Lofrans Airon windlass

[tugboat]

I need to remove my windlass (vertical shaft) to allow some nearby welding. I have removed the drum and gypsy, and now I'm faced with the clutch cone. I've got the key out of the shaft keyway and the clutch cone now spins on the shaft but will not lift off. It almost feels like it has a ball bearing within it which has stuck to the shaft. However - there is no reason for there to be a bearing as the clutch cone is normally keyed to the shaft. The diagram shows a bearing below the cone but I think it is located in the deck plate where the shaft emerges from below. I'm reluctant to use a puller on it without someone reassuring me that is the correct thing to do. The shaft is clean, no gunge, however worth mentioning that the ally drum casting is broken where it fits on the shaft so the unit may have been strained/overloaded at some time. Would be glad of your thoughts/advice, or words of wisdom from anyone who has stripped one down before. Thanks.

 

[jerryat]

Hi tugboat,

I have an Airon. You are correct in assuming that there is nothing (officially!) to stop the clutch cone being removed. It should lift off easily, but as you say, it is possible that there has been some localised damage. I think I'd try a puller, gently, to see if it'll shift. As with using a puller on a prop to remove it, tightening up hard then giving the puler a sharp tap with a heavy (lump type) hammer will probably work.

Good luck and let us know how you get on - might happen to me one day.

 

[tugboat]

Thanks jerryat, I'll get a puller, tighten it up and tap the end with one of them 7lb thingies I use for adjusting the VHF! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pelissima]

Hi Tugboat,
Before you use brute force I assume you have removed the somewhat hidden 4 nuts underneath...
Rgds George

 

[tugboat]

I know about the nuts on the studs under the deck that hold the gearbox/deck/deck plate together as a sandwich. Are those the ones you mean? At the moment all I'm trying to do is remove the clutch cone from the shaft to allow me to undo those 4 nuts and separate it all. Are there some other nuts I should worry about? Apart from my own, that is! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[jerryat]

Hi tugboat!

No, there are no other bolts to worry about. The clutch cone should just lift off as I described earlier, I know this as I serviced my Airon five days ago and it just slid off. When you do get it free, just put a thin coat of something like Blakes Seacock grease on the shaft to prevent it happening again. Best of luck and please let us know how you get on. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, but I'm sure that once the cone is over the 'burr' or whatever is stopping it's movement, the rest will be ok.

Cheers Jerry

 

[tugboat]

Hi again, jerryat. I bought a 3-legged puller and attacked the beastie today. As soon as I fitted it and started to take up the slack of the centre bolt by hand the darned cone started moving fairly easily. I was a bit dumbfounded after all the levering and messing about with wooden wedges I had done previously. It was as if the cone said to itself 'Bugger, he's brought in the heavy mob, I might as well pack it in'!
Anyway the next piece of advice I need is - I need to remove the windlass altogether to allow some welding of a new spurling pipe. I have removed the motor from the gearbox and the 4 nuts securing the gearbox through the deck to the deckplate but can't shift either gearbox or deckplate. I realise it is important to keep things aligned to avoid damaging the shaft. Can anyone tell me - does the gearbox come off downwards first taking the shaft with it? Does the deckplate come off first leaving the shaft in situ? I don't have an installation manual so not sure of the correct reverse order of doing things. As always I much appreciate your thoughts and input. Cheers, tugboat.

Boats - doncha just love 'em? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pelissima]

If I remember well the shaft will come out with the deckplate and the gearbox will fall like an egg. Now that the four nuts are out, the two are held in place either by any sicaflex type, or friction/rust on bolts. If you try to insert a solid blade under the deckplate and/or a bit of gentle (lump type) hammering should do the rest.
Thats why I previously said just do the 4 nuts only, no need for puller.
Rgds George

 

[jleaworthy]

The keyed shaft is attached to the windlass and is a sliding fit into the gearbox (this allows for different deck thicknesses). If the gearbox won't drop after loosening the four under-deck nuts there's possibly some corrosion in the shaft/slieve/key arrangement. Personally, after sqirting in some penetrating oil and breaking the sealant joint between deck and windlass I would try driving up the shaft from below.