jusw
Well-Known Member
I have a problem with a No 7 winch - the ratchet has stopped working and it rotates in either direction - Does any one know exactly what spares I'll need to fix it and where best to get them?
J
J
Lewmar Winch
- Thread starter jusw
- Start date
sailorman
Well-Known Member
it might just be "Stuck-up" with grease ect strip down & assess the prob. parts available from good swindleries or Lewmar
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
Not sure about a No 7, but most winches have two (or more) ratchet pawls and springs. You may need new pawls if they have become rounded, if still square cornered they are OK. You will most likely need new springs, as the old ones are probably weak, if not broken. You should give all the parts a thorough clean and apply new waterproof grease to all parts except the pawl pivots, which are better oiled, as grease can harden and stick them.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I agree with the other posters when they say its almost certainly is just stuck pawls. Its possible that the pawl springs are broken, but they are pence to replace. The pawls usually work in pairs and both of a pair need to be stuck for the thing to act as you describe.
I use paraffin to clean the bits with. Old newspaper and a calm day and lay the parts out carefully as you take the thing appart. Even without a diagram winches of that size are not that heard to strip and clean. Make a drawing if you are not sure. (My experience is that the smaller ones are usually obvious in how they go together, its the three speed ones that start to get complicated) Things to be careful of are the spacers and washers which sometimes stick to the body/gears with the old grease and then slide off and you wonder where that bit came from!)
Grease the bearings. Lightly oil the pawls. Its very satisfying when the whole thing works like a well oiled sewing machine afterwards.
Late edit: Your winch is a single speed Lewmar and the service instructions can be downloaded from Lewmar Service and Support Leaflets
I use paraffin to clean the bits with. Old newspaper and a calm day and lay the parts out carefully as you take the thing appart. Even without a diagram winches of that size are not that heard to strip and clean. Make a drawing if you are not sure. (My experience is that the smaller ones are usually obvious in how they go together, its the three speed ones that start to get complicated) Things to be careful of are the spacers and washers which sometimes stick to the body/gears with the old grease and then slide off and you wonder where that bit came from!)
Grease the bearings. Lightly oil the pawls. Its very satisfying when the whole thing works like a well oiled sewing machine afterwards.
Late edit: Your winch is a single speed Lewmar and the service instructions can be downloaded from Lewmar Service and Support Leaflets