EXPLODING ARCO WINCHES

[alisdair4]

Had an interesting experience this morning, on pulling in the Genoa, th single-speed sheet winch spun off the spindle, vertically, and crashed into the cockpit floor - narrowly missing someone who I was tryin to interest in sailing!!

All parts, less one pawl, were recovered.

Here are the exam questions - I'd be grateful for answers to any of them:

What broke inside the winch to allow this to happen(Winches are 23 years old); and is the same likely to happen to its twin.

Are ARCO (A US Coy) still trading (I can't find them on ASK.co.uk).

Assuming that I have to replace the winch with a new one, do winchmakers apply a common template as to where the place the mounting studs?

Thanks in advance,


Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"

 

[Tam_Hazan]

I have ARCO winches mounted on the main and mizzen masts of a 12 ton ketch. Had no problems with them at all.

There is a web site - found it through Google.
http://www.arco-winches.com/winches.html


Tam

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[Rick]

Alisdair,

The Australian Winch Company P/L (www.arco-winch.com) manufacture new winches and parts for Arco, Bareint and Barlow winches here in Australia. Their pricing seems to be very competitive. I've had winch drums reconditioned by them, and ended up with winches that look like new.

I've got an arco (8?) single speed on my current yacht that is held together by a split ring that is on top of the drum - it's spring steel, and does 2 laps of the shaft I guess - did you retrieve something like that?

 

[alisdair4]

Thank you both - I have emailed the Aussie firm - and we'll see what transpires.

Rick - I did retrieve the split ring - but it would apear that something else inside the drum gave out -for the whole top came off in a oner!!

Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"

 

[snowleopard]

quickest way to tell what broke is to dismantle the other one and compare (assuming you have a matched pair)

hard to imgine what broke if you still have the split ring, maybe the spindle sheared?

and no, there are no common base patterns between manufacturers :-(

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[alisdair4]

For what it's worth, ARCO (AUS) replied within 4 hours, offered to replace the missing parts free, and sent me a diagram of the winch!

Pretty impressive service, I think!

Thanks to all for their help.

Alisdair

<hr width=100% size=1>"so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg"

 

[William_H]

Re: Dismantlinjg ARCO WINCHES

The question was asked some time back how to dismantle Arco (USA) 8 single speed winches. Couldn't find the answer here so thought I would describe the construction. The barrel is attached by a multiturn circlip on top of the barrel and attached to the winch handle rotating part. Pull out one end of the circlip with small screw driver and unwind. This permits the barrel to lift off and reveals the internals which can be cleaned and greased. There is a shaft with pauls attached which turns with the handle. This shaft stops the removal of the main holding pauls which are under the handle pauls. This shaft is removed by removing the winch from the boat. There is a circlip 345 degrees type with little holes for circlip pliers accessed from underneath. You need two long sharp spikes to fit in the circlip holes and some pliers opening to spred the spikes apart. Or proper circlip pliers straight and opening. Regarding the exploding winch I expect it was this circlip that let go. This particular winch (a friend's) has severe wear of the paul housing causing it to cock and tend not to flick out to hold the drum. Not sure what the answer is maybe cleaning will be good enough.
Regards will