Winch Maintenance

[cscott]

Almost ready for new sailing season. Just washed the boat and ready to put 2 coats of PoliGlow on.Now for the Winches. How many of you have taken your winches apart and greased them? How often do you do it? How difficult is it? Are there any small parts that I could lose? I have a 1993 26S, that I bought last August, and I do not know how the winches have been taken care of. I plan to take them apart to check them out and grease them.After the winches, I plan to lift the bottom of my CDI FF1 or 2 Furler to see if the turnbuckle is secure with cotter keys. I don't want that to come apart either.I,ve also installed a new Honda 8hp extra long shaft electric start, and installed a stainless steel prop gard.Installed an new IDA rudder also.There are other mods that I have made in the cabin.I have ordered the transom decals with her name and home port. They are in the mail as we speak.As I said, I bought her last August and have never had her in the water. I want to launch her so bad that I can tast it. I will launch her in the Columbia River at Portland the first of May. Will do my shakedown May, June, and first of July, than taker her up to the San Juans, Golf Islands, and Puget Sound for three months.Thanks for any input and listening,Chuck"The Last Chance""Aumsville Oregon"

 

[Robspan]

Winches

I've cleaned winches before but not these. Since they're single speed, there shouldn't be too much stuff in there to lose. You might want to plug the cockpit drain hole just in case. You unscrew the screw at the bottom of the hole where the handle goes. It could be either a slot head or an allen screw. Then carefully lift off the outer part of the winch. Take note of how things are arranged. There are usually two or more little doodads under spring tension that click into the pawls and which cause the clicking sound when you turn the winch. You may have to put them back so be sure you know how they are supposed to go. As I recall, it's fairly obvious how everything else fits. Have paper towels or rags to wipe off the old grease, then apply new winch grease and put it back together.This is one of those operations where if you know how to do it, it takes just a few minutes. But if you're a first timer and careful, it takes a good bit longer. Good luck.

 

[Justin_NSA]

Lewmar tips

This link from Lewmar. I cleaned mine while still on the deck. Be careful of the small parts. A friend suggested cutting a shoe box in half and then slipping the halves under the winch to capture parts.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks

Thanks for the tips. I like the shoe box idea and will use that on the winches and CDI Furler. Last night I found the Lewmar website and downloaded the maintance manual for all of thier winches. For the small ones on the 26S it looks pretty easy. I will clean them while the boat is in my back yard. I will also raise the mast and do the maintenance on the Furler in the backyard, before taking the boat up to Portland.Thanks,Chuck

 

[Robspan]

Doodads

The "doodads" I referred to in my first post look to be the pawl and pawl spring in Justin's link. As I recall, the pawl sometimes causes the winch housing to bind when you're removing or replacing it. I think you turn the drum clockwise to unbind it. It's fairly easy to reassemble pawl and pawl spring if they come apart. Justin's suggestion about a shoe box sounds good. I think I've spent more time looking for the spring than with everything else combined.

 

[Chuck]

Good Inputs

Thanks for all the good inputs. I plane to take the first winch apart Saturday, and have my shoe box ready. I plan to check all the standing rigging, and will check the forstay carefully. Next week I am taking my Main Sail in to have slugs installed, as I want to run the halyard to the cockpit while I have the boat moored in Portland. Thanks again,Chuck

 

[Chuck]

Glad I'am Doing This

Just came in from taking my Lewmar Winches apart. The grease is old, black, and sticky. There is dirt and some water in the bottom of the winches. It was very easy to take them apart, and I used the shoe box idea.Yesterday, I bought acetone, fishing reel grease, and sewing machine oil. Tomorrow I will clean the old grease off, clean out the winch body, gears, and small cogs. I will than lightly grease the gears, put a couple of drops of sewing machine oil on the cogs, than reassemble the winches.I feel good about doing this, and plan to do it this fall when I put the boat away. Have no idea when or if it was ever done before.BTY, My decals came with the boats name, drawing, and home port. When it gets warm, around 65 or 70, I will install them. Got the main out today, and will take it to the sailmaker in Portland, OR to have slugs installed week after next.Chuck