change lofrans gypsy

[chuckr]

i put 3/8" chain on and have a 5/16" gypsy - got a new gypsy today but now i have to get the old one off and not sure how --
question - this is a vertical aerion - does the hole in the top where the winch handle goes screw in or what - and if screw how much tension is on it and i assume it turns counter clockwise to get it lose

thanks
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season

 

[Pleiades]

Lofrans answer

I have a Lofrans Airon - top is screw down friction clutch fitting - occasionally it slips and needs a tighten up - hence the slot for the winch handle - that is also how you would wind up the chain manually in the event of power failure. Remove top plate by inserting a winch handle and giving a sharp tap with a hammer anti clockwise as you hold the lower bit of the body in place with your foot to stop it turning. (Do not hit foot!)

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5

 

[chuckr]

thanks and missed foot

Pledias --- thanks for the reply -- i have tried it and did miss my foot - but as yet it has not budged - put some wd40 in and around seal - so will try in a bit to see if it will loosen up

chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season

 

[chuckr]

got it done

robin -- thanks for the advise -- a bit of wd40 and a bigger hammer and it worked - and i did manage to miss my foot - and did a bit of clean up and new gypsy is on --
for anyone reading this if you have not taken apart your windlass and cleaned it i would suggest you do -
we are full time cruisers and i was a bit surprised by the amount of dirt and trash in it --
thanks robin
chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season

 

[chuckr]

one last word

when i took off the chain stripper - it is held in place with 2 stainless steel bolts in an aluminum housing - one of them broke off at the head - major corrosion problem -- tried to get it out in a couple of different ways but in the end had to take it to a machine shop and have it drilled out and retapped- i was going to try it myself but felt i could not drill the hole straight enough and did not want to really mess up the threads in the housing -
when i put it back together i used a compound that will hopefully prevent the galvanic corrosion - by the way i also removed the bolts that held the windlass to the hull and treated them also

have not dropped the anchor for real yet, just in the marina and it seemed to work ok -- big test will be when we do a small run in a couple of weeks to tobago for a week or two and anchor there --
thanks for the help from everyone

just my thoughts on what i hope will work

chuck patty and svsoulmates
in trinidad for hurricane season