Rebuilding Older Lewmar Winches

[dell30rb]

I have two 1980 Lewmar 30 single speed winches and can't figure out how to get them apart to inspect/lubricate them. One is squealing a bit. The top doesn't screw off like newer winches... i have heard there may be a circlip around where the handle goes in, but can't find one. Any tips would be appreciated. They are self-tailing.

[Capnblu]

take a pic and post it, I will tell you how to disassemble it.

[sailingdog]

Dell-

Read the post in my signature, as it has how to get a photo posted in it...among other things. Posting a photo would be very helpful.

[GoslingNY]

Originally Posted by dell30rb

I have two 1980 Lewmar 30 single speed winches and can't figure out how to get them apart to inspect/lubricate them. One is squealing a bit. The top doesn't screw off like newer winches... i have heard there may be a circlip around where the handle goes in, but can't find one. Any tips would be appreciated. They are self-tailing.

Most of them had circlips around the center that have to be pried off with an icepick or similar, however I've run across a couple over the years where there was a machine screw at the bottom of the handle opening which had a metric allen head. I believe that on the ones I worked on it was 5mm, if memory serves.

So, you probably have two options, the circlip which I'd think would be the most probable, and the sunk machine screw.

A photo would help, for certain.

Cheers,

MikeR

[TxLnghrn]

The Lewmar website has a brief instruction on servicing their winches here:
Lewmar

I bought this service pack from Defender
http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|3071|773796&id=4707
Inside it has a manual on how to service your winches, including breakdown diagrams and instructions. Following it made the task relatively easy for my non-mechanically inclined self to perform.

Michael

[dell30rb]

I'd get a close up pic, but the boat is now 4 hours away from me, on the chesapeake bay. Thanks for the replies, but there is no set screw in the bottom of the handle opening. And I can't see a circlip around the handle opening either. I'll probably just wind up calling lewmar. I know the year and model for certain.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by dell30rb

I'd get a close up pic, but the boat is now 4 hours away from me, on the chesapeake bay. Thanks for the replies, but there is no set screw in the bottom of the handle opening. And I can't see a circlip around the handle opening either. I'll probably just wind up calling lewmar. I know the year and model for certain.

Let me know what kind of coustomer support you get...There has been a few disgruntled posters latly and I was planning on going Lewmar.

[GoslingNY]

Could be that you are missing the circlip. Have you tried to pull the drum off the center?

You can also run your fingernail around the top of the center post. If there is an indentation there, its probably for the circlip which may be missing.

I've come across many winches where the owner has taken the circlip off and 'misplaced' it in the water and not replaced. If the sheet lead is low, as it should be, it will tend to keep the drum in place.

Cheers,

MikeR

Originally Posted by dell30rb

I'd get a close up pic, but the boat is now 4 hours away from me, on the chesapeake bay. Thanks for the replies, but there is no set screw in the bottom of the handle opening. And I can't see a circlip around the handle opening either. I'll probably just wind up calling lewmar. I know the year and model for certain.

[sailingfool]

Mine all have a split ring on the top of the spindle, pry it open with a small flat blade srewdriver and pop it off.

Take a look at this explanation
Live Aboard 0207: Re: lv-ab: lewmar 30 winch

[MABON01]

Quite often the ones with the bolt at the bottom of the winch handle hole will have crud covering them, so it makes it difficult to see the bolt. Also note that the drum can be difficult to remove due to more build up of crud between where the hub meets the spindle. And as another note, watch out for the spring loaded cams that are inside, they like to go flying on occasion.

Hope this helps,
Nik