Lofrans winch body corrosion.

[Tranona]

Brings back memories (and tears to the eyes!). Mine was like that except that one whole corner complete with stud was detached, and it was seized. It had done 10 years in the med, 7 as a charter boat so had earned its keep. This was at the time when Lofrans was in receivership and being bought and I found what was probably the only new one available to buy in Europe. Cost just over £1k in 2012 and after that prices fell to under £900 when Lofrans got going again. However I see they have now gone up (like a lot of things) and are around £1300. Still good value though.

 

[Neeves]

I’ve found Tef-Gel very easy to use & lasts many years.

That's the stuff - sold as a replacement to Duralac - and cleaner to use. I have no experience but its been mentioned a number of times here in YBW with no negative comments that I recall. Its available here in Oz in chandlers so assume the same in the UK.

Jonathan

 

[claymore]

That's the stuff - sold as a replacement to Duralac - and cleaner to use. I have no experience but its been mentioned a number of times here in YBW with no negative comments that I recall. Its available here in Oz in chandlers so assume the same in the UK.

Jonathan

I'm assuming that you don't experience many of our climatically induced snags being where you are?

 

[Restoration man]

I’ve got a similar winch poss even older, sorry didn’t take photos of the corrosion , but it’s similar to yours I’ve stripped the complete winch down removed the bearings and seals etc it was still working fine , the deck had soft core so i had to take off to fix that, can’t face putting it back without reverb it , I’ve got a chap very local to me who’s going to media blast it and build the weld up on the bottom , then another guy who’s going to stick on his milling machine and flatten the face off , then anything not Structual I will fill with jb weld adhesive and repaint it, anybody here know the model of mine ??? Thanks

 

[Neeves]

I’ve got a similar winch poss even older, sorry didn’t take photos of the corrosion , but it’s similar to yours I’ve stripped the complete winch down removed the bearings and seals etc it was still working fine , the deck had soft core so i had to take off to fix that, can’t face putting it back without reverb it , I’ve got a chap very local to me who’s going to media blast it and build the weld up on the bottom , then another guy who’s going to stick on his milling machine and flatten the face off , then anything not Structual I will fill with jb weld adhesive and repaint it, anybody here know the model of mine ??? Thanks

Just out of interest - what sort of cost would this incur - assuming it was conducted commercially.

Sitting comfortably at home, admittedly with a very skinny wallet - it does seem a lot of work to tidy up a 20 year old bit of kit. I'd bite the bullet and persuade the Financial Controller that it was in their interest (as they are responsible for deployment and retrieval) to invest in a new windlass. If a windlass goes wrong at an inconvenient time (when else do they go wrong?) it could be difficult.

Good luck,

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

That's the stuff - sold as a replacement to Duralac - and cleaner to use. I have no experience but its been mentioned a number of times here in YBW with no negative comments that I recall. Its available here in Oz in chandlers so assume the same in the UK.

Jonathan

I take Vyv's point that if you are careful its not that difficult to use Duralac, from a new tube. I find the tubes last forever, sort of. But the contents in the tube separate out over time - and its the separation that causes the mess as its presumably the solids that are the active ingredient but its the liquid carrier that is extruded from the tube when first used after a period of time. My guess is that for large commercial users it comes in a more sensible container, one you can stir, and I wonder why 'our' tubes are like old fashioned toothpaste tubes and not plastic that you would kneed before use.

I suspect part of the answer is that its like mustard - the profit is in what you throw away - demanding that you buy a new tube.

Jonathan

 

[R.Ems]

I take Vyv's point that if you are careful its not that difficult to use Duralac, from a new tube. I find the tubes last forever, sort of. But the contents in the tube separate out over time - and its the separation that causes the mess as its presumably the solids that are the active ingredient but its the liquid carrier that is extruded from the tube when first used after a period of time. My guess is that for large commercial users it comes in a more sensible container, one you can stir, and I wonder why 'our' tubes are like old fashioned toothpaste tubes and not plastic that you would kneed before use.

I suspect part of the answer is that its like mustard - the profit is in what you throw away - demanding that you buy a new tube.

Jonathan

It comes in a metal tin, like a small paint tin. Like paint, it skins over, needs stirring, and is best applied with a brush.

 

[Restoration man]

Just out of interest - what sort of cost would this incur - assuming it was conducted commercially.

Sitting comfortably at home, admittedly with a very skinny wallet - it does seem a lot of work to tidy up a 20 year old bit of kit. I'd bite the bullet and persuade the Financial Controller that it was in their interest (as they are responsible for deployment and retrieval) to invest in a new windlass. If a windlass goes wrong at an inconvenient time (when else do they go wrong?) it could be difficult.

Good luck,

Jonathan

£100 to get it blasted and welded, £30 to get it skimmed , I will paint it myself , we have quite few bearing stockist I’ve used for years near me so 2 lip seals and 2 bearings not much at all, so should be under £200 , boats not being used this season so no probs with time

 

[Neeves]

£100 to get it blasted and welded, £30 to get it skimmed , I will paint it myself , we have quite few bearing stockist I’ve used for years near me so 2 lip seals and 2 bearings not much at all, so should be under £200 , boats not being used this season so no probs with time

I am, very, impressed. I wonder how many of us could negotiate rates, grit blasting and welding and then skimmed, like that?

Jonathan

 

[Restoration man]

I am, very, impressed. I wonder how many of us could negotiate rates, grit blasting and welding and then skimmed, like that?

Jonathan

I live in the midlands and close to me ,we have lots of little engineering company’s , I can Literally get anything done round hear for fraction of the cost of down south? I recently got both my prop shafts Straightened ,the pair for £72 + vat and it’s proper place that specialise in such things

 

[ghostlymoron]

It's often said that "we don't make anything in this country anymore" but on a recent stroll from Birmingham New Street station through Digbeth to my son's flat I passed literally dozens of small engineering works making and repairing all sorts of products.