Can anyone identify what type of winch this is?

[carl170]

Hi

I have taken a winch off my new (to me) boat.

It is seized solid.

I have gone to strip it down and cannot figure out how it comes apart. There is a screw in the centre which I have undone and then filled with oil. I have also squirted some oil in the seam between the baseplate.

I daren’t use any force as I just don’t know how it strips down.

There are no markings or branding anywhere that I can see.

Does anyone know what type of winch it is ? And how I might strip it down?

Photos below.

http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww315/carl170/DSC_0377.jpg
http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww315/carl170/DSC_0375.jpg
http://i731.photobucket.com/albums/ww315/carl170/DSC_0379.jpg

Thanks for any help anyone can offer!

Regards

Carl

PS - how do you insert photos (IMG) like I can with other forums?

 

[VicS]

Hi

I have taken a winch off my new (to me) boat.

It is seized solid.
Thanks for any help anyone can offer!

Regards

Carl

PS - how do you insert photos (IMG) like I can with other forums?

Cant help with the winch but it looks like the ones on the W berwick I used to sail. Had them off once to lubricate but cannot remember any more. If they are siezed you need some force i expect to get them apart

To get the photo in your post

Click to autocopy the IMG code . Then just paste in. ( In the library view hover over the gearwheel in the corner of the thumbnail then click on "get links"


Does not work ... you have something set wrongly in your P'bucket account!

 

[JumbleDuck]

I have taken a winch off my new (to me) boat.

It is seized solid.

I have gone to strip it down and cannot figure out how it comes apart. There is a screw in the centre which I have undone and then filled with oil. I have also squirted some oil in the seam between the baseplate.

I daren’t use any force as I just don’t know how it strips down.

I'm pretty sure that's a Gibb, as fitted (in underlever form) to classic Westerlies. To get the drum off you undo and remove the screw down the middle (don't lose it, it's 1/4" whitworth and is a pain to replace) then twist the drum round while lifting it up. If it is seized I suggest heat and force; oil down the middle or between the base and the drum will get to nowhere useful.

As a start I'd bolt it to something solid, use a hot air gun on it for a good long while and then try graunching it round with the longest winch handle you have.

 

[cliff]

Hi

I have taken a winch off my new (to me) boat.

It is seized solid.

I have gone to strip it down and cannot figure out how it comes apart. There is a screw in the centre which I have undone and then filled with oil. I have also squirted some oil in the seam between the baseplate.

I daren’t use any force as I just don’t know how it strips down.

There are no markings or branding anywhere that I can see.

Does anyone know what type of winch it is ? And how I might strip it down?

Photos below.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer!

Regards

Carl

PS - how do you insert photos (IMG) like I can with other forums?

Pix fixed

 

[VicS]

Click to autocopy the IMG code . Then just paste in. ( In the library view hover over the gearwheel in the corner of the thumbnail then click on "get links"


Does not work ... you have something set wrongly in your P'bucket account!

Turn off the "link back to albums" option

 

[chewi]

I bought a pair of those used on preeloved, but was disapponted to find there is only a ratchet on the drum, not the handle socket, obliging you to make full turns on the winch, or unsocket and replace the handle.

Meanwhile I did find out all I needed to do to take the drum off was to unscrew the centre screw and lift off the drum.

I would suggest pouring solvent down the hole and working the drum with a tourniquet .


I sold the winches to a nother club member, he hasn't used them yet.....

 

[alahol2]

99% certain that is a Gibb. As has been said the drum should lift off when the central screw is removed. They only have nylon sleeve bearings so there are no balls to go flying. Put a couple of soft wedges/levers between drum and base (some kind of music?).

 

[prv]

I bought a pair of those used on preeloved, but was disapponted to find there is only a ratchet on the drum, not the handle socket, obliging you to make full turns on the winch, or unsocket and replace the handle.

Were they actually designed like that, or was something jammed or broken inside?

Pete

 

[chewi]

Were they actually designed like that, or was something jammed or broken inside?

Pete

that appeared to be the design.
There was no mechanism that was seized in either winch of the pair I bought that were in pristine condition, no joint that looked like it was stuck, just a cast winch body that sat on plain bearings over the pivot, and ratcheted on the pawls below.

If there was a top ratchet to be fixed, believe me I would have found and fixed it, not sold them on.

If I were you I'd be replacing rather than fixing them, but I doubt that's what you want to hear!

I was very clear to point out their deficiency to the buyer, as I'd never seen a winch like that, but he could live with it.


btw I now inderstand it to be a Gibb "capstan" winch, which only adds a name to its deficiency!

 

[chewi]

If you persevere with it, use a tourniquet try to turn the winch clockwise, as anticlockwise will work against the pawls.
maybe even drown it in diesel, which penetrates well..

 

[VicS]

If you persevere with it, use a tourniquet try to turn the winch clockwise, as anticlockwise will work against the pawls.
maybe even drown it in diesel, which penetrates well..

Diesel may be better than lubricating oil, it that's what the OP has used but a proper penetrating oil such as Plus gas will be even better.

Then dunk it in a bucket of very hot water, or warm with a hot air gun.

 

[William_H]

OP needs to mount the winch either on the boat or another piece of wood which can be clamped down. He was lucky to get the winch off the boat with no access to the screw heads. Before clamping down as said give it a long soak in a bucket of diesel or even petrol. Then a bucket of boiling water. As said try wedging between the drum and the base and turnng it with a winch handle and or some rope wraped tightly around the drum. s said only turn it clockwise.Yes take the bolt out that is at the bottom of the handle socket.
good luck olewill

 

[Daydream believer]

Deleted

 

[charles_reed]

The winch is a plain-bearing Gibb. Dated about 1975.

There is a washer under the retaining screw which can become wedged in position and prevent removal of the drum.

They did require a lot of force, in use and in dismantling. At least with the ones with the bottom-handle you could use that as a lever to get the drum off.

 

[Burnham Bob]

yes they do look like gibb winches - i had them on my halcyon. dead simple and as the other replies say, once the screw is out the drum should lift off. occasionally mine seized like yours and the drum wouldn't lift off so i used to jam the winch between the jaws of a black and decker workmate and very gingerly tap the central spindle with a dowel drift down the central hole so the whole base plate/pawls and springs came off downwards. stick a bucket close beneath as the springs might fall off or shoot off into the distance. not at all scientific so do try the gentler methods above first. they are really simple when you get them apart. springs can get mangled. i play guitar and i'm pretty sure you can bend new springs from an unwrapped third from a set of electric guitar strings (11 gauge strings as they are thickest readly available in a guitar shop). a complete set of strings will cost you £5 which is probably cheaper than anything from a chandlery - even if you could get spares for Gibb winches.

so yes the drum should just lift off - it might be stuck but that's how it does work. i used to polish the central pillar of mine with fine wet and dry once i got it off and then a small amount of grease made sure it turned for the rest of the season.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I used to have winches like this although they were the under lever type. The advice I received was not to use any grease on the spindle and nylon (?) bush, as mineral oils cause the nylon to swell and bind. That may be what has happened to these.

 

[carl170]

yes they do look like gibb winches - i had them on my halcyon. dead simple and as the other replies say, once the screw is out the drum should lift off. occasionally mine seized like yours and the drum wouldn't lift off so i used to jam the winch between the jaws of a black and decker workmate and very gingerly tap the central spindle with a dowel drift down the central hole so the whole base plate/pawls and springs came off downwards. stick a bucket close beneath as the springs might fall off or shoot off into the distance. not at all scientific so do try the gentler methods above first. they are really simple when you get them apart. springs can get mangled. i play guitar and i'm pretty sure you can bend new springs from an unwrapped third from a set of electric guitar strings (11 gauge strings as they are thickest readly available in a guitar shop). a complete set of strings will cost you £5 which is probably cheaper than anything from a chandlery - even if you could get spares for Gibb winches.

so yes the drum should just lift off - it might be stuck but that's how it does work. i used to polish the central pillar of mine with fine wet and dry once i got it off and then a small amount of grease made sure it turned for the rest of the season.

Bob,

I will give that a go with the wooden drift. It is just that I didn't know what I could hit! I also play guitar and will save a couple of strings next change!

I might try lighter fluid or similar as I have not seen plus gas locally anywhere. I am tempted to give it a whack when I get home - mainly out of frustration. It took me over an hour to undo the bolts.

Also, I have a set of lewmar 6 winches somewhere. Does anyone know if these would be too small for a 23 footer?

Thanks for your advice so far!

Regards

Carl

 

[chewi]

Bob,

I will give that a go with the wooden drift. It is just that I didn't know what I could hit! I also play guitar and will save a couple of strings next change!

I might try lighter fluid or similar as I have not seen plus gas locally anywhere. I am tempted to give it a whack when I get home - mainly out of frustration. It took me over an hour to undo the bolts.

Also, I have a set of lewmar 6 winches somewhere. Does anyone know if these would be too small for a 23 footer?

Thanks for your advice so far!

Regards

Carl

If I were you I'd replace them with your lewmar 6's as they have dual ratchets.
They'd prob. be strong enough, but If you decide not to, please pm me as I'm looking for a a pair of 6's!

 

[carl170]

A bit more of the saga so far....

Well, I tried clamping the screws and using a winch handle anti-clockwise, I managed to turn the winch. It is the winch off the portside, so it would be the correct way (?). A fair bit of force is required though - I honestly think the wooden bases would shatter if I used force like that all the time! I can hear the rachets clacking away though!

I have wrapped the drum up and wacked it with a piece of wood that fittes down the middle, until the wood looked like something out of a road runner cartoon! Still didn't budge though. Is it possible to be so siezed that they can't be taken apart?

The winch handle has "Gibb" printed on it, so I think we have solved that mystery!

I may just write these off. I have the Lewmar 6 and they may be slightly undersized, but I can't afford to buy bigger lewmars at this time. Why are winches so expensive?

Thanks for your help everyone

Regards

Carl

 

[alahol2]

A bit more of the saga so far....

I may just write these off.

If you get to the point of writing them off, put a couple of chunky screwdrivers/chisels between drum and base and hammer them in. You will either break the drum or the base or they will come apart.
You could try putting them in the oven at 250C for half an hour.