How often do you service your winches? And, do you do it or have someone else do it? Is there a service where you can send the winches to be serviced?
Winch service
- Thread starter Fred7825
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Intervals vary depending on use and the environment in which you sail but you can check the mfg's recommendations as well as the process to service them in this link:
http://www.lewmar.com/support-instal-vid.asp
It's easy.
http://www.lewmar.com/support-instal-vid.asp
It's easy.
After the quote from a marine mechanic I quickly learned how to do it myself. I've only done the service 1x but have set up a 6-month maintenance task on my calendar to remind me to inspect & grease them (change parts if needed) because we sail every week. Some recommend 1x per year/season if you don't use them as much.
We have (6) lewmar s/t winches so I hit youtube and found excellent videos with great instructions. Watched them 2-3 times, bought Lewmar spare parts & supplies at West Marine for $125 and it took me 8 hours. First couple were slow but then it was easy.
Quote was $150 per winch...big savings & I learned a lot.
Good luck!
Matt
S/V "Soul Divers"
Hunter 456
Miami FL
We have (6) lewmar s/t winches so I hit youtube and found excellent videos with great instructions. Watched them 2-3 times, bought Lewmar spare parts & supplies at West Marine for $125 and it took me 8 hours. First couple were slow but then it was easy.
Quote was $150 per winch...big savings & I learned a lot.
Good luck!
Matt
S/V "Soul Divers"
Hunter 456
Miami FL
I watched the video and decided to try it.
I am moderately handy but was leery of what I perceived as a complicated job and put it off and off and off. It actually went exactly like the video. I did get a plastic storage box and cut a circular hole in the bottom and set it around each winch to contain an parts I might drop. Never dropped anything but I would have if I hadn't gotten the box. Got the Lewmar service kit which included a great pictorial in the servicing manual that was included. Laid that out flat nearby. Spread out a small boat towel (expendable retired house towels) to lay each part out on it in order. Cleaning off the old grease was the hardest part of the job. Have plenty of cotton rags on hand. Only tips I would add is to look carefully at where the self tailing stripper is positioned before you take it off, and after you take off the drum look carefully at the two sets of gears (one for each direction) so that you know which one goes larger gear up vs. lower gear down. I will do it regularly from now on.
I am moderately handy but was leery of what I perceived as a complicated job and put it off and off and off. It actually went exactly like the video. I did get a plastic storage box and cut a circular hole in the bottom and set it around each winch to contain an parts I might drop. Never dropped anything but I would have if I hadn't gotten the box. Got the Lewmar service kit which included a great pictorial in the servicing manual that was included. Laid that out flat nearby. Spread out a small boat towel (expendable retired house towels) to lay each part out on it in order. Cleaning off the old grease was the hardest part of the job. Have plenty of cotton rags on hand. Only tips I would add is to look carefully at where the self tailing stripper is positioned before you take it off, and after you take off the drum look carefully at the two sets of gears (one for each direction) so that you know which one goes larger gear up vs. lower gear down. I will do it regularly from now on.
Re: I watched the video and decided to try it.
Not a bad idea to take pictures as you take it apart. It can help reassembly in the same position or order.
Not a bad idea to take pictures as you take it apart. It can help reassembly in the same position or order.
Last edited:
Real easy
A great suggestion on this post was a plastic container with cutout so nothing bounces over the side.
Once you have the drum off,
Take the parts down below, and service in an area where parts can't accidentally get into the drink.
Take photos as you disassemble.
Get lots of varsol and a bucket. Use a small stiff brush, and go over all the parts, etc with the varsol & brush.
The only tricky parts are the pawl springs & pawls.
After once or twice, its easy.
Don't overdo it on the grease. On the lewmar videos, it shows how much to apply.
Good luck
Stripping down winches & servicing is very easy stuff.
A great suggestion on this post was a plastic container with cutout so nothing bounces over the side.
Once you have the drum off,
Take the parts down below, and service in an area where parts can't accidentally get into the drink.
Take photos as you disassemble.
Get lots of varsol and a bucket. Use a small stiff brush, and go over all the parts, etc with the varsol & brush.
The only tricky parts are the pawl springs & pawls.
After once or twice, its easy.
Don't overdo it on the grease. On the lewmar videos, it shows how much to apply.
Good luck
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