I have a 81' Hunter 37C Cherubini. I have two winches welded to the mast...one for the main and the other for the Staysail. Is there a way, other than pulling the mast and getting each winch standing straight up, to service them? The alternative appears only to be to grind them off and service them and then heliarc them back onto the mast. I assume, since I have never serviced one that after taking the locking ring off the top of the winch.....that all sorts of parts would cascade out of the insides of that winch.....bouncing merrily on deck and into a watery grave. At least that is what I am afraid will happen. Someone please enlighten me. Can I disassemble and re-assemble them horizontally while on the mast? Frank Bean SV Blue Bird Mobile, Alabama
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Frank, dont do it.
look on this site for instructions on disassembly. If they are maxwells there is a screw inside the winch hub on the top. it will allow you to disassemble the winch, then the base is screwed to the welded on bracket from the inside. hope that makes some sense.
look on this site for instructions on disassembly. If they are maxwells there is a screw inside the winch hub on the top. it will allow you to disassemble the winch, then the base is screwed to the welded on bracket from the inside. hope that makes some sense.
other brands of winches,
Will be just a little different. but look at the instructions. dont cut.
Will be just a little different. but look at the instructions. dont cut.
Get a Cardboard Box
Get a cardboard box big enough to fit around the winch and mast. Cut the top off the box. Cut the box in half vertically, make a cutout for the mast in each of the halves, tape the box back together around the mast with the winch inside. Close any gaps around the mast with tape. Work on the winch while it is in the box. The box will catch any parts that fall off. The idea here is to make an enclosure around the winch(es) with the top open so you can work. You must remove the winch drum to access the fasteners that hold the winch to the base.
Get a cardboard box big enough to fit around the winch and mast. Cut the top off the box. Cut the box in half vertically, make a cutout for the mast in each of the halves, tape the box back together around the mast with the winch inside. Close any gaps around the mast with tape. Work on the winch while it is in the box. The box will catch any parts that fall off. The idea here is to make an enclosure around the winch(es) with the top open so you can work. You must remove the winch drum to access the fasteners that hold the winch to the base.
Winch Pads
Just cleaned all the winches on my '81, what your looking at is actually the winch pad welded to the mast. You must remove the drum from the winch to see the base where it is bolted to the winch pad. The winches on my boat are the original Barients if yours are the same be careful, don't lose any parts, there hard to come by. Charles
Just cleaned all the winches on my '81, what your looking at is actually the winch pad welded to the mast. You must remove the drum from the winch to see the base where it is bolted to the winch pad. The winches on my boat are the original Barients if yours are the same be careful, don't lose any parts, there hard to come by. Charles
Taking off the drum is possible?
First I won't cut it off....thanks for that great bit of information...... NOW.....I haven't taken a single winch apart before and since it is better to plan this all out then to go...geez, I should of thought of that....I am asking this clarification question....from all your helpful responses. Am I to understand that it is in fact possible to take the drum off first without losing all the parts...(I plan on having a box to catch things of course....I was asking because I wasn't sure how they were constructed.......) Then after removing the drum I can remove the remainder of the winch by seperating it from the base(winch pad) and then I can repair/clean and replace everything? Then if I can infer this sequence correctly.....I can re-attach the repaired winch to the pad again.....and then put the drum back on and not have all the parts fall out or dislodge in the process of putting the drum back on? Is that what is possible? Pleae forgive me for my inexperience. I just want to do it correctly. Thanks Frank Bean
First I won't cut it off....thanks for that great bit of information...... NOW.....I haven't taken a single winch apart before and since it is better to plan this all out then to go...geez, I should of thought of that....I am asking this clarification question....from all your helpful responses. Am I to understand that it is in fact possible to take the drum off first without losing all the parts...(I plan on having a box to catch things of course....I was asking because I wasn't sure how they were constructed.......) Then after removing the drum I can remove the remainder of the winch by seperating it from the base(winch pad) and then I can repair/clean and replace everything? Then if I can infer this sequence correctly.....I can re-attach the repaired winch to the pad again.....and then put the drum back on and not have all the parts fall out or dislodge in the process of putting the drum back on? Is that what is possible? Pleae forgive me for my inexperience. I just want to do it correctly. Thanks Frank Bean
Winch opening
Frank, Most winches have very controlable part. I assume that the winches are one speed winches. After the spring clip is removed CAREFULLY (with a box under it, remember you may need two hands, a helper also has a set of eyes and a memory, besides it is fun to do together) Slowly remove the drum. Most bearings ,if this winch even has them, are cylinder bearings that are contained in a race. They should not fall out individually.However if your race is bad there may be a couple loose ones. As you slide the drum off post/base, there are spring loaded pawls at the top of the post or on the inside of the drum, some are near the base and others have both. The pawls have there own little seat and should stay inplace if the seat is not worn. The pawls don't normally fly, but if you mishandle the spring , they fly. Keep close tabs on the spring. Some winches you will need to remove the post base from the mast seat to finish cleaning it. There should be 4 to 6 screws holding the base on the mast seat.You will not see them until the drum is removed. On some winches, inside the post is another spring clip that releases the inner shaft. I know this sounds a bit scary, but it is not hard at all. Go slow and put everything back where you found it. good luck r.w.landau
Frank, Most winches have very controlable part. I assume that the winches are one speed winches. After the spring clip is removed CAREFULLY (with a box under it, remember you may need two hands, a helper also has a set of eyes and a memory, besides it is fun to do together) Slowly remove the drum. Most bearings ,if this winch even has them, are cylinder bearings that are contained in a race. They should not fall out individually.However if your race is bad there may be a couple loose ones. As you slide the drum off post/base, there are spring loaded pawls at the top of the post or on the inside of the drum, some are near the base and others have both. The pawls have there own little seat and should stay inplace if the seat is not worn. The pawls don't normally fly, but if you mishandle the spring , they fly. Keep close tabs on the spring. Some winches you will need to remove the post base from the mast seat to finish cleaning it. There should be 4 to 6 screws holding the base on the mast seat.You will not see them until the drum is removed. On some winches, inside the post is another spring clip that releases the inner shaft. I know this sounds a bit scary, but it is not hard at all. Go slow and put everything back where you found it. good luck r.w.landau
Parts Diagram
Frank, what helped me before I started disassembly of the winch is find out what brand and model winch you have and get a parts diagram. This will help you in taking apart the winch as some of the internal parts do not need to be removed to be cleaned. I have (2) Barient 18C 2 speed halyard winches on my mast. I heard that there are diagrams and disassembly instructions on this site, but if you can't find them and have the same Barient winches let me know and next time I go to my boat I'll get mine and make you a copy. Hope this helps. Charles
Frank, what helped me before I started disassembly of the winch is find out what brand and model winch you have and get a parts diagram. This will help you in taking apart the winch as some of the internal parts do not need to be removed to be cleaned. I have (2) Barient 18C 2 speed halyard winches on my mast. I heard that there are diagrams and disassembly instructions on this site, but if you can't find them and have the same Barient winches let me know and next time I go to my boat I'll get mine and make you a copy. Hope this helps. Charles
18's and 23's are what I have
My wife went to the boat and I also have 18's on the mast and she said 23's in the cockpit.....I think she said the cabin top winch was also an 18. I will look for the parts break down on the site. If you get to your boat it would be great...whatever you could descirbe...or suggest for me....or take pictures of or whatever.. Thanks again. Frank
My wife went to the boat and I also have 18's on the mast and she said 23's in the cockpit.....I think she said the cabin top winch was also an 18. I will look for the parts break down on the site. If you get to your boat it would be great...whatever you could descirbe...or suggest for me....or take pictures of or whatever.. Thanks again. Frank
Where do I get parts? for a Barient
Now that I know what I have....and I know I can take the drum off and then take the remainder of the winch off the mast.....how can I tell what might be in need of replacement? Apparently Barient is not in business so who has the usual kind of parts that need replacing.....maybe someone can tell me what to look for that would need replacing? Thanks Frank
Now that I know what I have....and I know I can take the drum off and then take the remainder of the winch off the mast.....how can I tell what might be in need of replacement? Apparently Barient is not in business so who has the usual kind of parts that need replacing.....maybe someone can tell me what to look for that would need replacing? Thanks Frank
Barients ..... caution
If the Barient winch that you are repairing are the type that uses a 'pushbutton' inside the winchhandle 'socket' ...... you push your thumb into the 'hole' to release the drum from the spindle .... dont bother to repair these, just take them to the trash. They are terribly UNSAFE. These are also identified as having a 'plastic' section of the top rim of the drum section. These 'pushbutton' release Barients grow 'tired' very quckly as the spring that restrains the 'pushbutton' gets less strong over time ..... the drum can completely come loose from the spindle when under load. Certainly one should not go 'up' the mast while hanging from a pushbutton/plastic top Barient. These winches are prone to having the drum come off completely when the tailed section of the line is higher than the base/spindle.... so when applying high load keep your head and face NOT in line with the line OR when/if the drum comes off it may follow the line (gyroscopic force) ..... got lots of scars to prove it. Plastic top Barients with 'pushbuttons' ---- trash them. ;-)
If the Barient winch that you are repairing are the type that uses a 'pushbutton' inside the winchhandle 'socket' ...... you push your thumb into the 'hole' to release the drum from the spindle .... dont bother to repair these, just take them to the trash. They are terribly UNSAFE. These are also identified as having a 'plastic' section of the top rim of the drum section. These 'pushbutton' release Barients grow 'tired' very quckly as the spring that restrains the 'pushbutton' gets less strong over time ..... the drum can completely come loose from the spindle when under load. Certainly one should not go 'up' the mast while hanging from a pushbutton/plastic top Barient. These winches are prone to having the drum come off completely when the tailed section of the line is higher than the base/spindle.... so when applying high load keep your head and face NOT in line with the line OR when/if the drum comes off it may follow the line (gyroscopic force) ..... got lots of scars to prove it. Plastic top Barients with 'pushbuttons' ---- trash them. ;-)
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