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Arco 6 Winch Help

9K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  chall03 
#1 ·
I am a new owner of a 22. I would like to know if there are any online manuals for servicing this winch. I don't want to but new ones (lots of other expenses at this point) but they don't turn very freely.

Thanks in advance.

Dan
 
#2 ·
Dan,

I don't have a manual but I have serviced the Arco 6 winches on my C22. They are very simple and easy to tear down, service, and reassemble.

The first thing you want to do is take a small cardboard box and cut a hole in the bottom of it to fit it around the base of the winch. This will help catch any loose parts that might fall. Once the box is in place, remove the ring at the top of the winch that holds the drum down over the inner works. You might be able to use a small screwdriver, small needle-nose pliers, small hammer for this.

Once the ring is off, lift the drum straight up, slowly. This will reveal the gears and pawls inside. (At this point, I removed the whole works from the boat and did the work on my workbench.)

I can't describe from memory the inner mechanisms of the winch, but the springs and pawls are about the only moving parts inside the winch. The springs are very small and easily lost if you are not careful. I soaked the works in diesel fuel and dried them completely before reassembly. For lubrication, I used a very small amount of the white lube that I use on my bicycle wheel bearings. Some experts recommend marine specific lube, some recommend no lube at all. I don't know the right answer. You might ask this question in the 'gear and maintenance' forum here.

If you don't feel comfortable flying blind on this project, check out any book, or maybe some sailing website, that has pictures/exploded view of a one or two speed winch. Most of what you see will apply to the Arco 6.

Hope this helps.:)

Pat
 
#3 ·
I'm just looking for a replacement side-loading winch handle for the winches on my 22. Can't for the life of me find anyone that's willing to part with one for a decent price. I'm really fighting against an upgrade because the Arco's are in such great shape...just need the handle!
 
#5 ·
I sent them an email a couple of months back and I never recieved a reply. I had to service mine whit the boat in the slip, but I basically did it the same way that was described above. I did use marine grease since I had a tube handy and I used a very light degreaser since I wasn't removing the winches. The pawls are the only moving parts they are a very simple winch and to should be able to do it yourself.
 
#6 ·
I've seen plenty of complaints re Arco-Hutton not replying to emails yet they have always replied to mine. I suspect that a lot of it has to do with SPAM filters.

As for the #6 it should be , as you say, drop dead simple to service.

winches@attglobal.net

This link might be of some help to others ....

HTML:
http://www.arco-winches.com/products/service
 
#8 ·
They should be able to send you some new pawls and springs no problem.

I have always had good communication both phone/email and a couple of times in person with them.

We have 7 20 year old Arco winches of various sizes, 2 of which were missing pawls and completely seized when we bought the boat. They have been very helpful in assisting us in servicing all of them....... to the point that they have stopped me spending big money with them buying new winches!
 
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