Replacing winch pawls and springs?

[colind3782]

While spending a leisurely day servicing my elderly winches, I got to wondering how many people replace the pawls and springs every time as recommended? I certainly don't, except when a spring pings over the side!

I do inspect them and they seem fine to re-fit. Any strong opinions? ?

 

[duncan99210]

I've got a few new pawls and springs for the winches in the bits and bobs locker. When I service the winches, I replace springs which seem a bit slack or get lost. Existing pawls are compared to new and if I can see a significant difference in shape between old and new I replace. Otherwise, let well alone.

 

[ghostlymoron]

If your winches, like mine, are no longer supported, I hang onto any spares as much as I can so that I've got them when I really need them.

 

[colind3782]

If your winches, like mine, are no longer supported, I hang onto any spares as much as I can so that I've got them when I really need them.

They're at least 30 year old Lewmar single speed. All the fiddly bits that are likely to end up in the drink seem to be available. I do have a €40 set of replacement springs and pawls on board but, to date, I've only used two of the springs to replace a couple that are probably swimming their way towards France.

 

[lpdsn]

I've never had to replace the pawls and springs yet. They could be 25 years old as far as I know. I just clean the winch, oil the pawls and very lightly grease the rest of the bits. I usually test them as I'm putting things back together.

The only cases where I've seen winches slipping on OPBs is where they were clogged up with oodles of dirty grease.

 

[thinwater]

While spending a leisurely day servicing my elderly winches, I got to wondering how many people replace the pawls and springs every time as recommended? I certainly don't, except when a spring pings over the side!

I do inspect them and they seem fine to re-fit. Any strong opinions? ��

Who recommends replacing the pawls every time? The manuals all say "as required" or words to that effect.

As for the "only oil" rule for pawls, Antal and Maxwell, I believe, recommend a thin coating of grease. The sewing machine oil many recommend aint' much in the way of long-term lubrication, unless your'e working on a sewing machine.

So watch out for absolutes. They seldom are.

 

[TLouth7]

Just serviced our ~40 year old Lewmar 2 speed genoa winches which were slipping. Only had to replace a couple of springs, still the original pawls as far as I can tell (certainly not changed in the last 20 years).

 

[Ruffles]

A good trick is to cut a round hole in a cardboard box and tape over the winch.

 

[Norman_E]

A good trick is to cut a round hole in a cardboard box and tape over the winch.

Great Idea. On one occasion I lifted the winch drum off and it took a bearing race with it. The race then fell out, bounced on the deck and went overboard. Fortunately in about 12 or 15 feet of water and a young lad who worked for a local charter company swam down and got it back for me. A nice big and deep box might have saved that.

 

[reinhardschumann]

My Harken ST44 winch actually has a broken pawl spring. Should I replace all 6?

 

[thinwater]

My Harken ST44 winch actually has a broken pawl spring. Should I replace all 6?

Seems obviously yes, assuming they have some age on them. All of the pawls as well, in all of the winches (or at least the pair). Depending on which one it is, if the other spring fails, the winch can spin, damaging wrists and the winch.

If you have replaced them in the last few years, it probably just got kinked during installation. Replace just the one.

Of course, I'm assuming you're doing annual service. If not, this is the time. All of them. No more than a few hours for about 6 winches. It goes fast once you are in the rhythm.

 

[starfire]

A good trick is to cut a round hole in a cardboard box and tape over the winch.

Or a washing up bowl with a hole in it.

 

[reinhardschumann]

Seems obviously yes, assuming they have some age on them. All of the pawls as well, in all of the winches (or at least the pair). Depending on which one it is, if the other spring fails, the winch can spin, damaging wrists and the winch.

If you have replaced them in the last few years, it probably just got kinked during installation. Replace just the one.

Of course, I'm assuming you're doing annual service. If not, this is the time. All of them. No more than a few hours for about 6 winches. It goes fast once you are in the rhythm.

Annual service hahaha this winch is 14 years old and probably never serviced before. BTW the pawls are all in pristine condition. The gears and bearings are dirty but also in perfect condition. This is a recreational boat not round-the-world used every day...