[2574]
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I could readily be accused of having not RTFM. Having studiously seviced our Lewmat Ocean 48's self tailing winches for the past fourteen years only now have I becime aware that I've been doing half a job.
The winches had become stiff, difficult to turn by gripping the winch barrel and trying to rotate it. So I stripped down, cleaned, regreased and reassembled. No improvement resulted. Then realised that the self tailer was full of friction. This prompted a revisit to the service manual whereupon there is a described necessity to remove the crown of the winch, remove the stripper ring and clean. I dissasembled as instructed and with some difficulty removed the stripper ring from the crown (and cracked one ring in the process). Much salt was encrusted between the tight fitting plastic surfaces which was binding and causing the friction. Water flushed and subsequently deployed sandpaper to ring and crown to improve the mating surfaces which had become rough from being forced to rotate whilst being clogged with salt. Managed to get the mating surfaces moving fairly freely again. Decided to purchase new Crown and Ring kits at considerable expense to rectify the damage.
Conclusion - if you have stiff Lewmar winches and don't annually dissasemble and clean the ST crown and stripper ring then I suggest RTFM. It will save you grief and money.
The winches had become stiff, difficult to turn by gripping the winch barrel and trying to rotate it. So I stripped down, cleaned, regreased and reassembled. No improvement resulted. Then realised that the self tailer was full of friction. This prompted a revisit to the service manual whereupon there is a described necessity to remove the crown of the winch, remove the stripper ring and clean. I dissasembled as instructed and with some difficulty removed the stripper ring from the crown (and cracked one ring in the process). Much salt was encrusted between the tight fitting plastic surfaces which was binding and causing the friction. Water flushed and subsequently deployed sandpaper to ring and crown to improve the mating surfaces which had become rough from being forced to rotate whilst being clogged with salt. Managed to get the mating surfaces moving fairly freely again. Decided to purchase new Crown and Ring kits at considerable expense to rectify the damage.
Conclusion - if you have stiff Lewmar winches and don't annually dissasemble and clean the ST crown and stripper ring then I suggest RTFM. It will save you grief and money.
