odd number of parts in the "kit", which would necessatate buying two of them. (They've got it figured out at W.M.) Note the sarcasm.
And, an '86 model can not possibly wear out these parts yet, so just a cleaning and re-greasing should be all there is. It's really easy.
Or the Lewmar Service Manual right here at SBO
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=17
http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=17
I rebuilt the 4 ARCO #6 winches on my '86 boat. The old grease had turned to goo, so there was no click at all. I had never done a winch before, but it was not hard, and now they work great. If you have this winch let me know and I'll post instructions.
Here are the photos from one of my rebuilds
Here are the photos I took from my rebuild. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what is involved. The body is freed by removing a spiral clip that I took off with a pair of small flat blade screw drivers. By removing the winch from the boat, I was able to remove the cir-clip that holds the shaft on the upper casting and clean it and grease before re assembly. The pawls and springs just slip out from above and I soaked them in solvent to clean them. The rest I cleaned with a toothbrush and some solvent. I was very sparing with the grease and used oil on the pawls. Its been about a year and a half and they are still working well. I will likely tear one down in another 6 months to a year and see how they are holding up. You know, after I run out of other things to do, lol...
Here are the photos I took from my rebuild. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what is involved. The body is freed by removing a spiral clip that I took off with a pair of small flat blade screw drivers. By removing the winch from the boat, I was able to remove the cir-clip that holds the shaft on the upper casting and clean it and grease before re assembly. The pawls and springs just slip out from above and I soaked them in solvent to clean them. The rest I cleaned with a toothbrush and some solvent. I was very sparing with the grease and used oil on the pawls. Its been about a year and a half and they are still working well. I will likely tear one down in another 6 months to a year and see how they are holding up. You know, after I run out of other things to do, lol...
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