Re-furbishing Lofrans Royale Windlass - 3

[ghostlymoron]

I've now got my windlass nicely re-furbed. Some helicoils fitted, mank removed from aluminium (mainly under nylon sleeves), greased, re-assembled, all turning smoothly UNTIL I fitted the end plate. After this step, the thing stiffens to the point where it won't turn at all. Am I missing something. Are there some spacers required and is there some way of positioning the main drive shaft correctly? - I've assumed that the step at the drum end should be flush with the spigot on the casing. Any tips, I'd hate to fail after coming so far.
BTW, I've painted it with Smoothrite but this doesn't seem to be the stuff it used to be. May have to get it powder coated.

 

[Gordonmc]

Have you put the pawls back in the same way they came out?
I had the same problem until I realised the pawls are subtely handed.
I had the casing powder-coated by a local shop whose stock-in-trade is refurbing alloy wheels.
It wasn't too expensive.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I put them in with the vertical face on the pawl contacting the vertical face of the cog. After initially putting them arse about face.