How do u know if winches are shot

[saurav16]

Can you tell me how you can tell if winches are shot. One of mine click but the click is weak. Does it just need to be cleaned. Can you repair winches are does it have to just be replaced?

[btrayfors]

Winches need to be serviced periodically. I just did 5 of my cockpit winches (Barients from size #23 to size #31, all self-tailing).

Usually, all that's required is to disassemble them carefully, wash all gears and bearings in kerosene, check the pawls and springs, lube the gears and bearings with a waterproof grease (Lewmar makes a grease you can buy at West Marine), and put them back together being sure to get all the parts back in the right place.

It's not hard; it's just time consuming.

Springs for the pawls are easy to find. Depending on the make/model of the winch, pawls and other parts may be harder to find.

Bill

[paulk]

Sometimes people cut a circle out of the bottom of a cardboard box and fit that over the winch before they start to take it apart. Don't want to lose any of those little pieces!

[sailingdog]

The box idea is an excellent one... and don't grease the pawls...just the bearings and gears... the pawls should be sprayed with something like McLube SailCote or Boeshield T9, which will not collect dirt.

[saurav16]

thanks for the info you guys are awesome, I will def use the box idea.

[tenuki]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

The box idea is an excellent one... and don't grease the pawls...just the bearings and gears... the pawls should be sprayed with something like McLube SailCote or Boeshield T9, which will not collect dirt.

You can also use something like 3-1 oil on the pawls. Some people I know run their pawls bone dry, claim it is safer, it's at least louder...

ps: SailKote for people who rely on google to be their brain.

btw: I just rebuilt my 33 year old Barlow winches with new bearings from arco-hutton. Only took me an hour or so for all four, but then, I had taken them apart before. Haven't had em out in good wind yet but they seem almost as good as new. Winches are a pretty simple mechanical device and if serviced regularly (my vote is every year) can last a long long time.

[Goodnewsboy]

Winches are shot when you can no longer obtain replacement parts for them.

[mike dryver]

if they barient, barlow, lewmar etc you can get thwe parts from arco-hutton in oz they have all the parts readily avail. as they bought out these winch cos. and make the parts for them. i emailed them last yr for parts and a schematic. the schematics you can look at and down load right on line

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by mike dryver

if they barient, barlow, lewmar etc you can get thwe parts from arco-hutton in oz they have all the parts readily avail. as they bought out these winch cos. and make the parts for them. i emailed them last yr for parts and a schematic. the schematics you can look at and down load right on line

While Arco-Hutton has bought out Barient and Barlow, I am pretty sure that Lewmar still makes and supports Lewmar winches. Arco-Hutton may have parts for Lewmar, but they certainly did not buy Lewmar's winch division.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

While Arco-Hutton has bought out Barient and Barlow, I am pretty sure that Lewmar still makes and supports Lewmar winches. Arco-Hutton may have parts for Lewmar, but they certainly did not buy Lewmar's winch division.

Arco definitely have bits and pieces for Barlow and Barient. They used to have the same for Maxwell but I cannot confirm that they still do.

SD is correct in saying Lewmar are still doing it themselves.

ps -when re assembling do NOT over grease. A smear is usually enough.