Fun with Grease and Lofrans Falcon Windlass

bene505 · 24-09-2009, 09:56

Anyone have any experience taking a windlass apart and greasing it? Our windlass siezed on our still-a-little-new-to-us Beneteau 50. I'm guessing it is way overdue for some maintenance.

It's a Lofrans Falkon. I have downloaded the manuals online, and have the exploded view diagram, but it doesn't show how to get it apart. I could look it over and find parts to unscrew -- muddle through it, but that doesn't seem right.

Also, do I need a grease gun to put grease into a fitting with pressure, or will smearing it and packing it in do the trick?

Any clues most appreciated.

Regards

imagine2frolic · 24-09-2009, 11:30

With mine it's just a matter of greasing the cones by hand. When I called the company in reference to my Maxwell. The tech advised me the most important thing is a dab of grease now, and then. Can you post the parts explosion?........i2f

barnakiel · 24-09-2009, 13:06

Use only non-conductive grease - many different metals plus salty water ...

b.

bene505 · 24-09-2009, 13:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

With mine it's just a matter of greasing the cones by hand. When I called the company in reference to my Maxwell. The tech advised me the most important thing is a dab of grease now, and then. Can you post the parts explosion?........i2f

What are "the cones"?

Does this mean I don't have to open it up? I'll trade you a six pack for a video of how to do this.

Here's the best site I found for getting pdf files of the manuals. They have a Chainwheel Chart, Dimensional Drawing, Gearbox Oil Capacity Guide, Parts Breakdown, Parts List, Product Catalog, Product Sheet, and Wiring Diagram: IMTRA Marine Products

Regards

bene505 · 24-09-2009, 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

... Can you post the parts explosion? ...

imagine2frolic · 24-09-2009, 14:27

http://www.c36ia.com/files/Maxwell%2...lass%202_0.pdf

It looks like part #436 may be your cones, aka line with #367 type a gypsy......i2f

S&S · 24-09-2009, 14:27

From the pic, it looks like you'd only need to change the oil in the gearbox. the brakes get no grease and all the bits that would need lubrication are in the box. Maybe a dab on the interior of the gipsy where it rotates around the drive shaft when disengaged, but that's it.

bene505 · 25-09-2009, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by S&S

From the pic, it looks like you'd only need to change the oil in the gearbox. the brakes get no grease and all the bits that would need lubrication are in the box. Maybe a dab on the interior of the gipsy where it rotates around the drive shaft when disengaged, but that's it.

Just so I don't muddel through it and make a mistake, how do you change the oil in the gearbox?

Fishspearit · 25-09-2009, 05:16

Could you be a little more clear on your problem. You said it is seized, does that mean the brake is locked up, or is the windlass motor humming but not turning, or is the motor turning and the gypsy not turning?

As I2F said, it's important to keep just a little bit of grease on the brake cones so that they don't bind up, but not so much that it slips all the time.

S&S · 25-09-2009, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by bene505

Just so I don't muddel through it and make a mistake, how do you change the oil in the gearbox?

Drain plug 407, fill plug 338.

bene505 · 25-09-2009, 21:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by S&S

Drain plug 407, fill plug 338.

Thanks S&S. Any idea what type of oil to use?

bene505 · 25-09-2009, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishspearit

Could you be a little more clear on your problem. You said it is seized, does that mean the brake is locked up, or is the windlass motor humming but not turning, or is the motor turning and the gypsy not turning?

As I2F said, it's important to keep just a little bit of grease on the brake cones so that they don't bind up, but not so much that it slips all the time.

Brake is off. Electrical is good. Motor tries to turn it and then the circuit breaker goes "click". The motor is not spinning at all.

As perhaps a separate problem, the manual raising method doesn't work on the starboard side, only on the port side. On the starboard side, the "wheel" spins freely like it's not connected to anything internally. Only on the Port side does it raise the chain.

I have a lot to learn about windlasses.

Regards

Fishspearit · 26-09-2009, 05:14

You're just going to have to start taking it apart until you find the problem.

I recommend keeping your digital camera handy, and take frequent pictures as you disassemble, along with laying the parts out on a mat in the order that they are removed.

Hurricane Harry · 26-09-2009, 05:34

Im in the process of taking apart a Vetus windlass manually operated. Same unit as Lofrans Royal nowadays. It has totally siezed.I think its necessary to pull it apart every other year to keep it working. Im now putting it in a bath of kerosene. I have managed to get just a few part off it. Right now it seems like Santa will have to bring me a new one./ harry

imagine2frolic · 26-09-2009, 06:12

I take everything apart that's new to me just like the explosion shot. The pics are a great idea too........i2f

24-09-2009, 09:56	#1
bene505 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Long Island Boat: Beneteau 50 Posts: 220	Fun with Grease and Lofrans Falcon Windlass Anyone have any experience taking a windlass apart and greasing it? Our windlass siezed on our still-a-little-new-to-us Beneteau 50. I'm guessing it is way overdue for some maintenance. It's a Lofrans Falkon. I have downloaded the manuals online, and have the exploded view diagram, but it doesn't show how to get it apart. I could look it over and find parts to unscrew -- muddle through it, but that doesn't seem right. Also, do I need a grease gun to put grease into a fitting with pressure, or will smearing it and packing it in do the trick? Any clues most appreciated. Regards __________________ 2000 Beneteau 505 "Summer Boost"

24-09-2009, 11:30	#2
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 3,395 Images: 114	With mine it's just a matter of greasing the cones by hand. When I called the company in reference to my Maxwell. The tech advised me the most important thing is a dab of grease now, and then. Can you post the parts explosion?........i2f __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

24-09-2009, 14:27	#6
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 3,395 Images: 114	http://www.c36ia.com/files/Maxwell%2...lass%202_0.pdf It looks like part #436 may be your cones, aka line with #367 type a gypsy......i2f __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

25-09-2009, 05:16	#9
Fishspearit Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: currently Deltaville,VA Boat: Westerly Posts: 490	Could you be a little more clear on your problem. You said it is seized, does that mean the brake is locked up, or is the windlass motor humming but not turning, or is the motor turning and the gypsy not turning? As I2F said, it's important to keep just a little bit of grease on the brake cones so that they don't bind up, but not so much that it slips all the time. __________________ Central Vacuums for boats

26-09-2009, 06:12	#15
imagine2frolic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: N.E. Florida Boat: Simpson, Catamaran, 46ft. IMAGINE Posts: 3,395 Images: 114	I take everything apart that's new to me just like the explosion shot. The pics are a great idea too........i2f __________________ BORROWED! No single one of us is as smart as all of us! SAILING is not always a slick magazine cover!

24-09-2009, 13:06	#3
barnakiel Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea Boat: a sailing boat Posts: 1,932	Use only non-conductive grease - many different metals plus salty water ... b.

24-09-2009, 14:27	#7
S&S Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Boat: 48' 1963 S&S yawl Posts: 699 Images: 6	From the pic, it looks like you'd only need to change the oil in the gearbox. the brakes get no grease and all the bits that would need lubrication are in the box. Maybe a dab on the interior of the gipsy where it rotates around the drive shaft when disengaged, but that's it.

26-09-2009, 05:14	#13
Fishspearit Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: currently Deltaville,VA Boat: Westerly Posts: 490	You're just going to have to start taking it apart until you find the problem. I recommend keeping your digital camera handy, and take frequent pictures as you disassemble, along with laying the parts out on a mat in the order that they are removed.

26-09-2009, 05:34	#14
Hurricane Harry Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden westcoast Boat: Allegro 33 Posts: 100	Im in the process of taking apart a Vetus windlass manually operated. Same unit as Lofrans Royal nowadays. It has totally siezed.I think its necessary to pull it apart every other year to keep it working. Im now putting it in a bath of kerosene. I have managed to get just a few part off it. Right now it seems like Santa will have to bring me a new one./ harry

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