[C320-list] Winch Rebuild

Mon Feb 18 11:38:24 PST 2019

If the springs and pawls are in good shape and they rotate back and forth like they need to do, there is no performance enhancement. What the pawls do is enable the winch drum to rotate in one direction only so that you do not wind up with an overwrap, which can be very difficult to undo. The other way in which an overwrap can occur, on our winches, is for the stripper ring to break, which I talked about below. The other big no no, is to put grease on the springs and pawls, what is required is a very light machine oil which will allow the pawls to rotate easily.
JEM
1999#574
> On Feb 18, 2019, at 1:35 PM, jackbrennan <jackbrennan at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> 
> I'm wondering whether there is a performance difference in replacing springs and pawls that aren't broken. Or is it more preventive maintenance?
> I passed on the kits after disassembling the winches and seeing that all appeared to be in good shape.
> The machine oil made a ton of difference.
> Jack BrennanSonas, 1998 Catalina 320, no. 528Tierra Verde, Fl.Dolphin Cruising Club of Tampa Bay
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> 
>  On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 10:01 AM, John morrison<sail-ability at sympatico.ca> wrote:   I guess good preventive maintenance….All for the want of a horseshoe nail!!
> The only thing that ever broke on my winches was the stripper ring on the 44 Self Tailing winches. this is a real bummer if you’re single handing! I carry a spare one now.
> JEM
>> On Feb 18, 2019, at 11:49 AM, Christian <ccaper at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Everything I've read said to service every year and to replace springs
>> every service and inspect pawls, including the Crowley's winch rebuild
>> class I took at Chicago sail show a few years ago.  When I finally got the
>> time to service my winches after a year of owning, and not know previous
>> owner's service history, I found 2 pawls with broken springs, and two
>> others very rusted, on a Lake Michigan only operated boat.
>> 
>> For the price of the spring, I just plan on replacing them every service.
>> -Christian
>> 
>> On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 10:39 AM John morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Why are you replacing the pawl springs? I’ve never had one fail and the
>>> boat is a 1999 which I’ve owned since 2010. I service the winches every 3
>>> years since I sail on Lake Ontario in fresh water so no corrosion issues
>>> here. I clean the pawls and springs and add a drop of 3in1 oil, no grease
>>> here as those pawls need to be fast acting.
>>> Cheers
>>> JEM
>>> 1999#574
>>>> On Feb 18, 2019, at 11:32 AM, Christian <ccaper at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Tom,
>>>> I rebuilt all 4 of mine last year.  I bought the rebuild kits from
>>>> Defender.  The rebuild kit was defender item #608878 (
>>>> https://search.defender.com/?expression=608878&x=0&y=0).  The grease is
>>>> defender item #606875 (
>>>> https://search.defender.com/?expression=606875&x=0&y=0).
>>>> 
>>>> I didn't know when my winches had last been rebuilt, so I replaced
>>>> everything.  The rebuild kits will come with some plastic bushings, I
>>> used
>>>> them.  The kits are for more than the #44 and #30, but 4 of the kits got
>>> me
>>>> all the springs, pawls, and bushings you'll need.  I had to mix and match
>>>> from all 4 kits to get the bushings correct for #44 vs #30, you will have
>>>> some parts left over when done from the kits.
>>>> 
>>>> Now that I know my winch service history, and the type of sailing I do
>>> (non
>>>> racing, short seasons on Lake Michigan), I plan to service every other
>>>> year, replace springs every service, replace pawls every other service
>>> (if
>>>> visually they look ok when skipping).
>>>> 
>>>> That tube of grease should last about 3 services.  Over greasing is not
>>>> good.
>>>> 
>>>> My two cents.
>>>> 
>>>> -Christian
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 9:59 AM Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Tom Grass
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 6:55 AM Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> If you're the kind who is prone to dropping things, you can take a box,
>>>>>> cut a hole the size of the winch and set it over the winch during your
>>>>>> assembly/disassembly.  Improves your chances of not dropping something
>>>>>> would roll down the deck and off the boat.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Every.single.thing I drop on board, bounces until it finds the edge of
>>>>> the
>>>>>> boat and then jumps for freedom.  Doesn't seem to matter what it is.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -Jeff
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of
>>>>>> Scott Lagerquist
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2019 12:19 AM
>>>>>> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Winch Rebuild
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Tom and Tracy,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I clean and lubricate the winches every two years.  You can download
>>>>>> instructions free from Lewmar.  I recommend one small tube of Lewmar
>>>>> winch
>>>>>> grease and getting a package of paw springs.  Defender sells these
>>>>>> separately or as a kit.  The kit also has machine oil but I use
>>> something
>>>>>> local like 3-2-1.  You’ll also need a Large container of solvent,rags,
>>>>> and
>>>>>> an old tooth brush.  Disassemble and soak gears, bearings and other
>>> metal
>>>>>> parts in solvent.  Clean all old grease and dirt off each part with the
>>>>>> toothbrush and wipe clean.  Everything should look new; this takes
>>> time.
>>>>>> Reassemble with new paw springs and lubricate as directed.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Actually, there are several U-Tube videos that show all of this step by
>>>>>> step.  Lewmar has a really good one.  Check them out if you haven’t
>>>>> already
>>>>>> done so.  Good luck.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Scott Lagerquist
>>>>>> C-320, 1994, #39
>>>>>> Sea Esta
>>>>>> San Diego CA
>>>>>> Lgrqst at aol.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Feb 17, 2019, at 8:33 PM, Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> I am planning on rebuilding our four winches on Bucket List this
>>>>> spring.
>>>>>>> Our 320 MK II has:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Primaries #44 Lewmar - Two Winches
>>>>>>> Halyard #30 Lewmar - Two Winches
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Question - have other 320 owners purchased rebuild kits (Springs,
>>>>>>> Pawls,
>>>>>>> etc.) - or have you simply removed and cleaned and reinstalled
>>>>>> components?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> IF you purchased rebuild kits - did you source them from Defender?
>>>>>>> West Marine?  Other?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Appreciate your assistance.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Tom & Tracy Grass
>>>>>>> Bucket List
>>>>>>> 2008 320 MK II
>>>>>>> #1135
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>