Older Lewmar winch assembly help

[hpeer]

I’ve an older (1985ish) Lewmar 2 speed self failing winch, #44. It froze up on me today so I took it apart and cleaned it. I’ve got it all back together fine except the last step. There are these 2 clips with a tang. The tang goes in a groove in the shaft and the 4 screws drop in. This aligns the self failing feeder and holds it in place hand closes the top of the winch.

There is a picture of the starboard winch assembler. Then pics of the port winch. The two c clips in the plastic top, upside down. You can see how tight he fit the space. Then a picture of the winch without the c clips and finally with the c clips.

You can see the gap between clips is large compared to how hey fit in the plastic. They need to be compressed into the shaft somehow. As it is I can only make 2 bolts line up and the plastic won’t go on.

The c clips need to be drawn onto the shaft. Originally they were tight on the shaft and I had to pry them off. I’m pretty sure with enough force they will snap into place.

So the question is.... how to get them to snap in? I’ve already tried vice grips. I’m afraid I’m gonna launch them into the briney deep.

[hpeer]

Sister winch in Stb side.

[hpeer]

C clips i on plastic housing. You can see how close the edges need to be. That’s they way they were when I disassembled.

[hpeer]

This is the winch with out the c clips.

[hpeer]

And finally with the c clips in place. The holes don’t align and there is too much separation between clips. How do I “set” these darn things? I’m onboard so I’m stuck with simple hand tools.
M

[laika]

The c-clips go around that main central gear where the winch handle fits in. Lift that main central gear slightly up, maybe 1/4in, and they should slide right back in place.

[GordMay]

A Freudian slip?

Originally Posted by hpeer

... This aligns the self failing feeder and holds it in place hand closes the top of the winch....

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by laika

The c-clips go around that main central gear where the winch handle fits in. Lift that main central gear slightly up, maybe 1/4in, and they should slide right back in place.

This, a slight lift of the drive shaft will line everything up.

[Suijin]

Yeah just stick your finger in the spindle and lift it slightly and the plates will slot in. They hold the spindle up so it does not contact the base.

This question comes up about once a year.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by GordMay

A Freudian slip?

More a rare moment of self awareness. LOL

[hpeer]

As someone once said of Larry Pardy, if there is a harder way he will find it.

I heated them up to about 400°F hoping to get them to expand a little. Got the first one in with a little effort and the second slipped right in.

Was it the heat or dumb luck that I accidentally lifted the shaft? I’m not taking it apart to retry.

Thanks for the responses. It really feels comforting to know there are helpful and knowledgeable folks I can ask for advice.

My many, many thanks.

[GordMay]

Good on ya!
Who* was it who said: "I'd rather be lucky, than good?"

* BrainyQuote attributes the essentially the same "I'd rather be lucky than good" to Lefty Gomez, who played for the Yankees in the 1930s.
"I do not want a good General, I want a lucky one" ~ Napoleon B.
"The more I practice, the luckier I get" ~ Gary Player

[S/V Alchemy]

Is that the model before the "Ocean Wave" series? Because I got a pair of Lewmar 44s for a decent price years ago and I found service manuals online easily. I broke them down as easily as my previous boat's Barlows and serviced them without incident...even though they had slightly different castings in the bases. They are going in as my third pair of winches on deck this spring. Long may they spin.

https://alchemy2009.blogspot.com/201...e-pinches.html

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by hpeer

As someone once said of Larry Pardy, if there is a harder way he will find it.

I heated them up to about 400°F hoping to get them to expand a little. Got the first one in with a little effort and the second slipped right in.

Was it the heat or dumb luck that I accidentally lifted the shaft? I’m not taking it apart to retry.

Thanks for the responses. It really feels comforting to know there are helpful and knowledgeable folks I can ask for advice.

My many, many thanks.

Glad you got it sorted, and I doubt that the heat had anything to do with it. You should not have to use any force to get them it.

BTW, those plates are officially called "collets" - don't lose them as they are not cheap to replace!