Just inherited a [I believe] Simpson Lawrence vertical windlass and was wondering if anyone has replaced the bearings in the gearbox assembly Seams like quite a job to get it apart
Windlass
- Thread starter Lost Parent
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Previous?
If you can find it, see previous correspondence on this subject.
I recall posting photos of my top bearing - for a copy see below.
Yes the shell really did come out in two pieces.
The upper seal as chosen by the designer is of the face type running on the underside of the gypsy and he also gave the shaft end float so the seal was then able to lift off. I replaced it with a shaft seal that fits perfectly in the existing recess.
Worse this seal is in a recess where sea water is trapped (until it seeps through into the gearbox.
I suggest you go to a bearing supplier and show him your parts. He will then supply a suitable seal for only a few pence. Its a standard size.
Also the motor brushes were knackered and the gearbox oil was full of a fine tilth of brass particles that the worm gear had 'ground' off its worm wheel.
I owned it since new and estimated less than half an hour's running.
Don't I just admire SL's engineering!
If you can find it, see previous correspondence on this subject.
I recall posting photos of my top bearing - for a copy see below.
Yes the shell really did come out in two pieces.
The upper seal as chosen by the designer is of the face type running on the underside of the gypsy and he also gave the shaft end float so the seal was then able to lift off. I replaced it with a shaft seal that fits perfectly in the existing recess.
Worse this seal is in a recess where sea water is trapped (until it seeps through into the gearbox.
I suggest you go to a bearing supplier and show him your parts. He will then supply a suitable seal for only a few pence. Its a standard size.
Also the motor brushes were knackered and the gearbox oil was full of a fine tilth of brass particles that the worm gear had 'ground' off its worm wheel.
I owned it since new and estimated less than half an hour's running.
Don't I just admire SL's engineering!
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Re: Previous?
Thanks for the reply .
Was grease used in the gearbox?
Did you have to have the gearbox pressed apart to get the inner bearing out?
Thanks for the reply .
Was grease used in the gearbox?
Did you have to have the gearbox pressed apart to get the inner bearing out?
Re: Windlass - For Lost Parent
Although my picture was from Sept 2003, I clearly remember refilling the gearbox with Extreme Pressure oil either grade EP80 or EP90. I had owned the windlass since new in 1996 and simply replaced the oil with what was there originally.
I had the box open to try to see why there was so much swarf in the oil that came out so I expected to see some very worn gears. In fact there is just a simple worm made of hardened steel and a large brass(?) wormwheel. In fact neither the worm or the wormwheel showed any sign of damage.
I anticipated having to press out the top ball race but it almost fell out with the outer race in two halves. The replacement race just pressed in using my bench vice using a suitable round piece of aluminium, just smaller in diameter than the new bearing, as a press tool.
As noted previously I also put in a lip type seal that ran on the shaft instead of the original face type seal that ran on the underside of the gypsy.
All in all a very simple job. I haven't needed to take it all apart since then so have no idea if all is still well.
Although my picture was from Sept 2003, I clearly remember refilling the gearbox with Extreme Pressure oil either grade EP80 or EP90. I had owned the windlass since new in 1996 and simply replaced the oil with what was there originally.
I had the box open to try to see why there was so much swarf in the oil that came out so I expected to see some very worn gears. In fact there is just a simple worm made of hardened steel and a large brass(?) wormwheel. In fact neither the worm or the wormwheel showed any sign of damage.
I anticipated having to press out the top ball race but it almost fell out with the outer race in two halves. The replacement race just pressed in using my bench vice using a suitable round piece of aluminium, just smaller in diameter than the new bearing, as a press tool.
As noted previously I also put in a lip type seal that ran on the shaft instead of the original face type seal that ran on the underside of the gypsy.
All in all a very simple job. I haven't needed to take it all apart since then so have no idea if all is still well.
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