I am looking for a little advice concerning a Lewmar winch that is getting pretty tight. It has recently become difficult to turn it by hand or with a wrapped line but I can still turn it with a winch handle. I have never had any of the winches on my boat apart and I have had the boat for 4 years. It is a 1987 Hunter and I have no knowledge of maintenance before I got it. The problem became noticeable rather suddenly. I have not had any problem prior to last week and the other winches seem fine. I don't get to sail it but a couple of times a month. Is it way past time to be doing a rebuild or what would be the best course of action? I have heard that winches are not easy to work on and I don't claim to be the most mechanically inclined sailor in the world. I can imagine springs and gears flying all over the place!! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Capt. Jim
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Henry Scurlock
Winch maint
There was an article in the spring edition of Knotline with some basics on maintaining a winch. You can download it at the address below.
There was an article in the spring edition of Knotline with some basics on maintaining a winch. You can download it at the address below.
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Gene
Lemar
I have a H-34 and have taken the winches apart. Its not bad at all. Order replacement kits which contain pawls and springs. Take off the winch and make a sketch of the innards before removing. Check Lewmar web page. I have a drawing of mine that I believe I got off the net. Degrease everything and regrease with winch grease and reassemble. Boat US has kits and grease.
I have a H-34 and have taken the winches apart. Its not bad at all. Order replacement kits which contain pawls and springs. Take off the winch and make a sketch of the innards before removing. Check Lewmar web page. I have a drawing of mine that I believe I got off the net. Degrease everything and regrease with winch grease and reassemble. Boat US has kits and grease.
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Bruce Hill
It's really not that bad!
What you will need: 2 copy paper boxes Toothbrush Solvent Rags/lot's of paper towels 2 Aluminum pans-throwaway Winch grease Prawls & Springs Machine oil Paper and pencil TIME Cut a hole in the bottom of the box so it fits snugly over the winch. Any loose pieces will fall in the box. Take off the screw cover top, put it in 1 pan at your feet in a safe place. This will now be the "clean parts" pan. Take the drum off the winch. Nothing will spring off, but be careful as parts may stick inside the drum. Set it in the other box, at your feet, in a safe place. This is now the dirty parts box. Carefully take apart the winch, make sketches as needed. It is very logical, and actually an interesting piece of equipment. As you disassemble, carefully put the parts in the dirty parts box. When done, clean the part still bolted to the boat. Now, clean all the parts with solvent and a toothbrush using 1 pan. As they are cleaned, put them in the other pan. When done, install the new springs and prawls and oil, do not grease. Grease all other parts and reassemble. If you get lost, remember the other winch is the same. Cut a hole in the dirty parts box and take the drum off to observe the other winch if you need to. Start with a halyard winch first, it is smaller and in a place where pieces won't fall off. First winch will take you about 2 hours, once you get confident you can do a winch an hour. Take your time, pay attention, and be proud that you did it!
What you will need: 2 copy paper boxes Toothbrush Solvent Rags/lot's of paper towels 2 Aluminum pans-throwaway Winch grease Prawls & Springs Machine oil Paper and pencil TIME Cut a hole in the bottom of the box so it fits snugly over the winch. Any loose pieces will fall in the box. Take off the screw cover top, put it in 1 pan at your feet in a safe place. This will now be the "clean parts" pan. Take the drum off the winch. Nothing will spring off, but be careful as parts may stick inside the drum. Set it in the other box, at your feet, in a safe place. This is now the dirty parts box. Carefully take apart the winch, make sketches as needed. It is very logical, and actually an interesting piece of equipment. As you disassemble, carefully put the parts in the dirty parts box. When done, clean the part still bolted to the boat. Now, clean all the parts with solvent and a toothbrush using 1 pan. As they are cleaned, put them in the other pan. When done, install the new springs and prawls and oil, do not grease. Grease all other parts and reassemble. If you get lost, remember the other winch is the same. Cut a hole in the dirty parts box and take the drum off to observe the other winch if you need to. Start with a halyard winch first, it is smaller and in a place where pieces won't fall off. First winch will take you about 2 hours, once you get confident you can do a winch an hour. Take your time, pay attention, and be proud that you did it!
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LaDonna Bubak - Catalina Owners
Only one thing to add
The others have very thoroughly described the winch repacking procedures but you should know that most winch manufacturers recommend you repack them yearly. Dust and salt get in there and can cause major binding. You'll be thoroughly disgusted at all the gunk clogging those cogs! And be sure to wear latex gloves - makes clean up sooo much easier! LaDonna
The others have very thoroughly described the winch repacking procedures but you should know that most winch manufacturers recommend you repack them yearly. Dust and salt get in there and can cause major binding. You'll be thoroughly disgusted at all the gunk clogging those cogs! And be sure to wear latex gloves - makes clean up sooo much easier! LaDonna
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Brad Stone
For additional peace of mind...
Contact Lewmar. Call or email. I just did the Maxwells on my boat, not knowing their history, and Maxwell was very helpful. You might be able to get schematics and a manual from Lewmar, which'll turn you into a pro.
Contact Lewmar. Call or email. I just did the Maxwells on my boat, not knowing their history, and Maxwell was very helpful. You might be able to get schematics and a manual from Lewmar, which'll turn you into a pro.
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Bob Fischer
Maintenance kit
Purchase a Lewmar winch maintenance kit from West or Boat US, it has a detailed booklet explaining the disassembly and maintenance process. Well worth the money.
Purchase a Lewmar winch maintenance kit from West or Boat US, it has a detailed booklet explaining the disassembly and maintenance process. Well worth the money.
C
Charlie
Do It Yourself
Jim, You can do this yourself!! First get on your computer and contact Lewmar. Just type www.lewmar.com and you will get there. Ask them to send you a manual for your wench. I did this and its a great book free! The wench is not a difficult machine and I can tell that yours is dirty and the grease has gotten hard. You buy the wench grease at West Marine or any good marine store. The first time I did mine it was in the back yard and I did not have a manual. Things that I learned--Get a small white cardboard box and cut a hole in it to fit the wench, then cut the box in half. slide the box under the wench from each side and tape to hold it together. Then remove the screws on top of the wench and remove the drum. Once this is off you will see the how dirty is. remove the gear and bearings and wash in solvent and dry. Now you can check the springs and pauls for wear and purchase what you need. The box will give you confidance in case you drop something it won't be lost. After you do it a couple of times, I do mine every two years, you won't need the box. You will not believe how smooth they will work when your are finished, and you will never let them get that bad again!! Good Sailing Charlie 28MKII #555 Avec Plaisir
Jim, You can do this yourself!! First get on your computer and contact Lewmar. Just type www.lewmar.com and you will get there. Ask them to send you a manual for your wench. I did this and its a great book free! The wench is not a difficult machine and I can tell that yours is dirty and the grease has gotten hard. You buy the wench grease at West Marine or any good marine store. The first time I did mine it was in the back yard and I did not have a manual. Things that I learned--Get a small white cardboard box and cut a hole in it to fit the wench, then cut the box in half. slide the box under the wench from each side and tape to hold it together. Then remove the screws on top of the wench and remove the drum. Once this is off you will see the how dirty is. remove the gear and bearings and wash in solvent and dry. Now you can check the springs and pauls for wear and purchase what you need. The box will give you confidance in case you drop something it won't be lost. After you do it a couple of times, I do mine every two years, you won't need the box. You will not believe how smooth they will work when your are finished, and you will never let them get that bad again!! Good Sailing Charlie 28MKII #555 Avec Plaisir
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
So true, Charlie!
This post reminded me that it had been a couple of years since I did mine so I spent about an hour on Friday repacking the sheet winches. It's amazing the difference from the first time to this time. I literally spent HOURS on EACH winch last (the first) time cuz they'd been let go for soooo long. The grease was hard & nasty. This time just took a light brushing with a tooth brush & some old diesel. Lubed the gears with some winch grease (cheap white lithium works just fine too), lubed the pawls with Boeshield (or machine oil) - voila! I didn't notice much of a difference in performance this time cuz they were pretty clean to begin with but the difference in cleaning them that first time was night & day! Just knowing that alls well in there is satisfying. LaDonna
This post reminded me that it had been a couple of years since I did mine so I spent about an hour on Friday repacking the sheet winches. It's amazing the difference from the first time to this time. I literally spent HOURS on EACH winch last (the first) time cuz they'd been let go for soooo long. The grease was hard & nasty. This time just took a light brushing with a tooth brush & some old diesel. Lubed the gears with some winch grease (cheap white lithium works just fine too), lubed the pawls with Boeshield (or machine oil) - voila! I didn't notice much of a difference in performance this time cuz they were pretty clean to begin with but the difference in cleaning them that first time was night & day! Just knowing that alls well in there is satisfying. LaDonna
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Rob Rich
Go for it, and here is some help...
Hey Captain Jim, I just did this myself - not hard at all, and you don't have to be mechanically inclined, though that helps. Below is a link to my overhaul project on a pair of Barient 21 dual speed winches. This shold help you visually see this project, and how uncomplicated it really can be. Don't worry about parts flying everywhere, that's more myth than fact. Usually only the pawls are under spring pressure. Best of Luck! Rob
Hey Captain Jim, I just did this myself - not hard at all, and you don't have to be mechanically inclined, though that helps. Below is a link to my overhaul project on a pair of Barient 21 dual speed winches. This shold help you visually see this project, and how uncomplicated it really can be. Don't worry about parts flying everywhere, that's more myth than fact. Usually only the pawls are under spring pressure. Best of Luck! Rob
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