Our boat has early Lewmar self tailing winches (1988) and I am re-lubing them now. The manual indicates that the center shaft should be removed by pulling it straight up and out for cleaning and re-greasing. That shaft can rise, on ours, only until the gear teeth come in contact with the narrower upper part of the main winch casting.
The shaft can still be wiped off and new grease wiped on, but I feel like I am missing something in the instructions, somehow.
Both sets of internal gears come out OK. It just seems like the whole winch base casting must be removed from the boat in order to let that shaft drop downward and out, if shaft removal is desired.
The winch will be 94% better even with this assembly question unresolved, but I am curious...
Per the schematic, all of our winches are designed/constructed in the same fashion. We have Lewmar 30ST, 43ST, and 46ST winches. All still have relatively clean grease in them and the pawls work, but the grease is getting too viscous due to several years of age, and there is noticeable resistance to turning the drums.
Thanks,
Loren
The shaft can still be wiped off and new grease wiped on, but I feel like I am missing something in the instructions, somehow.
Both sets of internal gears come out OK. It just seems like the whole winch base casting must be removed from the boat in order to let that shaft drop downward and out, if shaft removal is desired.
The winch will be 94% better even with this assembly question unresolved, but I am curious...
Per the schematic, all of our winches are designed/constructed in the same fashion. We have Lewmar 30ST, 43ST, and 46ST winches. All still have relatively clean grease in them and the pawls work, but the grease is getting too viscous due to several years of age, and there is noticeable resistance to turning the drums.
Thanks,
Loren