winch locked up

[Christian]

Hi,
I have the original forespar marelon winches on my 2010 . One if them is really hard to turn. It almost seems like its plastic on plastic. I can't even turn it by hand anymore. Is there a way to fix that? I tried to loosen up the screw in the center of the winch, but it didn't do anything. I was on a different sailboat over the summer and amazed, how free the winches spun. Are mine just cheap? Had anyone else this problem? Thanks.

Christian

[Ixneigh]

Replace them with the lewmar winches. They are aluminum and plastic. There is a set for 50 bucks at a local used marine goods place. The all plastic winches are complete junk.
Ixneigh

[Kittiwake]

OK, I have to ask: I have not sailed in a hurricane, but the jib on a boat this size isn't very large - does one really need to use the winches? I have only ever used the starboard one ... and that just to hold the daggerboard up.
Along the same lines, I am planning to leave the blocks (pulleys) off the mainsheet this summer to reduce cockpit clutter.
Would people anticipate my getting into trouble with this approach?
Kittiwake

[pokerrick1]

Last time I locked up a wench she escaped and caused me a LOT of trouble!!

Rick

[cmagnus4]

I had the same problem last year on my 2010 , and after contacting Forespar they sent new winches. They had had some quality problems with winches manufactured in 2010.

[Crikey]

Mine too! (also 2010)

That would make a lot of us! Magnus, could you post the name and address of your contact at Forespare?

Ross

[Highlander]

Last time I locked up a wench she escaped and caused me a LOT of trouble!!

Rick

I heared she tied U -UP & took U'r Lot Stock & barrel !!

J

[Highlander]

Winches that spin too freely require new spring kits

J

[Christian]

Kittiwake,
The admiral needs the winch for leverage during a tak/jibe, she doesn't need the handle, but the winch is useless for that now, cause it doesn't spin. So guess who has to do the work now?

I just emailed forspar, I'll let you guys know, what they say.

Christian

[cmagnus4]

Mine too! (also 2010)

That would make a lot of us! Magnus, could you post the name and address of your contact at Forespare?

Ross

Sorry, cannot find the name just now. I e-mailed them and had a prompt reply with a promise to send new winches
They were really helpful!
cmagnus

[Christian]

Just got an email back from randall risvold at forespar. He told me to send them in for inspection. I guess that's a start. Just have to make my way to the storage place now, and take them off. Does anyone know how they are mounted? Are they just through bolted?

Christian

[Kittiwake]

Kittiwake,
The admiral needs the winch for leverage during a tak/jibe, she doesn't need the handle, but the winch is useless for that now, cause it doesn't spin. So guess who has to do the work now?
I just emailed forspar, I'll let you guys know, what they say.
Christian

Thanks Christian, that gives me a better idea of the situation.
Sheesh, mine is also a 2010 26M; and a person of Scottish ancestry doesn't like to have missed out on something, even if he doesn't use it.
Kittiwake

[Don T]

Hello,
Yes they are through bolted and you may have to disassemble the drum to get to the top of the bolts. Depends on the model, I remember reading somewhere that Roger wanted the winches to be mounted by just one person SO you may have the model with the imbedded nuts in the body and bolts screwed in from the bottom. Easy to tell, If there are nylok nuts below then the drum must come off. Watch for falling/flying parts. The pawls and springs tend to fly out during disassembly.

My .02

I just serviced my winches for the first time last year Easy job, WM sells the lube/grease. Make sure the drain holes are oriented away from the centerline (lowest part) so they drain properly. Mine were backwards and held rain water.

[Kittiwake]

Well I can hardly wait to go try out my 2010 26M Forespar Marelon winches in the rain (maybe tomorrow). As I recall, last time I looked, the centre holes were indeed full of water (see Don T post above). But in the meantime:

I googled Forespar Marelon winches. One immediately retrieves a number of hits relevant to the topic covered in this thread. It seems others have reported some sticking issues. A guy writes that since Marelon seacocks are supposed to be lubricated regularly with waterproof grease, maybe so are the winches. But as I recall, our 26M winches came with an encircling band warning not to lubricate (or was it not to oil? - my warning wrappers disintegrated). Another guy says he figures the tolerances in the winches are a tad close; and that he has successfully gently ‘sanded’ them. One aspect of interest is that these folks seem to have been just removing the screw at the bottom of the hole in which the crank arm fits, and then prying off the cap to access the innards without unbolting the bottom plate from the hull.

A contact suggested for the winches was:
Forespar
22322 Gilberto Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 92688
Ph: 949-858-8820 Fax: 949-858-0505
http://www.forespar.com [email protected]

Kittiwake

[Christian]

I received an email from randy at forespar, and I will get two new ones in the mail. I still have to send the old ones back for inspection. Can't ask for a better service than that. I haven't been able to look at the old ones, but I'm almost positive it says "do not lubricate" on it. Could be wrong, tho. A big thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

Christian