How often do you service your winches?

Every winter. It's my favourite job on board, no need to squeeze into tight spaces or fiddle with nuts and bolts you can't quite see, and the sense of a good job well done is very satisfying!
 
Usually once a year, when I get the urge! So far haven't needed to replace any parts; the pawls and springs are well-protected in my Lewmar winches, and don't seem to corrode (or even wear significantly). Dismantle, clean and lightly grease is the regime. Have had ongoing problems with excess old grease (applied by an earlier owner!) in the roller bearings; it is very difficult to remove this; the usual solvents don't seem to touch it. My brother has just had a go with an automotive parts cleaner; let's hope that's done it!
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Usually once a year, when I get the urge! So far haven't needed to replace any parts; the pawls and springs are well-protected in my Lewmar winches, and don't seem to corrode (or even wear significantly). Dismantle, clean and lightly grease is the regime. Have had ongoing problems with excess old grease (applied by an earlier owner!) in the roller bearings; it is very difficult to remove this; the usual solvents don't seem to touch it. My brother has just had a go with an automotive parts cleaner; let's hope that's done it!
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Use old outboard engine petrol and someone else's toothbrush. Doodle. Dispose of a risings with usual care. CS
 
Couple of times a season. Clean with diesel and a toothbrush; add drop of oil if you must and never grease. It's hard to imagine a better grinding paste than salt and grease all warmed up by the sun. Once you've got rid of all the kuck it's a five minute job.

Diesel was recommended to me by a BN who used to look after a Swan 65, which had winches like mushrooms.
 
How often do you service your winches?

I've done it once.. They are old and warn and I am not certain which is worse for them.
 
Tony Cross said:
Every winter. It's my favourite job on board, no need to squeeze into tight spaces or fiddle with nuts and bolts you can't quite see, and the sense of a good job well done is very satisfying!
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Every year, but for me it is a summer job. Pick a nice sunny day in the marina (disposal of the white spirit guk), sit out in the cockpit with music on quietly below and a glass of something every now and then. Satisfying indeed.
 
Every couple of years on when I think they need doing.

Have a service kit as I like to keep key spares on board. Have rarely replaced worn springs, but occasionally replaced the odd ball, as one goes plop over the side when cleaning.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Usually once a year, when I get the urge! So far haven't needed to replace any parts; the pawls and springs are well-protected in my Lewmar winches, and don't seem to corrode (or even wear significantly). Dismantle, clean and lightly grease is the regime. Have had ongoing problems with excess old grease (applied by an earlier owner!) in the roller bearings; it is very difficult to remove this; the usual solvents don't seem to touch it. My brother has just had a go with an automotive parts cleaner; let's hope that's done it!
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WD40 works well for cleaning off old grease.
 
I do mine when ever I feel like it. No set routine but I'll fairly frequently take the drum off one whilst idling time in the cockpit and give it a quick visual check.

Use grease, but use it sparingly. Oil is fine if you want to regularly service them but if done properly a greased winch should still be perfectly sound after a year assuming the use isn't constant.
 
Tried that - it got most of the softer stuff off, but what it left seems to be resistant to pretty much everything. From the looks of it, a former owner used old-fashioned brown grease, and lots of it. It has set in a similar manner to varnish. Hopefully my brother's parts cleaner, which uses a caustic solution to blast the parts, will have got more off. He reports that it is freer now.
 
Never had to worry before, as the old boat didn't really have winches (couple of little ratchet snubber things, rarely used). On the new boat I have moved four halyard / control line winches from place to place, dismantling and cleaning them in the process. At some point this spring I'll service the sheet winches too. After that it'll probably be annually.

Pete
 
I try to do ours every year, but sometimes it goes a couple of years. Light grease on the bearings and gears, oil on the springs and pawls. My problem is that I've got eight of the things and some of them are large and complicated, so although I like doing them, I sometimes put it off..
 
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