How to easily repair a winch on your boat?
The winch is an essential piece of fittings for the proper functioning and safety of your sailboat. A blocked winch in heavy weather can affect the safety of your crew or boat. A return from crank with live listening can leave you with a broken wrist and in dire straits.
A problem on a winch is due either to a lack of maintenance, or to wear or breakage of a part. Let's see together how to repair a winch and prevent major malfunctions.
Contents of the page
The list of equipment to have to repair a winch
Repair a winch is simple but requires method and preparation. Bring your:
- mechanic gloves and rags;
- un degreasing liquid and a tank for degreasing;
- grease for winch
- fine oil for springs and pawls ;
- two brushes, one for degreasing and one for lubricating;
- depending on the models, a large and a small flathead screwdriver, a Phillips screwdriver, a allen key set et circlip pliers.
Always have a winch maintenance kit and an advance repair kit. The winch repair kits are specific to each manufacturer, they contain winch spare parts such as pawls and springs:
NB: to be sure you do not have a winch problem during your navigation, you can also equip yourself with a crank repair kit!
How to dismantle a winch to repair it?
Depending on the models and brands, allow between half an hour and 1h30 for le dismantling, reassembly and maintenance / repair of a winch.
Older models may require removal of the winch, but modern equipment is dismantled from above, in place on the deck. In this case, have rags and protections around to prevent parts from falling into the water.
With variations depending on the model (get the maintenance manuals or diagrams of your winches), the procedure is as follows:
- remove the upper parts (collar or top-cap, self-tailing finger, etc.) to extract the headstock: on Antal winches do not forget the circlip, with Harken winches unscrew the screw under the crank, Andersen winches have several screws on the top and on recent Lewmar winches the top-cap is removed by hand;
- take out the doll carefully, paying attention to the bearings or washers that may get stuck inside;
- dismantle the various parts up to the pinions.
By separating the pinion assemblies you gain access to the pawls and springs.
Repairing a winch: What are the main malfunctions of a winch?
Over time, or due to lack of maintenance, winches can present different problems:
- the winch turns in both directions or, from time to time, the anti-return device malfunctions, leading to a return of the handle;
- the winch is blocked;
- the winch squeaks or jams under load;
- the winch turns by hand but not with the handle;
- self-tailing no longer works.
Repairing a winch: How to solve your winch problem?
The malfunction of a winch is generally due to the accumulation of dirt, salt and grease which seize the mechanical parts. To repair a winch, disassemble it first, then degrease and clean all the parts.
During reassembly, apply a film of thick grease with a brush on all parts except the pawls and springs which you lubricate with special oil.
My winch turns in both directions or the anti-return device is malfunctioning
Ratchets are damaged or do not engage: they are stuck by grease or the springs are broken.
Maintain by replacing pawls and springs.
My winch is blocked
The culprit is usually a seized bearing. Rarer, a ratchet may have come out of its housing or a part broke.
Inspect the parts of the winch, especially the bearings. Replace damaged components as well as springs and pawls if necessary.
My winch squeaks or hangs under tension
The cause is probably a dirty or damaged bearing.
Check the needle bearings that support the headstock, as well as the pinion bearings. These are wearing parts to be replaced if they are damaged.
My winch turns by hand but not with the handle
The central axis is certainly seized.
When disassembling, it is difficult to extract: proceed with patience, using a lot of penetrating and waiting time. Maintenance of the winch solves your problem.
My sheets or halyards are no longer held by the jaws of the self-tailing
The jaws have been damaged by the use of ropes of too large diameters (moorings) and the self-tailing no longer fulfills its role.
Spare parts are easily found to solve this problem. You can even watch on Amazon, Ebay ou CDiscount to find almost new used winch parts.
What to do if your winch still does not work after the repair?
Turn to a professional who can save you the total replacement of the winch: after diagnosis, he advises you on the procedure to follow and knows how to solve or repair most problems.
If your warranty is still running, this is the ultimate solution to save your winch. If you or your professional notice a defect, contact the winch manufacturer to invoke the warranty. Unfortunately, if the warranty doesn't work, then it's time to replace it. We have written an article to help you in your choice: How to choose the best winch for your sailboat?
How to avoid winch problems?
Here are some tips for keeping your winches in good working order (and avoiding having to repair them!):
- at the end of each boating season, or once a year: disassemble, degrease, clean, inspect and replace damaged or wearing parts, then reassemble them, lubricating and greasing them properly.
- after each trip or as soon as possible: rinse them with fresh water;
- do not forget to protect them from the elements with a cover when arriving at the port.
You will find below a list of covers according to the size of your winches:
- Winch cover 133 mm
- Winch cover 148 mm
- Winch cover 164 mm
- Winch cover 180 mm
- Winch cover 197 mm
- Winch cover 213 mm
- Winch cover 228 mm
- Winch cover 250 mm
- Winch cover 285 mm
- Winch cover 315 mm
