ashtead
Well-Known Member
A simple question but how often do electric winches need serving?
Servicing winches
- Thread starter ashtead
- Start date
rotrax
Well-Known Member
I have a powered Lewmar 40 on our current boat.
No issues at all with the switching and motor but I have stripped, cleaned and re- lubed the winch mechanical parts.
That is not strictly true - the diaphragm over the push button was UV'ed away - I used a trimmed 25mm rubber blanking grommet superglued in place. Lewmar would only supply a new switch at high cost.
It appears to have a simple brush type motor so some service of the commutator/brushes might be require at some time.
The vessel was built in 2007, launched in 2008 but until we got her had been little used.
Seriously neglected, but little used - only 257 hours on the engine. And as a heavy motorsailer with a modest rig the engine gets used a lot!
No issues at all with the switching and motor but I have stripped, cleaned and re- lubed the winch mechanical parts.
That is not strictly true - the diaphragm over the push button was UV'ed away - I used a trimmed 25mm rubber blanking grommet superglued in place. Lewmar would only supply a new switch at high cost.
It appears to have a simple brush type motor so some service of the commutator/brushes might be require at some time.
The vessel was built in 2007, launched in 2008 but until we got her had been little used.
Seriously neglected, but little used - only 257 hours on the engine. And as a heavy motorsailer with a modest rig the engine gets used a lot!
ashtead
Well-Known Member
Thanks Rotrax -I haven’t serviced ours which handle the sheets but as they are electric was slightly intimidated from task. I will be fine with the mechanical parts but it was just the power element which worried but they are not so old.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
What do the manufacturer’s service instructions state? It can vary by manufacturer.
The ones for the sheets tend to get fairly heavy use, and exposure to salt water so worth being reasonably diligent on the servicing. Our only electric winch is for the main halyard, and protected from salt water under the sprayhood (and with a winch cover when away from the boat) so I am a bit more lax about “annual” servicing.
The ones for the sheets tend to get fairly heavy use, and exposure to salt water so worth being reasonably diligent on the servicing. Our only electric winch is for the main halyard, and protected from salt water under the sprayhood (and with a winch cover when away from the boat) so I am a bit more lax about “annual” servicing.
Norman_E
Well-Known Member
My 98 boat had 7 years in charter before I bought her, so the Harken 40 electric winch must have had a lot of use. I strip, clean and grease it on the same routine as the manual winches, now every two years because of the more limited use.
