winch handle information

[Appleyard]

Does anybody have a winch handle and is able to measure the size of the "bit" for me.
I am making an adaptor to enable me to use an angled drill as a cheap electric winch.
The "bit" is made up of 2 squares set diagonally so that it makes up an eight sided "star",..I need to know the size of square. From memory I think it is 11/16 of an inch whatever that is in metric.

Thanks

 

[saltylegs]

mines coming in at 16mm with a tape as i dont have calipers here

 

[Seajet]

Jamesmar,

Not entirely sure what you aim to use it for, but if seeking a final powerful tightening in I'd suggest having a normal 'handraulc' winch handle along might be wise...

 

[Appleyard]

Jamesmar,

Not entirely sure what you aim to use it for, but if seeking a final powerful tightening in I'd suggest having a normal 'handraulc' winch handle along might be wise...

I have 2 "handraulic" winch handles already.
I want to make an electric winch handle,using a right angled drill,which I already have.I will use this in conjunction with the above.
And before anyone suggests...I am not going to butcher a handle to get the "bit"...I can easily make one if I have the size.

 

[danielefua]

Does anybody have a winch handle and is able to measure the size of the "bit" for me.
I am making an adaptor to enable me to use an angled drill as a cheap electric winch.
The "bit" is made up of 2 squares set diagonally so that it makes up an eight sided "star",..I need to know the size of square. From memory I think it is 11/16 of an inch whatever that is in metric.

Thanks

This is my experience: 11/16 of an inch (17.46mm) is the size of the square of the old fashion Lewmar single square handles. The "Winch Bit", shaped as a star, on sale somewhere in the US is made of two 17mm squares.
I had a similar problem and made a plain single square adaptor by reducing a standard 3/4" square drive for inserts to the right size of 11/16".

Daniel

 

[Appleyard]

This is my experience: 11/16 of an inch (17.46mm) is the size of the square of the old fashion Lewmar single square handles. The "Winch Bit", shaped as a star, on sale somewhere in the US is made of two 17mm squares.
I had a similar problem and made a plain single square adaptor by reducing a standard 3/4" square drive for inserts to the right size of 11/16".

Daniel

Thanks Daniel...That is what I recall as the size. Like you I am just going to make a plain square adaptor,and weld a piece of hex (old allen key piece)into it so that the drill chuck gets a good grip.
The one on sale is about 20 beer tokens ...no way!
Many thanks.

 

[Appleyard]

mines coming in at 16mm with a tape as i dont have calipers here

Close,but no cigar!!! Thanks for taking the time to have a look anyway.. Cheers

 

[earlybird]

Careful! The A/F size of the star of the "old", 1970's, Lewmar winches supplied with square handle spigots is different from the later ones. My last boat had them, not obvious until you try, and find they aren't interchangeable. IIRC, the later size is a tad smaller.
Before you commit time and effort, I'd suggest that you measure a modern one.

 

[Plevier]

Careful! The A/F size of the star of the "old", 1970's, Lewmar winches supplied with square handle spigots is different from the later ones. My last boat had them, not obvious until you try, and find they aren't interchangeable. IIRC, the later size is a tad smaller.
Before you commit time and effort, I'd suggest that you measure a modern one.

The old handles are 5/8" square although the winch sockets were 8 point, current 11/16" 8 pont. Learned that the hard way when i bought some s/h winches! NB The new ones are bigger not smaller as suggested in the post quoted.

I made a drill adapter with several square nuts locked hard together on a bolt alternating 45 degrees. Worked but had smoke coming from the drill. You need a really heavy one.

 

[danielefua]

Careful! The A/F size of the star of the "old", 1970's, Lewmar winches supplied with square handle spigots is different from the later ones. My last boat had them, not obvious until you try, and find they aren't interchangeable. IIRC, the later size is a tad smaller.
Before you commit time and effort, I'd suggest that you measure a modern one.

I can confirm what I wrote which is not very different from what you say and applies to late '70s winches (I ignore earlier models): the old fashion Lewmar "single square" handles are 17.42mm. The modern "star" handles are 17.00mm. Luckily enough old single square handles do fit modern Lewmar winches, I can assure you for personal experience! It makes somehow sense that a "single square" fit should be more tight than a "star" fit which has double contact surface; I would strongly discourage a loose fit on a single square.
In any case jamesmar is in the safe side if he first machines his square to 11/16" (17.42mm). Still in time to lap a few tenths of millimeter more!

Daniel

 

[Plevier]

In that case there must be two sizes of square shank around then.
I bought two old Lewmar winches with 8 point sockets and then found a NEW handle was too BIG to go in.
The seller then came up with an old Lewmar square shank handle.
It was 5/8" square.