Barient Winch Parts

[JSSailem]

Well I admit I like my older boat. I think it goes with me getting more mature.

On older boats you find older equipment, and Barient Winches are usually antiques. I know the ones I have (several) are 1974 or older vintage.

Usually it is not a problem when you take a senior product apart. You clean it and put it back together.

In my case, I bought 2 used Barient ST23's to replace the 22's that were original equipment on my 1974 CAL35C. They looked good. They spun smoothly. You could hear the pawls click into place. No problem.

SO, I get them home and decide to be sure they are clean and greased before I put them on the boat.

The first one came apart and all the pieces (save one) matched the parts listed on the Barient Maintenance and Service Document for a Model 23 2 Speed Self Tailing Winch, I found on line.

42 pieces, only 41 on the table.

I changed out the pawl springs, and I spent several hours cleaning years of dried caked on grease and grime. The winch was looking good.

I found that there is an Aussie company that is producing parts for the Barient winches. I emailed them a query. No response yet. Still trying to learn if a part called a "Screw Stop Plate" PT#B-24024 is essential to the operation of the self tailing function for the winch.

I put the winch back together and start on #2. This should be easy, the other winch went back together without any left over pieces.

Opps. Number 2 is missing a pair of pawls and springs on the main shaft. Well no one would know this unless you take the winch completely apart and lay out all of the parts. Well all is not lost. The local chandler has a Barient parts kit from Lewmar. 2 pawls, springs, retainer rings. Oh yeah, the retainer clip ring is missing from Winch #2. In it's place a previous owner had placed a CIRC clip. A high carbon spring steel partially rusted Circ Clip. The retainer clips in the Lewmar - Barient kit has two top retainer rings. The bottom ring is missing from the kit. Screwed.

Google - Where can I find a Spirolox Retainer Ring. No good. Spirolox is no more.

Wait... There is a new company named Smalley ( Smalley.com ). I give them a call and speak to an engineer and learn they own the Spirolox brand and are making a part that replaces the RSN-59S used in Barient winches. The replacement part number is WSM59-S02. Yes it is 302 stainless and it will fit the main shaft and hold the lower Pinion - Low Speed gear and other parts in place hidden in the bowels of the winch.

Only challenge is I had to make a minimum $25 purchase. No problem Now I have a couple of spares. We all know that winch pieces like to test their swimming ability. If you have not had this experience, they have a 100% failure on the swimming skill test.

Hope this helps one or two of you guys/gals to keep your Barient winches smoothly running.

[Celestialsailor]

I bought a pair of Barient 27's for "Joli Elle" and found them to be a mess. Being a machinist, I was able to get everything apart, helicoil all the stripped threads, lets all the parts soak in diesel for a few days, grease em up and now they are like new.

[JSSailem]

Nice job. Except for broken parts, I believe these old winches still have a sailing life. Sometimes the chrome may need rework, but not an impossible challenge.