[C320-list] Winch Rebuild Request

[allanfield47 at gmail.com]

Tom - I tore down my winches every year and never had such an issue, although my boat was a 2002 and not an MK II.  Can you send me a pix offline (AllanField47 at gmail.com) of what you are dealing with?  Not sure I can help but this really sounds weird! - Allan

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of Tom Grass
Sent: Saturday, April 27, 2019 12:22 PM
To: C320-List at catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Winch Rebuild Request

This is an urgent request.- I am at IRISH Boat Works in Charlevoix, Michigan regreasing the winches on Bucket List (2008 Catalina 320 MK II).
I did the first winch atop the cabin with no problem.  I followed the Tech Notes on doing this very job from November 2004.  However when I moved to the main 2-speed winch toward the stern I ran into a problem.  I was able to disassemble the winch down to the last set of ratchet gears; the small set were on the 'outside' of the winch - these slid out with no issue; the larger set of gears can not be slid out; the winch is installed in a socket in the fiberglass such that the gears are boxed in.  The open on the other
(outside) of the winch casting is too small.

Question - is there a way to remove the larger gear set?  Do I have to unscrew the screws holding the winch to the boat?  If I do - are these bolts going into a threaded backing plate glassed in - OR - do these go into a backing plate with nuts?  If so - I do not know how to access the nuts without cutting a hole in my fiberglass.

Any assistance would be helpful.  ( I Resubmitted this without Photos.)