Lofrans Cayman Gearbox Strip

[Cardinal]

Have any formites experience of removing the guts from one of these? All seems easy till there is just the worm drive shaft left in the box. Any tips for extracting that would be appreciated. There is no exposed end of that shaft to tap nor any thread on the inside of the exposed end to grip.

 

[Cardinal]

Sorry to seem impatient but surely someone here has done this job before and can offer some helpful advice-please.

 

[gordmac]

Have you asked Lofrans? Very helpful in my experience.

 

[Cardinal]

Have you asked Lofrans? Very helpful in my experience.

Thanks for that suggestion. That they appeared not to offer workshop manuals on their website led me to think they might simply say “return to factory”! I shall try asking them.

 

[colind3782]

I have the Cayman manual with the exploded parts diagram on my pc at home. I'll send it to you later. I have it on my phone but it won't let me post it. Is 1.69 mb too big?

 

[Cardinal]

Thanks, but I have the exploded parts diagram. It is the technique for removing the worm drive shaft which I am interested in. Probably it will require equipment I do not have unless I can fabricate some kind of jig which enables me to exert even pressure where required.

 

[colind3782]

I saw a YouTube video which suggests that it drops in from the motor side with a bearing around it?

 

[Cardinal]

I think that is correct. I anticipate that fitting it will be easy-it is how to extract it without damaging it (or,if possible the casing) that concerns me presently.

 

[ean_p]

I think that is correct. I anticipate that fitting it will be easy-it is how to extract it without damaging it (or,if possible the casing) that concerns me presently.

A photo or two may help.......and a look at the parts diagrams relevant section.......

 

[Cardinal]

Here are some pics which I hope will show what is the difficulty. The shaft seen in the photo has only one exposed end and that is not one which can be gripped (at least not before the oil seal is removed and even then only a short length would be exposed).

 

[gordmac]

Will there be some sort of thrust bearing retaining it?

 

[Cardinal]

The electric motor bolts onto the end of the case and it’s shaft(keyed) sits in the end of the worm drive shaft you see in the right hand photo.
There is a bearing mounted in the casing which is what in the absence of the motor, stops the shaft falling out.

 

[ean_p]

So it looks like you need to remove the seal behind which is a circlip which retains the bearing assembly which retains the worm. As it's a thrust bearing it should coax out easily as it's in three parts....?

 

[roaringgirl]

It looks the same as the ancient Tigres I took apart yesterday. If you pull out the oil seal, the shaft should just fall out.

 

[Cardinal]

Thanks both for your guidance. I’ll try carefully to extract the seal but expect that a new seal will be required on reassembly.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Have you removed the seal ? You find a C clip.
Seals and bearing from simply bearing ,

 

[Cardinal]

I’ve now removed the seal and (after a trip aboard to retrieve my circling pliers) removed the circling and as promised here, the shaft can be dropped out.
Next question: is the combined bearing (346 on the diagram) an interference fit which will be a pain to extract or should it ease out easily?
Possibly the sort of item only the manufacturers will supply, but perhaps it is a common type and size? Any intelligence on these questions please before I start trying and cause damage!

 

[sailaboutvic]

I’ve now removed the seal and (after a trip aboard to retrieve my circling pliers) removed the circling and as promised here, the shaft can be dropped out.
Next question: is the combined bearing (346 on the diagram) an interference fit which will be a pain to extract or should it ease out easily?
Possibly the sort of item only the manufacturers will supply, but perhaps it is a common type and size? Any intelligence on these questions please before I start trying and cause damage!

As said in last posting you can buy the seal and bearing from simply bearing , which is where I got mine from much cheaper then the manufacturer and the same .

My bearing took a bit of effort to get out but it came out .

 

[Cardinal]

Thanks Vic.

 

[ean_p]

I’ve now removed the seal and (after a trip aboard to retrieve my circling pliers) removed the circling and as promised here, the shaft can be dropped out.
Next question: is the combined bearing (346 on the diagram) an interference fit which will be a pain to extract or should it ease out easily?
Possibly the sort of item only the manufacturers will supply, but perhaps it is a common type and size? Any intelligence on these questions please before I start trying and cause damage!

This is the bearing type...https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=360406&vat_inc=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8amWBhCYARIsADqZJoUBXQFwFOnDXjcbupjzBHaq2lO0H3m8-l6GcRELS4Dzf9AOVMVAInkaAiw_EALw_wcB
And as Vic says is most likely much cheaper than from the OEM.
In all likelihood you will destroy or damage the existing one while removing it. You may, for several reasons also damage a new one while installing it! You need to ask, does it really need replacing? The nature of the windless is that the bearing has most likely done little work in its lifetime and if the inside of the box were clean and free from damage and seawater incursion then I might have left it and possibly the whole assembly undisturbed. Wear on the worm and / or the wormwheel, or in any of the bearings would of course override this consideration.....