When did you last check/service your winches?

[Robert Wilson]

I bought my thirty-year-old Javelin 2 years ago. Meant to service my winches, but......
In July during F5/F6 race with 1st reef main and 10 rolls in 125% genoa, top palls on both primary winches (Lewmar40s) shattered, chewing and gouging the drum pall-sockets. On inspection the spindle-teeth are very badly worn.
So disaster waiting to happen.
When the winches failed (within five minutes of each other just after the start of the race in Gairloch, Ross-shire) they went off with a big bang. FORTUNATELY one of my crew was built like the proverbial brick out-house and managed to keep hold of the sheet-tail, but the crew grinding the winch-handle got a nasty clout from the handle as it reversed when second winch failed. Could have been a LOT worse if Brick O-H hadn't held on.
Lesson learned.
We sailed flat-out for 3 more hours, using the small secondary/spinnaker winches - cockpit looked like a cat's cradle of sheets criss-crossing.
I have photos of shattered palls, worn teeth (not my dentures!) and gouged sockets if anyone would like to give me email addresses. Files are too big to post here, pity.
Very expensive to replace, as you all know - perhaps should have checked them BEFORE buying the boat, and negotiated a lower price.
Another lesson learned.
Brilliant race, v hard work. Came 7th on handicap, out of 11. Who cares, was great fun.

 

[nigelmercier]

A tip for those who are about to strip their winches right down after reading this. At one point you will get right down to the ball bearings. It is amazing how these like to bounce and dive into the water. Surrounding the bearing with towels can help, but if a few escape to freedom in their underwater ball bearing world, you can buy spares in a cycle repair shop.

 

[Robert Wilson]

As my Lewmar 40s are SO OLD I had to take them off their mountings to get at the bottom-gear spindle before I could check the bottom set of palls. So on THAT occasion the wee BBs were snuggly transported ashore. However, the garage "nooks & crannies" department is another thing.........

 

[prv]

When did you last check/service your winches?

Last winter.

Mine are very simple, no gears just drums and pawls. But some people's are complex machines, and it's surprising how often they're taken for granted and ignored.

Pete

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

We lubricate then every two years and change the springs and pawls every three, but only on the winches that are used a lot.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Files are too big to post here, pity.

There is a very nice little app called "Downsize" that could sort that for you.

 

[Blue5]

Every 12 months complete strip down, clean, re-grease and re-oil, but then again I enjoy doing it....................SWMBO reckons I should seek help

 

[davidpbo]

There is a very nice little app called "Downsize" that could sort that for you.

Also, if you uploaded to a photo hosting web site and provided links to the picure using the

Link Icon rather than the

insert picture icon, people have a choice as to whether to download them or not.

 

[sailor211]

Not often enough!!

I had to do one, when single handed mid Atlantic, with 38 kts wind over the deck.
Pawls stuck open and would not lock. Transferred sheet to another winch, Bu***red a hex drive screw(Anderson winch) so used a hacksaw to create a slot and use a screw driver. Lubricated and replaced everything with nothing going over the side.


On a charter we had a halyard winch do the same, again at sea. Stripped winch down and found no sign of lubrication ever being near the winch, but plenty of salt residue. Best butter only lubricant to hand !!

Much prefer to do it in harbour.

And you are right it could easily be a shattered wrist, which would spoil a man's enjoyment !

 

[prv]

Bu***red a hex drive screw(Anderson winch) so used a hacksaw to create a slot and use a screw driver.

That's a good point - the hex socket in the top of my winches was an odd size, and I had to buy an allen key specially to be able to undo them. Not much good if I'd discovered that at sea.

I think it was 4.5mm - does that correspond to an imperial size or something?

Pete

 

[cliff]

When did you last check/service your winches?

Last winter as part of regular maintenance - you know, oil and filter change, rope clutches, deck organisers, sea cocks, bog cocks, blocks, mast sheaves, electrical connections, cooker and gas supply check, anchor windlass, anodes, A/F, polishing of the prop, etc - you know, the routine things

 

[little_roundtop]

My four Harken's are a doddle to service. it's probably my favourite job aboard too. I get a huge feeling of satisfaction when they'e back together having been cleaned and properly lubed. SWMBO quickly gets fed up of me turning them and saying "listen to that!".....

 

[aquaplane]

I tried when I bought the boat 4 years ago but couldn't get the screw out so I left them alone.

They seem OK but this has got me thinking I should try harder to loose the bits over the side.

 

[Plevier]

My four Harken's are a doddle to service.

Have you got their current range?
Harkens pre 2009 need removing from the deck to clean and service properly otherwise there are parts you can't get at.
A great disincentive to doing them annually. Removing headlinings, resealing the bolts... Absolute PITA.
e.g. see http://www.harken.com/pdf/32.2ST_04.pdf
Greatly inferior to Lewmar which have been service from the top without any tools for years.

 

[Avocet]

Mmmmm.... must have a look inside our 40 year old ones before I re-commission!

 

[little_roundtop]

Have you got their current range?
Harkens pre 2009 need removing from the deck to clean and service properly otherwise there are parts you can't get at.
A great disincentive to doing them annually. Removing headlinings, resealing the bolts... Absolute PITA.
e.g. see http://www.harken.com/pdf/32.2ST_04.pdf
Greatly inferior to Lewmar which have been service from the top without any tools for years.

Not the case on mine, the boat's from 1995 and the winches are original as far as I know. I have a pair of self-tailing 44's and a pair of self-tailing 53's. They look broadly similar to the drawing in your link, but they all strip right down to a big bronze (I think) plate that's fixed to the deck. Everything that moves comes off.

 

[Norman_E]

That's a good point - the hex socket in the top of my winches was an odd size, and I had to buy an allen key specially to be able to undo them. Not much good if I'd discovered that at sea.

I think it was 4.5mm - does that correspond to an imperial size or something?

Pete

Probably 3/16 inch.

 

[Blueboatman]

Bloke from Harken ( yup they do 'winch' lectures of a wet winters evening) recommended the upturned cardboard box trick placed over the winch to avoid losses..
I clean mine in paraffin/petrol/ with a wee brush then grease and reassemble to purring clicky clicky noises standard, every 2 years seems about right, subjectively of course.

 

[nigelmercier]

Also, if you uploaded to a photo hosting web site and provided links to the picure using the

Link Icon rather than the

insert picture icon, people have a choice as to whether to download them or not.

Other way around, surely?

 

[Robert Wilson]

Re uploading photos: I'm a creaky old techno-phobe, and my computer's creaky too.
You have all managed to confuse me even more!
If someone could give me definitive "SIMPLE" instructions then I might have a go.

The remains of the palls and flattened teeth really are enough to make the blood run cold. Lewmar service reckon inspection EVERY MONTH and strip-service at least once a season.
The later model winches can be stripped and serviced without removing them from the boat. Not sure of the date of model-change.
I find the Lewmar Service people very helpful and friendly.