Best Winch Grease ?

[sneuman]

I have always done my own winch servicing and have read that the grease (white lithium) goes on the gears and 3-in-1 (or something similar) on the pawl springs. Over time the grease has a tendency to calcify, which can cause the pawls to freeze up and top clacking.

[Pblais]

Over time the grease has a tendency to calcify, which can cause the pawls to freeze up and top clacking.

Listening to the sound will tell you if the pawls are flowing freely. How hard the winch turns will tell you how much the grease has tended toward solid. In cleaning all mine I found the pawls needed fresh oil as much as the gears needed clean grease. I also found most of the springs were shot or at least weak. If you can get them, new springs are a good investment.

[delmarrey]

Cleaning off old lithium is a bitch since it's not water or solvent soluble. I found brake wash in a pressurized can works best. But paint thinner or WD-40 works well too.

[Cheechako]

Lithium gets gummy and dry in many of the thicker greases. I like Lubriplate, it does ahve some calcium but doesnt seem to harden up much. it's easy to over-lube winches. They just need a light coat. Not like they are rotating millions of times a year like a wheel bearing...

The Original Military Grease For Semi-Auto Rifles

Selected by the U.S. Military to lubricate M1 Garand and M14 battle rifles. A waterproof blend of mineral oil, calcium and zinc oxide that has a high affinity for metal so it stays put in all weather conditions, and lubricates even after the carrier begins to break down.