Servicing tufnol winches

[Seawater]

Does anyone have any first-hand experience of servicing Tufnol winches, please?

Is it easier to remove the whole winch assembly from its position, or to remove just the winch, leaving the base in place? I understand there can be a problem with the springs when removing and re-assembling.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

 

[Searush]

When I did mine, (bronze drum, tufnol base single speed bottom action) I undid the large screw in the centre at the top & carefully lifted the drum off. As you say, the pawls are released from the ratchet & there is a risk that the small springs in holes in the pawls can flick out. Place a large towel loosely around the base of the winch & lift it slowly & carefully - it may need some encouragement if it hasn't been off for a while. The pawls don't all flick out together so try to tilt the drum & be ready for the pawl on the high side to come clear first. It is possible with care to allow the pawls to release one at a time & under control by lifting & lowering the drum or restraining it with a thin screwdriver as it releases so it doesn't flick out.

If it all goes wrong, then pick all the bits out of the towel & make sure they are all present & correct before removing the towel. I've done it a couple of times in 25 years without losing any bits, so it can't be that hard. When it's all cleaned up, greased & reassembled they really do sound lovely & turn easy.

If it does go wrong I may have a nice bronze pair to sell you if I ever get round to fitting my new 2 speed self-tailers.

 

[VicS]

I do much as Searush suggests with my Barton bottom handle winches, lifting the whole drum assembly off the base without separating any of the sections until safely in a washing up bowl.

In reality all the pawls and springs are held by retaining plates in mine so no bits come loose until I release them. ... but you dont know that until youv'e taken them apart

Done mine a little less frequently than Searush has done his ... twice in 35 years .

PS I dont know if it will apply to yours or not but I reversed the pawls in one of mine so that they are handed. Stbd one runs clockwise and port one now runs anticlockwise.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I do much as Searush suggests with my Barton bottom handle winches, lifting the whole drum assembly off the base without separating any of the sections until safely in a washing up bowl.

In reality all the pawls and springs are held by retaining plates in mine so no bits come loose until I release them. ... but you dont know that until youv'e taken them apart

Done mine a little less frequently than Searush has done his ... twice in 35 years .

PS I dont know if it will apply to yours or not but I reversed the pawls in one of mine so that they are handed. Stbd one runs clockwise and port one now runs anticlockwise.

Shame on you Vic! It's easy to do and you can feel and hear the difference. One point to remember is not to get oil or grease on the Tufnel parts - the don't like it. Likewise spraying WD40 all over them is detrimental.

 

[Rowana]

Once you get them apart, what do you use to clean off the old grease?

Second question - What type of grease do you use when assembling?

Anything else to be aware of?

.

 

[VicS]

Once you get them apart, what do you use to clean off the old grease?

Second question - What type of grease do you use when assembling?

Anything else to be aware of?

.

I just scraped off the old grease and wiped clean with EBR.

Winch grease I guess for bearings and gears in winches with bearings and gears but in my case just smear of white grease and some light oil on the pawls although I reckon mine would be OK with a little soft grease on the pawls



( EBR = elephant bog roll, aka paper kitchen roll)

 

[Seawater]

Many thanks for all the advice. I'll assemble all the kit and have a go . . . :dread:

 

[sarabande]

am I right in thinking that oil/grease on tufnol makes it expand ?

 

[Searush]

Once you get them apart, what do you use to clean off the old grease?

Second question - What type of grease do you use when assembling?

Anything else to be aware of?

.

I used petrol & a toothbrush on the bronze bits to soften & remove hard grease, after getting the big lumps off with an old bone handled knife. I just used some grease I had kicking around, but don't use lots as it hardens & clogs up & will attract any fine salt or sand to make a grinding paste.

Incidentally, bone handled knives are the best tool in my box. The thin flat blade is easily cleaned up, good for spreading grp, fillers or sealant. Equally good for sliding into fine gaps so you can open them up with a twist, I also use one for puttying windows, polyfilla-ing holes in walls & (a different one is used) for buttering bread & marmalading toast.

 

[William_H]

It is all about familiarity. Once you have done it it will seem like a piece of cake. I have been known to lift the drum off my sheet winch between tacks in a relatively narrow channel. A quick squirt with WD helped a lot. But best is a clean and regrease.
I have also seen a 2 speed winch dissassembeled and lubed between short races by an expert. We just hauled up the green flag. The boat was part of a match racing fleet of 36fters. Maintence man arrived in RIB which was tied on the back. We dropped the jib and hovered around under main sail . He had that winch fixed in 5 minutes and we were off again for the next race. The whole race being delayed 5 minutes.
So if you are familiar and careful winches are no problem at all. good luck olewill

 

[Iain C]

I need to do this job too...any thoughts on using bicycle chain lube? It's got Teflon in it...might work quite well...any thoughts?

 

[Seawater]

Thanks to everyone who gave advice. I've done them and it all went seamlessly . And I didn't lose/break anything! What a relief, and they're operating well now.:triumphant:

 

[Twister_Ken]

Didn't realise you could service Tufnol winches, I thought you just donated them to a maritime museum!