[GMFL]

If you took the whole winch apart and reassembled it, you could have put the ratchet gear on backwards. (I think it's called that) The gear the pawls click into. It's easy to do and will seem ok when it's reassembled but the pawls wont catch.

Oh, btw, You should defiantly replace those springs. They may seem fine but you'll notice a huge difference in the winch. $10 well spent.

 

[GMFL]

defiantly? Definitely...

 

[GMFL]

I didn't have time to find this last night but here is a video I made for my Barient. (i'm guessing its similar to the Lewmar) Skip to about 20:00 to see the ratchet gear getting assembled. I skip through it a little fast but you can see the correct and incorrect way to install it. Go to the very end of the video to see how too much grease affects the pawls.

 

[GMFL]

My money is still on the Ratchet gears (#13 and/or 20 on schematic) installed upside down. From what I can tell by looking at the file you posted it is possible. The pawls can only go into the pawl gear one way but the pawl gear assembly will fit into the ratchet gear two different ways. Only one way will work.

You just have to go through and follow that schematic as you reassemble. Test each assembly as you go along. ie. Insert the springs in the pawls, pawls in the gear. Test the spring tension. Push down on the pawl, it should snap right back up. Insert pawl gear assembly into ratchet gear, turn ratchet gear around one way, should go free. Try to turn the other way, should not move. Etc. Carry that through the whole rebuild.

Unless you have parts left over or are missing some, if it worked before, it will work again.

With my winch, even with all the grease on the pawls, and weak springs at least one of the pawls would grab eventually. The winch would not keep slipping backward.