Lewmar anchor winch removal.

[jrudge]

So with plenty to do but all looking good for the weekend after a very big refit a bit of a problem. !

Touched anchor pedals. Slight lurch and then just motor noise.

Bugger. Gearbox. Euro 1200. Bought. Back to Boat

Realise the gearbox went as the shaft is siesed.

So all the chain out. Nuts removed etc to remove the top part take to dealer for emergency fix.

Can’t move it. Been all round with a chisel.

It’s now dark. His suggestion is to remove the studs with mole grips and try to twist it.

I will try this in the morning.

Does anyone have any other ideas ?

The suspicion is that the aluminium “shaft cover “ might have corroded and expanded.

Any suggestions welcome as Easter boating ( no anchor in Mallorca is pretty much no go ) is at risk !

 

[Portofino]

Clutch

Did you investigate it’s effectiveness ,before diagnosing a gearbox prob ?
Sometimes they just need tightening up via the large hex nut and the handle .

 

[DavidJ]

I’m assuming yours is a vertical type. My similar Simpson Lawrence had a thick 5mm Al “gasket” under the deck. I can see that this if corroded could hold the studs. The suggestion of removing the studs would work if this is the case

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

I had to replace the gearbox on my Lewmar windlass last year. I couldn't shift it either, so the local yard recommended a guy who came round and used a puller. Charged me €50 which I thought was a bargain given how much effort I'd already wasted trying to get the thing off.

 

[jrudge]

got It out with the help of a guy working on the boat. Big job !

Off to Lewmar. There is an aluminium part that had corroded and expanded and seized the shaft.

Obsolete model. New base labour etc another e1000

Bugger but up early tomorrow fit it and Easter is saved !

Next time someone worries about fuel cost in a post send hem in the direction of this thread !

Happy Easter to all.

 

[MedMilo]

Just a small tip J and grandmas and eggs spring to mind! But two things I do to try to extend windlass life. I never leave it under tension, so often I see that boats are left with the chain bar tight (under around 2 tonnes of strain) which must result in massive forces on the gears, sometimes being left for months on end. And secondly I work the windlass every six weeks or so in order to keep everything moving freely - dropping the anchor and retrieving it in the marina if necessary (just on my berth I mean!). I also have keep a complete, new, spare windlass on board and a large fortress (folded) with 100m of 18mm anchor plait as a back up in case of failure (which, as you say, can bring a holiday to an abrupt halt!). Anyway, glad you've got it all sorted and Happy Easter!

 

[DavidJ]

MedMilo is absolutely right and you should take the tension off.
I recently had to rebuild my gearbox after a gear shaft snapped (probably due to the above). Then I read the instructions of how to operate. After running out the chain you should just tweek it in a bit. This activates a roller clutch in the gearbox (bit like a brake) and will protect, to some extent, the internals. The best way of course is to follow MedMilo's advice and eliminate the tension completely.