Lofrans Royal Windlass. Installation/Maintenance manual wanted.

Poignard

Poignard

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I have bought a secondhand Lofrans Royal Manual Windlass and there is no documentation with it. Could someone let me have a copy of the Installation/Maintenance Manual, please? Any postage, copying expenses gladly refunded.
 
Thanks for the help, gentlemen.

I have now downloaded the manual but it doesn't say much. I was hoping for information about lubricating the gearing inside the unit but nothing is mentioned about that.
 
I bought one new about 3 years ago. Its been all right but the chain gypsy does tend to stick (and the hole for the handle always seems to end up at the bottom where you can’t reach it). I looked into this last year and did find a few threads on various forums – sorry, I can’t remember which ones. They seem to be difficult to dismantle any further than the gypsy. I have taken that off and greased it but it does not seem to have that much effect. Apparently the worse thing you can do is take out the big bolt at the top of the main drum – if you do all the interior bits collapse in a heap. I would be interested if you do find any further information.
 
I have dismantled the windlass, which was straightforward enough apart from having to drill out a couple of seized screws.

Once opened up I found the gears etc coated with grease plus about one pint of oil inside. I don't think that it should have oil in it because there are no oil seals on the mainshaft and there is no way to fill, drain or check the oil level if it was intended to contain oil. What looks as if it might be an oil filler plug on top, is in fact a screwed-in stub axle for the upper bevel gear [there is a similar set up a the bottom] and this had been screwed in cross-threaded so it looks as if someone has, as you warn, thought it was a filler and removed it to pour oil in. Unless someone convinces me otherwise, I intend to re-assemble it without oil and just grease the moving parts.

By the way you can download an exploded parts diagram which shows where everything goes. The only thing it doesn't show is the large o-ring set in a groove on the cover plate, which I shall have to renew as it is deformed.
 
I reckon it should have oil...

I reckon it should have oil in it. Most Lofrans windlasses have SAE90 oil in their gearboxes. If you think about it, why does it have an O-ring? Wouldn't need one if it was simply greased, would it?
 
The axles and gears all run on thin plastic bushes. Bits end up corroding, distorting the bushes, and seize up the whole thing. If the bushes are in good nick and the axles are fine, I don't see how oil would stay inside for long. I think grease is the answer. I'd guess that the o-ring on the cover is to keep sea-water out as far as possible. The loading on the bevel gears and so on is not a lot, so there is no need for ep oils or such inside the case.
I have to say I am not impressed with mine, after taking it apart and spending quite a lot on new bushes etc.
 
Re: I reckon it should have oil...

[ QUOTE ]
... why does it have an O-ring?

[/ QUOTE ]

I imagine it's to keep the water out.

If it is supposed to have oil in it I would have expected oil seals on the shaft. You say most Lofrans windlasses have SAE 90 oil in them. May I know where you got this information from as it is not mentioned in the Installation/Owners Manual for the Royal? Also it seems odd that some previous owner of my windlass would take it to bits and grease everything individually and then pour oil into it afterwards. Remember this is a manual windlass operating at very slow speed, so there is no real need for an oil bath.

But I'm always willing to learn so perhaps you will enlighten me.

p.s. Superstrath - whilst I was composing my reply to PVB you answered!. Entirely agree with what you say.
 
I have Royal windlass, it works ok, the aluminuim housing is beginning to corrode on the outside and lift of the plastic coat. Its 20 years old. Mine was filled with oil when i bought the boat which all leaked out. I was told by the importers thats its a greased for life job. The oil is usually put in through the hole in the top by mistake, this hole is apparantly for use in another model which uses the same casing. Hope this helps
 
Re: I reckon it should have oil...

[ QUOTE ]
You say most Lofrans windlasses have SAE 90 oil in them. May I know where you got this information from

[/ QUOTE ] From the owners manuals. Why not simply email Lofrans; they'll be happy to tell you what sort of lubrication is needed.
 
Re: I reckon it should have oil...

If you still have access to the manual for the Lofrans Royal which says that, could you send me a copy because there is no such info in the one I downloaded yesterday [see above]. Gladly refund postage etc.
Cheers.
 
Just to clarify...

Just to clarify, I said that "Most Lofrans windlasses have SAE90 oil in their gearboxes", and when you challenged that statement, I said that the information is in the owners manuals. However, there is no mention of lubrication in the Royal manual, as you well know (your previous post said "I have now downloaded the manual but it doesn't say much. I was hoping for information about lubricating the gearing inside the unit but nothing is mentioned about that"). If you email Lofrans, they'll help you - I've found them helpful in the past.
 
Re: Just to clarify...

[ QUOTE ]
Unless someone convinces me otherwise, I intend to re-assemble it without oil and just grease the moving parts.


[/ QUOTE ]

There was no need to e-mail Lofrans to confirm what I had already worked out for myself but, just so there would be absolutely no doubt, I did so and have received an answer which says "Grease. Just grease".
 
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