windlass question

[sneuman]

I have been poking around on what I thought was a seized windlass. Come to find out, with a bit of WD40, I have managed to get it to budge after all. It's moving, but there's still a bit of tension on the gears. Not ever having used a manual windlass, can anyone tell me if that's normal? If so, I could save myself a whole lot of trouble tearing the whole thing apart.

[Wotname]

Maybe but all the manual ones I have used turned very easily with no load on the capstan.

[Pblais]

Not ever having used a manual windlass, can anyone tell me if that's normal? If so, I could save myself a whole lot of trouble tearing the whole thing apart.

Odds are the grease is dried up and the salt has caked on the gears. It's not much different than a Jib winch. The gears probably would love a nice cleaning and grease job with waterproof grease.

The WD40 illustrates it's not busted but is in need of service. WD40 does a lot of things well but gear lubrication under heavy loads isn't very long term with WD40.

Non detergent oil would last a little longer. Detergent oil (like you put in your engine) breaks down the grease and you normally don't want that in a gear box.

[AnchorageGuy]

Sounds to me like you need to pull it apart, clean it and add new grease. You did not say how old it was or when it was last serviced. Of course you can continue to use it as is until it completely fails, then buy a new one with new grease in it already.

[GordMay]

RECOMMENDED WINDLASS LUBRICANTS:

Gearbox Oil: SAE 90, (e.g. Shell Omala 320, Castrol Alpha SP 320 etc).

Mainshaft and bearing: Marine grease, lithium based or lithium complex based, (e.g. Duckhams Keenol, Castrol LMX etc).

On-Line WINDLASS MANUALS:

Simpson-Lawrence (Lewmar)
SEATIGER 555
http://en.lewmar.com/support/PDF/S-L...er-D1031-1.pdf
SL - Hi Speed:
http://www.fujiyachts.net/manuals/S-...20Windlass.pdf
Sprint Atlantic:
SimpsonLawrence
Horizon 1500
http://www.pyacht.net/online-store/s...rizon_1500.pdf

Lofrans Anchoring Systems:
Anchor Windlass downloads

Muir Anchoring Systems:
IMTRA Marine Products

[ssullivan]

BTW: If anyone needs SeaTiger 555 parts, I have some.

[Islandmike]

Sean,

I just spent a bundle rebuilding my 555, it now works great, but I can always use spare parts, what do you have?