Self tailing winch won't self tail

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Elemental

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My Lewmar 44 ST (circa 1993) doesn't self tail reliably. At least, one of them won't on a genoa sheet. The sheet is quite thick (12mm I think) and the winch ST jaws don't seem to hold it unless there's a high tension on the sheet. It always used too - but nowadays we resort to manually tailing the sheet until the last few turns.

I'm wondering if the rubber crown can become de-natured in some way whether it needs replacing. Or has the sheet changed over time (remember it always used to work). Neglectfully, I have never serviced the winch whilst I've owned it (6 years) - and I no longer fit the canvas cover over the winch when I'm away. Could it need some TLC to rejuvenate it ST mechanism?
 
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Sea_Spray said:
My Lewmar 44 ST (circa 1993) doesn't self tail reliably. At least, one of the won't on a genoa sheet. The sheet is quite thick (12mm I think) and doesn't seem to hold the sheet unless there's a high tension on the sheet. It always used too - but now we resort to manually tailing the sheet until the last few turns.

I'm wondering if the rubber crown can become de-natured in some way and does it need replacing. Or has the sheet changed (remember it always used to work). Neglectfully, I have never serviced the winch whilst I've owned it (6 years) - and I no longer fit the canvas cover over the winch when I'm away. Could it need some TLC to rejuvenate it ST mechanism?
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It definitely wants servicing if it's been at least 6 years. The springs in the self tailer might be knackered which will prevent the jaws from keeping a good grip on the line. Otherwise the crown might just be worn and slippery.
 
mmmmm - i have a similar problem. if the sheets are really tight and there are three turns around the wnch the self tailing works. but if its not really tight, the rubber in the jaw seems to distort and the sheet falls out. maybe its the rubber taking the tension not the winch. after all, the self talining should only really take up the slack that's produced - surely not be responsible for the grip on the line - or am i wrong? mine's an arco winch.
 
Burnham Bob said:
mmmmm - i have a similar problem. if the sheets are really tight and there are three turns around the wnch the self tailing works. but if its not really tight, the rubber in the jaw seems to distort and the sheet falls out. maybe its the rubber taking the tension not the winch. after all, the self talining should only really take up the slack that's produced - surely not be responsible for the grip on the line - or am i wrong? mine's an arco winch.
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Rubber ????
if you mean the rubber snubber they grip by stacking the line on the drum & under the rubber lower rim, nothing more req. The slot in the rubber is not needed only to tidy up the fall
 
I know this was a while ago, but I hate unsolved threads....

I ended up taking the sheets home and washing them in the washing machine - with a hint of soap powder. All is working fine nowadays so it must have been the salt stiffening the sheet and preventing the winch from self tailing properly.
 
Sea_Spray said:
I know this was a while ago, but I hate unsolved threads....

I ended up taking the sheets home and washing them in the washing machine - with a hint of soap powder. All is working fine nowadays so it must have been the salt stiffening the sheet and preventing the winch from self tailing properly.
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fabric softener helps as well
 
Sea_Spray said:
:o Not yet, but it's on the winter list...
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Mine too.

Was thinking of taking the cockpit enclosure to be adjusted tomorrow but now thinking how useful it might be in making for a more pleasant environment to service winches (and provide a useful catching mechanism for anything that decides to make a bid for freedom.)
 
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