servicing typhoon winches

[svreleaseme]

Can anybody point me to information on taking apart and servicing typhoon winches. I can probability figure out how to pull them apart but like to know what to expect before I open that can of worms.
Thanks,
Randy

[Sea Hunt Video]

Randy:

"Maine Sail", a frequent contributor to this board, has a terrific website on a lot of neat stuff having to do with sailboat maintenance, repairs, etc.

He has a section on winch maintenance.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/winc ... and_grease

Although it is not specific to our typhoon (CD) winches, it does have some great photos and suggestions.

Remember my phone voice mail offers

[Steve Laume]

Unless someone upgraded you TY winches to self tailers they will be far more simplistic than those depicted in the preceding post.

Just take them apart slowly and one at a time, in a place where you can't drop anything overboard, the first time.

Single speed winches are very simple devices. I doubt you will find any worms or flying springs to worry about, Steve.

[Oswego John]

When disassembling anything on the boat or off, including pumps, starters wiring etc, or whatever, I am a firm believer in taking multiple pictures as the project moves along. You think that your memory is infallible? As Mr Murphy, who wrote the law says, ummm, highly debatable.

At least, by reviewing pictures, you have a fighting chance to show the pro you hired how the thing looked before you totalled it. lol :>)

Only kidding, but pictures can help.

Please don't ask me how I know.

O J

[EO]

I found this online a while ago. It's very instructive to review for servicing the winches and replacing parts. I had to replace my torsion springs a couple seasons ago; was able to make them out of some slightly different stainless steel springs by trimming the length of the spring "tails". After a good cleaning and proper lubing, they performed very nicely and sounded crisp. Good luck with yours.

[sharkbait]

I always take lots of photos. Another trick is to cut a circle in the bottom of a cardboard box and slip it over the unit before you start your dis-assembly. That way if something does get dropped or a spring decides to fly it will not go far.

[bamabratsche]

I have the old Gibb winches on mine, although I believe that at some point CD started using small Lewmars on the Typhoon. If you have the Gibbs they are very simple--you just unscrew the single screw that you can see looking down into the hole where the winch handle goes, and then the drum lifts off the base. The two moving parts inside should be attached to the base, but always a good idea to make extra sure nothing goes in the water since they are no longer made. I found these pics of what appears to be the same model, just to give you an idea of what to expect: http://www.chipford.com/winches.htm

One of mine was frozen when I bought the boat, and it took me forever to get it apart. Turns out the part of the drum that goes over the spindle is lined with some type of plastic, which had somehow swollen up over the years, preventing the drum from turning at all. After a week of soaking with PB Blaster and much cursing (very important) I was able to carefully pry it off and sort of ream out the inside enough that it would go back on and turn again. Cleaned everything and lubed it up with some winch grease, and it has worked fine since then.

[svreleaseme]

Thanks everyone for responding. I have the old gibb winches so all the information on the gibb winches was what I was looking for. Thank you. I knew they had to be simple. I just didn't know if they were simple with a surprise that I would regret.
Randy