[C320-list] Winch Rebuild

[Christian]

"I watch a U-tube and the one gentleman heated the grease in a microwave
for 10 seconds to make sure he does not over grease."

Just get a cheap brush, about 1/2" ish wide, put a dab of grease on an old
plastic lid, lightly dip brush into grease, and lightly brush the grease
onto gears, bearings, and other contact points.  Just a light coating is
needed, which is why regular service and cleaning is recommended.

On Tue, Feb 19, 2019 at 8:59 AM <tharrison at innovations-plus.com> wrote:

> I watch a U-tube and the one gentleman heated the grease in a microwave
> for 10 seconds to make sure he does not over grease.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> I am going to service my winches very soon. I know the stripper ring came
> out from under the feeder arm. So will find out if broken or not!
>
> Great topic and thanks
>
> Ted
> Hull 424 1997
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On
> Behalf Of John Meyers
> Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2019 8:18 AM
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Winch Rebuild
>
> Lots of good advice. This last fall I took the winches apart and put the
> parts to be cleaned in a big zip lock bag-marked to which winch and brought
> them home to soak and clean. I will put them back together if and when it
> gets warmer here in the Great Lakes. I didn't bring big drums home but will
> clean the inside of them this spring.  Don't forget to do that - many of
> the instructions don't mention that part. I use light sewing machine oil on
> the paws.
>
> I found that a tooth brush is not firm enough to clean the grime in the
> gears so I bought a brass electric wire brush at Lowes for under $2 that is
> soft enough not to scratch the brass gears but firm enough to get the black
> grim off.
>
> The first time I cleaned and greased the winches I used way too much grease
> and the winches were sluggish. The second time I cleaned and greased I used
> less but still too much. As other wrote and as I found out DON'T over
> grease. Grease can collect dirt. How dirt gets in is beyond me but could
> come in with water. I hope to have winch covers soon.
>
> I have extra paws and springs on hand but have not needed to use them yet.
>
> John Meyers
> #406 1997
> WInd Chime
> Muskegon, MI
>
> On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 2:43 PM Tom Grass <tgrass462 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Thanks!
> >
> > On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 1:38 PM John morrison <sail-ability at sympatico.ca
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>