Windlass leaking

[seadaddler]

My windlass is leaking from the bottom of where the mainshaft protrudes out the bottom of the windlass on my 2007 H-36 and it is a Sprint Atlantic with Gipsy/Drum.
So has anyone taken this windlass apart,i see a key that seems to keep it together and have taken the top apart and was able to lift it a few inches to add grease the last two years and it runs very well but is dripping water out the bottom behind the slanted wood in the vee berth.
Nick

 

[Steve Dion]

Nick:

Are you sure that it is not leaking from the deck gasket? It "could" be driping from a spot and running down to what appears to be a leak.

You could also contact the mfg to see if they have any ideas.

 

[seadaddler]

Pretty Sure

Cleaned everything top and bottom and wiped everthing really dry except where wiper seal is some water in low spot and turn windless up and down many times and drops of water dripping from bottom main shaft.
I will see how to remove main shaft and maybe replace wiper seal but will check further with spraying water over top of windlass.
Nick

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Mine did the same thing at the beginning of last season. I ran across an article where it happened to someone else. Leak was right through the center of the windlass - small leak, not too much. If my memory is correct, it takes some new internal parts to fix. I was going to order them and put them in - then it quit leaking! Didn't do anything to fix it.

I've searched this forum and Cruisers and Sailors forum and Google, but can't find the article on what parts and how to fix. I am going to see if mine leaked again over the winter this Friday. I'm dewinterizing and getting going again this weekend. I'll see if I can't find the article - I know it is out there somewhere. If you find it, please post the source. I think this is a problem on this model.

 

[seadaddler]

Got Help

I called Simpson Lawrence teck support and we both feel the Wiper seal #86 and Sealed Bearing #17 in the owners should be replaced,I felt the wiper seal may be worn and the teck said to replace the Sealed bearing also.
The teck also explained to me how to remove the main shaft #95 in the manual and should be able to order the parts from WM and will go see them for the parts with details to follow how things work out.
The leak seems to be very miner but it does creae moisture to forum on the panels that close off that part of the bow and that is how I found out there was a leak but nothing shows up any place else.
Nick

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Thats how mine was leaking too. Saw black just to the port side of the plywood where it hit the vertical vinyl at the point of the v berth. Took the plywood down and could see where it had leaked. Thanks for the input on the fix. I might have to do the same thing - will be able to tell Friday.

 

[Rick486]

My windlass is leaking from the bottom of where the mainshaft protrudes out the bottom of the windlass on my 2007 H-36 and it is a Sprint Atlantic with Gipsy/Drum.
So has anyone taken this windlass apart,i see a key that seems to keep it together and have taken the top apart and was able to lift it a few inches to add grease the last two years and it runs very well but is dripping water out the bottom behind the slanted wood in the vee berth.
Nick

Nick there was a thread on this that caused me to take mine apart and sure enough it was weeping right down the center of the windlass. I caught mine in time before the bearings and seals rusted out. I did however, order spares against the day they do rust out. This windlass IMHO is a defective design to allow the water to penetrate the bearing. It MUST BE COVERED WHEN NOT IN USE. I made myself a sunbrella cover which is in place whenever the windlass is not being used.

 

[seadaddler]

Jerry

The fix sounds easy just 4 nuts under the bottom plate and than it drops down off everything and a locking clip on the bottom main shaft comes off and than lift the main shaft up and out so can replace the bearing seal and wiper seal.
I have taken the top part part of the windlass apart a few times to add grease and my shaft up top moves up and down a few inches to allow adding grease,the parts guy said many times that bearing will freez to the shaft over time do to the salt and corrison but my shaft moves up and down very easly so he said thats a good sign.
I am picking up friends at airport today coming down from NY and so might not get to take it apart for another week.
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Grease

I think I read some place to pack in grease often and keep plenty of packed in grease,lift up the main shaft only a few inches and pack in the grease.
Nick

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persi]

Nick: Didn't see stain in my V berth like last year and didn't have time to take the plywood down for better check. I would appreciate you posting your steps to fix so we can know how you do it. I think I will fix mine after you tell me what you do and what and where to get the parts. Thanks.

 

[blockboy]

I had the same problem with my 2007 38 Sprint winless. It is not a quick job. Two of the four nuts are easy to remove. The threaded rod tens to back out at the point I least resistance and were not reusable. Plan on replacing all four. The bearing on mine was shot, I needed an anvil and heavy hammer to remove it and reinsert it. Figure a good day's worth of labor, and factor in time needed to get stock, bring winch to garage, ect. Working from below was like repairing a sink faucet, wratcheting wrenches and vice grips were helpful with removal and reinstallation. Good luck

 

[Lee Coller]

Is there a trick to replacing the wiper seal? I have the replacement, and was able to get the old one out, but it is rigid (there's a metal collar inside it) and an extremely tight fit. I though if I lubed it with some teflon grease that would enable me to slide it on, but that didn't seem to make any difference.

 

[Ken13559]

Seadaddler, it's easy to take the shaft out. Remove all parts at top and the motor from bottom. There is 1 C-Clip just above the cage bearing at top and another at bottom (see picture) of bearing holding the shaft. Remove the clips and you can draw out the shaft & bearing. May have to use a mallet/soft hammer to tap it out. Replace the bearing and clean up the shaft. Assemble back and stuff enough grease at top to seal it, preventing water from slipping through.

 

[seadaddler]

Hi

Sorry been busy with my mom visiting from Ny and than getting boat ready for our south trip to keys where we are now.
I did not want to take things apart and than have problem getting it back together right before going on our trip for 3 weeks and it was a very miner leak just staining the inside wood a little,will take it apart when we return from our trip south.
Very windy here in Boot Key for sure.
Nick

 

[Ken13559]

no problem. let me know should you need more photos or guide to taking it apart. all the parts fitted quite loosey so its easy. most difficult part is the two c-clips. you'll need an inside and an outside c-clip pliers for this.

 

[onecoolair]

Had the same problem. Dropped the teak plywood laminate end of last summer. After cleaning and cloroxing to the kill the mold. Layed panel back on to bunk. Placed some plastic over panel. Tilted panel so any moisture would drain toward bow and into bildge. This allowed me to monitor what was happiening. Over the winter. Problem stopped. Turns out it was not a leak but there was not enough air circulation up in that area. Considation would form on shaft and then drip down. Getting ready to put panel back up but have not decide yet on how I want to ventilate that space. Thinking of using piece of closed cell foam panel with a plastic covering sloped to forward to bilge. Along with venting holes to vent area.