[capta]

Have any of you come up with a handy dandy easy way to remove the plastic key that holds the spindle into Lewmar winches?
This should one of the quick parts of the job; I must be missing something here.

 

[captflood]

GREETINGS EARTHLING: do you have cir-clip removers or a piece of flattened stainless-mig wire to go under it and pull, cover with a cloth so as you do not loose anything AS ALWAYS GO SAFE.

 

[capta]

GREETINGS EARTHLING: do you have cir-clip removers or a piece of flattened stainless-mig wire to go under it and pull, cover with a cloth so as you do not loose anything AS ALWAYS GO SAFE.

I'm sorry, did you read that this is on a Lewmar winch, spaced-man? This is as machined a fit as plastic to metal can be. There is no slipping "a piece of flattened stainless-mig wire to go under it and pull" or using any tool I have ever seen. It is totally flush on the center stem holding the spindle in the winch.
But hey, next time I want to get a key off a drive shaft, I'll remember your suggestion, thanks.

 

[MarkSF]

Could you take a picture of the winch in question? I also was under the impression that there's a circlip - at least on the Lewmars I have.

 

[capta]

Could you take a picture of the winch in question? I also was under the impression that there's a circlip - at least on the Lewmars I have.

Piece #8 is a plastic key on all my Lewmar winches. It holds the spindle in place and should be easy to remove, but I obviously do not know the trick.

 

[rugosa]

You should be able work one edge out of the slot with a thin blade (box cutter) then the other, it should just slide out. It could be friction holding it in place due to grease penetration.

 

[capta]

You should be able work one edge out of the slot with a thin blade (box cutter) then the other, it should just slide out. It could be friction holding it in place due to grease penetration.

Have not been able to get a dental tool in or a razor blade. This is a very well fitting piece. No lips, no projections and no wiggle room.The roller bearings run over it, so any projections would be smoothed off pretty quickly.
I had hoped someone had figured out a trick to it, but from the responses, perhaps not.

 

[rugosa]

The plastic key #8 fits into the machined groove in shaft #5, there may be some minor play to lift the lift the weight of the shaft then remove the key. There is nothing else holding the key in place. Have you tried flushing solvent like kerosene or varsol between the shaft and the housing?

 

[capta]

The plastic key #8 fits into the machined groove in shaft #5, there may be some minor play to lift the lift the weight of the shaft then remove the key. There is nothing else holding the key in place. Have you tried flushing solvent like kerosene or varsol between the shaft and the housing?

WD40, diesel, acetone, etc. Diesel eats the old grease nicely and the WD-40 has some spray power to get in around the key. No luck. The spindle moves easily so it's not too goopy in there. I tried everything I could think of; no joy.
It is in there very tightly. I have 12 to clean, so it would be great if someone has found the trick to it. I'm afraid drilling and tapping a tiny screw into the key would weaken it too much.
Thanks.

 

[rugosa]

http://ipsailor.com/Lewmar_Winch_Service_Manual.pdf See page 16

 

[captflood]

GREETINGS EARTHLINGS ; Normally there is a circlip on the top that is very tight and difficult to remove because you cannot get anything into the lip of it. Have you contacted Lewmar and asked for help? I have dealt with them and found them Very Helpfull in the past. (I used to work for a sail training Org, Ocean Youth Club then it became Ocean Youth Trust to get the funding) Hope the info helps. You may have to drill a little hole into it and insert a drill and pry it out. AS ALWAYS GO SAFE

 

[aeventyr60]

I have Lewmar St 42's and serviced them today. The groove in the spindle is actually a bit bit bigger then the the key. w]When inserting the key into the spindle, I have to raise a lower the spindle to get the key to fit. Thinking that if you put the winch handle in the socket and lock it in, then give a little up and down motion to move the spindle it may help to loosen the sticky key. Continue with the spray stuff, maybe some hot water too.

I also found one of the pawls was broken, good to have the Lewmar spare kits on board...only 15 years waitng to be used....

 

[Gladrags1]

I have found that lifting the shaft from inside the socket takes the pressure off the key, allowing it to be removed with a knife blade at the corner.

Tod

 

[rugosa]

It is in there very tightly. I have 12 to clean, so it would be great if someone has found the trick to it. I'm afraid drilling and tapping a tiny screw into the key would weaken it too much.
Thanks.

So how did that go?

 

[capta]

So how did that go?

So far, it's still an arduous process of gently tapping each end with a punch, rocking it back and forth, until it's out far enough to pull it out.
I try not to wedge against the center stem as it's soft metal that the bearings run on (possibly brass coated?). Even after a light sanding, they are a very tight fit when putting them back in.
About a half hour of delicate work, so I'm still hoping someone has found an easier method.

 

[rugosa]

It is possible that with the age of the winch that the plastic retainer has absorbed grease and swollen making what should be an easy job a PITA. Hopefully they aren't all like that. Maybe its the ambient temperature in the Windward/Leeward seas that's causing it. If you can arrange a pair of tickets at the Buffalo, NY airport my wife and I will come down to take a look, participate in island time, and forget to head home. You really wouldn't notice us at all:laugher. But seriously, maybe chilling it with a blast from a fire extinguisher will shrink the little devils.

 

[ianjoub]

But seriously, maybe chilling it with a blast from an upside down can of air will shrink the little devils.

 

[capta]

It is possible that with the age of the winch that the plastic retainer has absorbed grease and swollen making what should be an easy job a PITA. Hopefully they aren't all like that. Maybe its the ambient temperature in the Windward/Leeward seas that's causing it. If you can arrange a pair of tickets at the Buffalo, NY airport my wife and I will come down to take a look, participate in island time, and forget to head home. You really wouldn't notice us at all:laugher. But seriously, maybe chilling it with a blast from a fire extinguisher will shrink the little devils.

Hey, if I'm gonna spring for a couple of tickets from Buffalo, the very least you could do would be to bring some of that cold air from your part of the world, don't you think?
Perhaps, a cooler would do nicely; a walk in cooler.

 

[NotAnotherBloodyLogin]

I'm sorry, did you read that this is on a Lewmar winch, spaced-man? This is as machined a fit as plastic to metal can be. There is no slipping "a piece of flattened stainless-mig wire to go under it and pull" or using any tool I have ever seen. It is totally flush on the center stem holding the spindle in the winch.
But hey, next time I want to get a key off a drive shaft, I'll remember your suggestion, thanks.

You can indeed slip something in to get it out as it slips out really easily. I used a SIM card extractor pin that came with my phone and it shot right out.

 

[catalina0029]

I think I would have already drilled a hole and pulled it out with a screw.