What to do with older Lewmar winches - parts not available

[Jammer]

I have a Lewmar 8 on the mast and two Lewmar 16s for the jibsheets. They are apparently 1st generation, probably original to the boat, 1974. They operate freely and smoothly.

Parts are no longer available, at all, anywhere -- I've looked, and asked. Parts from newer winches do not fit.

I'm trying to decide whether to disassemble the winches for cleaning and lubrication, or leave well enough alone. I'm aware of the "box" trick -- cutting a winch-shaped hole in a cardboard shipping box and then taping the box to the gunwale, with the winch inside, to capture any falling parts that otherwise be lost.

What would you do? Why?

[hellosailor]

Clean, inspect, lube.
You don't know how they are internally until you clean them and inspect them. And without regular lubing, winches get cranky.

If they look heavily worn, then you start to look at options for replacement. Trolling the online and consignment shops and breakers for similar winches, but newer, or looking for annual sales.

Or, you might ask a machine shop about fabbing any small parts they may need. Cutting new gears probably is not economical, but simple pawls easily could be.

Can't tell anything until you've opened it up though. And if Neptune takes a critical bit? Yeah, that's replacement time and nothing to be done about it.

[Jim Cate]

Winches are pretty damn durable. Certainly disassemble them, clean and inspect, lube and reinstall. I am not certain, but I believe that even very old Lewmars will have the same pawls and pawl springs as newer ones,even if parts "are not available". I'd suggest taking an example to a decent chandlery and compare with parts that are stocked.

But unless the winches have been abused, they're likely just fine.

Jim