Dismantle windlass

[sutton sailor]

I have a Simpson Lawrence S-L seatiger windlass with gypsy and drum.

The last time I used it I had a problem. When I started to haul up the chain it was working OK, but after a while it started to fail to bring up the chain occasionally on the back stroke. Before I had finised it weas failing to work at all on the back stroke on either speed. fortunately it worked on the forward stroke and I got the anchor aboard. I have looked at the exploded view, and I suspect the problem is a broken spring on one of the ratchets. can anyone confirm this. I unbolted the windlass from the deck and removed the bottom plate 12 years ago, but at the time I could nosee how it came apart. Will I have to dismantle it to replace the spring, assuming I am right with my gues?

 

[lornagrace]

I am just rebuilding one of mine and would suggest that you have correctly identified the problem and yes it probably is a case of stripping the whole winch down, although in honesty it's not such a difficult job.
I found a exploded view of the winch on s-l spares website quite helpfully and John himself, who runs the company is very knowledgeable and easy to converse with either by phone or email.
You should be able to pull up his details with a quick web search, if not get back to me and I'll pm you his details,
kind regards Phil