Help needed with Lofrans Project X2 windlass

[send54sail]

If anybody who has actually taken apart and serviced a Lofrans Project X2 windlass could give me some tips on the following I would be most grateful, having drawn a blank in getting any response at all from the sole Lofrans UK distributor (Peachment) and been unable to find any proper workshop manual (although there is a good parts diagram on the back of the instructions).

I want to strip down and replace the service items generally in the windlass so I got the service kit for the Project X2 but - before I start violently sprising corroded bits apart - there's a few issues I want to check with the experts:

1/ There are a number of items (seals, circlips, bearings etc) that slide onto the "standard shaft" (part 917) immediately on top of the "base" (part 904) (and then the cone clutch sits on top of those). The photo attached shows how that area looks before taking any of those items off so they do seem to have corroded away to nothing which is not too surprising in the case of flimsy seals and circlips but one of the items that should be visible there is a quite chunky looking "stainless steel bearing" (part 903) which also seems to have been eaten away to nothing (or possibly isn't even there at all?).
Lofrans don't include this bearing as a service item, so they must assume that these bearings will not normally need to be replaced. Has anyone come across this before and just from looking at the photo do you reckon that this bearing is in fact still there on the shaft but is corroded or do you think its not even there at all? Bit reluctant to sprise the corroded stuff off without knowing.

2/ I am also concerned that there is a spring mechanism in the works between the Gearcase upper (920) and Gearcase lower (928). I need to get inside those workings to replace several service items but I have seen elsewhere that a specific compressor tool is needed to re-assemble with that spring in the way. Is that correct? Is a special tool needed to do the service?

3/ The cone clutch (part 915 on the Lofrans parts diagram for the Project X2) has become stuck to the gypsy due to corrosion (which is fairly standard problem I believe) so I need to get those separated. Any tips on how?

4/ Last, the instructions say that the oil in the gear box should be changed but nothing at all about how you access the gearbox or what grade of oil is needed or in fact anything at all. Again, any tips?

Any insights very much appreciated - as well as the distributor not wanting to help, I also can't find any trades that actually service these windlasses or know much about them (although keen to sell me a new one) and my instruction manual doesn't tell me anything beyond the parts diagram.
Cheers
Andy

 

[Neeves]

Andy,

You have chosen a windlass about which I know nothing. They are not common here, where Maxwell (NZ) and Muir (Australia) are popular (we have had from both). I might suggest contacting Lofrans direct, you might like to link your post on YBW in your enquiry - it might jog them into action - your post is really not a very good advertisement for them and I would have thought it might encourage them - as then you can post a glowing follow up.

You do not make clear if you are trying to service in situ or if you have taken it apart, in any way (you imply you cannot get it apart). I'd try to take the gypsy and 'top' (the bits above deck) off and then you should be able to remove the rest of the assembly - it will then be much easier to see what you need to do to split the rest. There is usually a simple bolt on the gearbox that allows access to the oil for the gear box and most depend on you taking the gearbox out to both empty and fill it. Our Maxwell has a neat sight glass for the oil, that is a plastic see through bolt - but you still need to take the gear box out to refill, when necessary. You obviously need to disconnect the power cables (that should be easy) and it will also help if you take the motor off.

As I say you don't mention if you have taken it apart but freeing up the bolts that hold the above deck gypsy arrangement and below deck shaft and gear box is usually a major problem - the bolts corrode into whatever they are seated (commonly aluminium).

The shaft fusing is common, as you say - which is of little comfort to you.

Give the apparent state of the bearings the bearing/seal to the gear box may also have failed and I'd recommend you open up the gear box to identify the state inside - I have seen them 'lubricated' with mud, iron oxide and seawater.

The idea of using a hefty hammer or a blow torch to free up parts inside an anchor locker is a bit of a joke - you need to get the parts on deck (and preferably home and a decent shed/workshop). The last Muir I was involved with had not been serviced for 20 years, we cut it out with an angle grinder.

Sorry to be not much help, at all.

Jonathan

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’m very surprised you’ve had no response from Peachments. I’ve been dealing with them over several years and they’ve always been very helpful.

I deal mostly with Steve steve (...at...) peachment.co.uk. (I’ll modify his email in the public domain to avoid the spam harvesting devices bombarding him)

 

[Neeves]

The gearbox oil for a similarly sized Maxwell would be SAE90

Jonathan