Lofrans Windlass corroded

[amarf]

HI,

I Have a Lofrans windlass where the clutch for gypsy has badly corroded and I can not not get it loose. The clutch nut is probably made of brass. I have tried with heating up with a torch, WD40, etc. no movement. I have also used a big wrench and a hammer, no luck. Any ideas how to get it loose?

Regards
Robert

[amarf]

and some pictures

[paulajayne]

IS it a left hand thread?

[amarf]

I'm not sure,- the boat is new to me,- however I have tried both sides left and right....

[ErikFinn]

Here is some very interesting info:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ld-157730.html

[chuckr]

We had the same issue when we wanted to pull our windlass and have it rebuilt before going to the Black Sea - we could not get it apart - when we hauled for a bottom job among other things we had some guys come on board and a lot of heat and other things and they got it off - it was not easy and these guys were pros --
good luck with it

[phorvati]

Lofrans are right-handed thread. I guess by now you will need to order a new cap and a cpastan. Lofrans is an Italian company. They are very well made. Imtra in New Bedford, MA is one of their US reps I dealt with. Good people. You need to be patient. Ive relied on Lofrans Airon for 13 years. Very good Windlass. You need to lunbricate it annually otherwise it will seize. Menwhile on my current boat, I just got my Ideal windlass off and it took few weeks. Penetrating fluid, heat, pry bars, etc, etc. And there is a step in removal instructions where they suggest using C4 explosive. Obviously i didnt use it. But I did have a lot of patience. To give you an idea what the shaft might look like see pic below. Pretty much capstan, gipsy and cap were all seized to the shaft. Chances are, once you get that first cap off, there might be other layers to un-freeze. So be patient.

[chuckr]

some pics of ours after it was taken off

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by chuckr

some pics of ours after it was taken off

Thats an Airon right? Awesome windlass.

[rognvald]

Repeated soakings of PB Blaster before using drastic engineering. Make sure you have a diagram/manual for your winch. Guessing will only cost you money and aggravation. WD40 is basically diesel fuel and is not a true penetrant. Good luck and safe sailing.
blastercorp.com/PB-Blaster-Penetrant-remove-stuck-parts-spray

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Thats an Airon right? Awesome windlass.

Yea -- it is a great windlass - we have a lot of ups and downs on it - after 13 years of hard use we thought it was about time for a complete rebuild (we also did not want problems in the Black Sea where we knew we could not get help if needed)

Our only issue is the initial remote that was not waterproof - we went through a few and they finally came out with a waterproof model that got - you guessed it water inside and would not work - we got lucky in Ayvalik Turkey and an electrician had the same model with a broken cord so a quick rewire and we had a new one - but we still cover it in a zip lock bag just in case and we carry a spare

[steve77]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Lofrans are right-handed thread.

I need some help with removing my Lofrans clutch nut, also. Our windlass is a thirty year old Lofrans Albatros. I do not have a manual and the clutch nut is frozen in place.

I see this photo from another website
Lofrans Clutch Nut, Stainless Steel, #1094 - for Project 1000/1500
which shows the nut clearly labeled to turn clockwise to loosen. This would be left hand thread, correct?

Do some Lofrans windlasses have clutch nuts that are right hand thread and some left hand?

Since this is going to be a job to remove the nut, it would be most helpful to know which way will loosen it. Thanks!

Steve