Lofrans Royal manual windlass service

[Jim Walsh]

I installed a Lofrans Royal manual windlass in about 2008. Last year I noticed it was real tough to operate. Not completely seized but close. Since it was late in the season I put off playing with it till Orion was hauled for the season.
I removed it from the foredeck to get it home so I could dismantle it on my workbench. A couple weeks ago I started the tear down by immersing the whole unit in a 5 gallon pail with three gallons of mineral spirits. Every couple day’s I turned it over and a week ago I tacked a job I knew was going to be a pain in the neck, if not the wallet.
I used my old pullers and I had to grind down some of the fingers to get them into tight spots. That went reasonably well except for one component, the crank pulley (I’d be happy to use the proper name but the Italian schematic fails to specify....they use a part number only). After running out of curse words I brought it to a machine shop since I figured they’d be better equipped to remove the component. I was warned that it could be a disaster. It was...sort of. The case split where the crank pulley and the case bearing journal had seized up due to corrosion. The nice thing about a qualified machine shop is that they were able to separate the seized crank pulley from the broken portion of the case and weld it back together! Woo hoo!
Once that bit of drama was over all I had to do was order some nylon bushings from IMTRA and a 38mm stainless retaining ring from McMaster-Carr. Once those arrive I’ll be able to initiate phase 2......getting it all reassembled....and actually operating once the reassembly is complete.
I’ll be using a liberal dose of Tef-Gel and Lewmar winch grease. I’ll post a photo in a few days of phase 2.

[Frenchy]

Very interesting, Jim. As a coastal cruiser, I only have about 40' of chain and am hoping to
avoid installing a windlass. They're nice to have, I'm sure, especially with a lot of chain and deep
anchorages. If anyone is interested, here's something on the local craigslist :




https://southcoast.craigslist.org/bpo/d ... 44232.html

[Steve Laume]

You're making me feel better about spending a crap load of money on a bronze windlass. Nylon bushing just seem wrong. Could you drill and tap for a couple of grease fittings that might help the next time around? I guess you needed something to do anyway but that was rather rude of the thing, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

You're making me feel better about spending a crap load of money on a bronze windlass. Nylon bushing just seem wrong. Could you drill and tap for a couple of grease fittings that might help the next time around? I guess you needed something to do anyway but that was rather rude of the thing, Steve.

It was rude, but in reality I had failed to provide the necessary maintenance all mechanical contraptions thrive on......for several years. I’m not adding any grease fittings but Tef-Gel will be slathered liberally where required, Lewmar winch grease will go on all the gears. In the future I will service my windlass when I do all my winches.
I would have preferred a bronze windlass and I searched for a couple years before purchasing this one.

[John Stone]

Jim,
Do you have a cover for the windlass? Gayle made a simple cover for our windlass from sunbrella. It’s always covered except when dropping or weighing anchor. I think the cover has been very beneficial to its reliability.

[Jim Walsh]

Jim,
Do you have a cover for the windlass? Gayle made a simple cover for our windlass from sunbrella. It’s always covered except when dropping or weighing anchor. I think the cover has been very beneficial to its reliability.

I don’t, but I will in the spring! My plan is to reassemble it then bring it to my canvas guy so he can get some measurements. I’ll have something like a canvass bucket with a drawstring closure so it’s simple to install and remove. Vanity dictates that it match all my existing toast Sunbrella.

[John Stone]

Jim,
Do you have a cover for the windlass? Gayle made a simple cover for our windlass from sunbrella. It’s always covered except when dropping or weighing anchor. I think the cover has been very beneficial to its reliability.

I don’t, but I will in the spring! My plan is to reassemble it then bring it to my canvas guy so he can get some measurements. I’ll have something like a canvass bucket with a drawstring closure so it’s simple to install and remove. Vanity dictates that it match all my existing toast Sunbrella.

Jim, perhaps you already thought of it but if not I recommend you consider having the cover made so you can have a line on the Rope drum and chain gypsy with the cover in place.

[Jim Walsh]

I received the last two bushings and the 38mm stainless retaining ring I needed. It was a pleasure to get everything back together. I’m at the point now that I can disassemble and reassemble this thing blindfolded. All I need now is a reasonably warm day to mount it back on the foredeck. C’mon spring!

[John Stone]

Excellent work Jim.