Muir horizontal winch

[Darren D]

Hi brains trust.
I have just purchased a catamaran with a Muir horizontal winch that is extremely slow!

any thoughts in how to speed this up or what maintenance tips I can do to get this going faster. Speed is probably 1 meter every 7 seconds

 

[Neeves]

Strip it down, clean and grease the shaft and check there is oil in the gearbox. All the instructions should be in the manual. Windlass should be serviced annually - many are never serviced, at all, and the gear box and shaft are the common issues. You need a nice day and be prepared to take half a day to complete. It will not be difficult, see later, but access may be appalling which will extend the time needed exponentially. I don't 'know' the Muir horizontals but the verticals had aluminium components secured with stainless bolts or studs - with no protection between stainless and aluminium. There will be the inevitable corrosion and if the servicing schedule was, never, then it may be impossible to take apart. You may then need to consider how much time you will spend - or whether you might cut your losses and buy a new windlass.

Muir windlass are common here and I get asked for advice on servicing - I go with a tool kit ...... and an angle grinder.

If the weather is less attractive - try to remove the windlass completely - and take it home and service at home where you will have access to a warm dry environment and more tools.

If you can take it apart without damaging anything - have duralac handy for when you re-assemble.

The original windlass was sturdy and bullet proof - the issues usually lie with a lack of maintenance. (and the absence of duralac by the original installer.

If you decide that you need a new windlass - then is the time to consider smaller chain - which will benefit the sailing ability of any yacht - but particularly a catamaran.

I have a pdf on an article I wrote on smaller chain (8mm down to 6mm on a 38' cat), and a new windlass (replacing an old Muir vertical) on our cat. Its a pdf, too big to post here, send me your email address by PM and I'll send you a copy. The article is about smaller chain, rather than windlass - but they get a mention.

Jonathan

 

[Darren D]

Strip it down, clean and grease the shaft and check there is oil in the gearbox. All the instructions should be in the manual. Windlass should be serviced annually - many are never serviced, at all, and the gear box and shaft are the common issues. You need a nice day and be prepared to take half a day to complete. It will not be difficult, see later, but access may be appalling which will extend the time needed exponentially. I don't 'know' the Muir horizontals but the verticals had aluminium components secured with stainless bolts or studs - with no protection between stainless and aluminium. There will be the inevitable corrosion and if the servicing schedule was, never, then it may be impossible to take apart. You may then need to consider how much time you will spend - or whether you might cut your losses and buy a new windlass.

Muir windlass are common here and I get asked for advice on servicing - I go with a tool kit ...... and an angle grinder.

If the weather is less attractive - try to remove the windlass completely - and take it home and service at home where you will have access to a warm dry environment and more tools.

If you can take it apart without damaging anything - have duralac handy for when you re-assemble.

The original windlass was sturdy and bullet proof - the issues usually lie with a lack of maintenance. (and the absence of duralac by the original installer.

If you decide that you need a new windlass - then is the time to consider smaller chain - which will benefit the sailing ability of any yacht - but particularly a catamaran.

I have a pdf on an article I wrote on smaller chain (8mm down to 6mm on a 38' cat), and a new windlass (replacing an old Muir vertical) on our cat. Its a pdf, too big to post here, send me your email address by PM and I'll send you a copy. The article is about smaller chain, rather than windlass - but they get a mention.

Jonathan

Thanks Jonathan.
Waiting on a good day to attack it. And I have the manual as well so hopefully it is just a lack of lubricant. Will keep you posted

 

[Neeves]

Darren,

The manual should tell you how to instal, which also indicated how to dismantle to service. If you reverse the installation instructions and/or release the nuts and bolts that hold the windlass to the cat - you should be able to lift it out. They are not that heavy.

There are various tricks to attacking stainless fixtures corroded into aluminium. Do the homework now - and then you can try them when you have that good day.

Use the search function on the Forum, its not a brilliant search function, but it will give you a start. Your other option is to leave this thread 'running' (and start a new one focussed at seized stainless) but maybe someone will read this post and give you some ideas. I don't like to tell you that for badly corroded items - you need an angle grinder. But soaking with WD40 and heat are initial suggestions.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

Darren

To put your windlass speed into context our Maxwell, vertical, RC8-6 retrieves at over 0.5m/sec.

Jonathan

 

[AndrewB]

Sounds like it might be a power supply problem. How far away are the batteries? Are they well charged? How thick is the cable? What condition is it in? Is the solenoid working properly?

 

[ean_p]

Darren, have just sent you a pm ref the winch. (Click on little envelope symbol at top right of page)