Lubrication winches

[Sevi]

I don´t know which product use to eliminate the old grease of the winches and after the best product to lubricate again this.
Plese, is there someone that could give me a good advice?
Ismael (Sevilla) Spain

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[aod]

Kerosene.................absolutely perfect!

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[jamesjermain]

Paraffin/kerosene is the stuff to get the old grease off. To re-grease the winches, Lewmar and Harken both sell own-brand winch grease which is basically a light grade of waterproof grease. This is fine for the barrel and bearings but use a general purpose lubricating oil on the pawls. Apply the grease sparingly because excess will just harden in contact with salt water and make the winch stiff.

Racing crews, who tend to use their winches more and service them more regularly, often don't use grease at all, just light oil. This makes the winch faster and easier to turn, but the oil must be replaced at regular intervals - even monthly, specially in hot climates.

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[jeanne]

I use motorcycle chain lubricant, sold in an aerosol can, to lubricate winches. It is thin, so it doesn't cause drag, and I reckon that if it can stick to a chain going round at high speed in the rain, then maybe it will cope with anything.

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[vyv_cox]

The grease sold by the winch manufacturers for the purpose appears to be a silcone type. I always used conventional lithium-based automotive grease but this does oxidise in a relatively short time, so needs to be cleaned out fairly frequently, like annually. The correct lubricant can be bought at reasonable cost from any decent chandler.

IMHO an oil should not be used as it cannot be retained in the bearings and pawls. The result will be that metal wear will inevitably occur.



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