Change windlass motor... or not

[Tim Good]

Just an update to this thread.

I decided that I would take the cautious route and replace the motor. I had the motor delivered to France and when I was there in March I started this 'simple' project. There are 3 bolts that hold the motor to the gearbox. The first came off ok, but the other 2 wouldn't move - they are SS bolts into an ali casing. Much soaking with penetrating fluid got the 2nd one off, and I sheared the head off the last one! The only way to remove the motor was to use the Dremmel and cut the tab off the motor. Unable to remove the stud in situ, I then removed the gearbox and passed it onto my Guardianage company to do in their workshop. They had no success with a torch etc., so they took it to a local machine shop who managed to remove it.

Just to add to my workload, when the motor first came off I noticed water weeping out from the gearbox shaft. When removed, the gearbox was full of water and sludge. Whilst the gearbox was at the machine shop I ordered a complete set of replacement seals for me to fit, which I did last week. It seems that they had never been replaced, and water had been finding its way down the shaft into the gearbox and displacing the oil over a few years. As you can see from below there was some corrosion inside the gearbox

I filled in this corrosion with an epoxy chemical metal, but couldn't dismantle the gearbox any more, fitted the new seals, new motor and installed back on the boat. Although it all works fine, it's kinda bugging me that there may be more corrosion lurking deeper in the gearbox that is just waiting to give me a catastrophic failure. Here's a drawing of the windlass and I've marked the location of the part above. So, new windlass, or take my chances??

Mark,

I just want to drag this thread up again as I’m rebuilding mine now. The issue you had with that sleeve is that it’s was alloy against a stainless shaft. Mine just started disintegrating but worse that yours. You can still buy the replacement sleeve but it’s now made in brass.

Problem I have found is that the sleeve is not quite the same in overall height.

I wondered if you had a similar issue?

 

[markc]

Mark,

I just want to drag this thread up again as I’m rebuilding mine now. The issue you had with that sleeve is that it’s was alloy against a stainless shaft. Mine just started disintegrating but worse that yours. You can still buy the replacement sleeve but it’s now made in brass.

Problem I have found is that the sleeve is not quite the same in overall height.

I wondered if you had a similar issue?

Hi

It was a while ago, but I don't recall the height being a problem, and I think the replacement part was bronze. The biggest issue I faced was compressing everything onto the shaft. It has worked fine since. I also just checked back on the invoice (via AR Peachment) and it was listed as 1 x 631518 X3 shaft sleeve. It was £90 plus VAT, if that helps