When to replace pawls when servicing lewmar winches?

[Statistical]

Needed service kit because the plastic bearing sleeve was cracking. Was surprised lewmar service kit had replacement pawls (4). Didn't ever think this was a part which could wear out. At what point should they be replaced. The manual was decidedly unhelpful simply saying the should be replaced when worn. I have never replaced pawls on any winch (maybe I should have been).



Would you replace these with the pawls from the kit or just reuse them and save the replacements in the kit for a future day?

[donradcliffe]

The pawls can crack. Just reuse the ones you have, and save the kit ones.

[thinwater]

Replace. That's why they are included.



When they wear they accelerate wear of the winch body, which you can't cheaply replace. No need to save them.

[Statistical]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Replace. That's why they are included.



When they wear they accelerate wear of the winch body, which you can't cheaply replace. No need to save them.

Thanks. Thinking about it the service kit is cheap and winches are expensive. No sense in being penny wise and pound foolish.

[CrispyCringle]

I would compare the new and old pawls. If the edge that rubs on the teeth of the ratchet are more rounded than the new ones, then replace. Otherwise, save for when you lose one. It takes a heck of a lot of use to really wear one out IMO.

[Statistical]

Originally Posted by CrispyCringle

I would compare the new and old pawls. If the edge that rubs on the teeth of the ratchet are more rounded than the new ones, then replace. Otherwise, save for when you lose one. It takes a heck of a lot of use to really wear one out IMO.

There is a bit of wear but it is very slight. More on the side not the edge. Since this is a new to me boat and I don't know if it has ever been replaced I think I will go ahead and replace it and at least now I know when it was last done.

[sandy stone]

I had a pawl break in two, and the pieces jammed the winch until I could disassemble it. Luckily I have secondaries. I'd say, if you have the winch apart and have pawls available, then replace them.

[LeaseOnLife]

I'd put new ones in and keep old ones as spare, in a bag with some description like "used but still OK".

[DougR]

Replace them and keep the old as spares....

Recently had two pawls fracture on a Lewmar 48 that are primaries on a boat I crew on. Jammed up the winch and caused scoring in the particular gear set. The gear set is a couple hundred bucks alone.

Don’t cheap up for 4 pawls...

[Searles]

More important fit new pawl SPRINGS ,never refit old springs,do not keep old springs ,pawls may look good but I have seen pawls crack and break ,always at the least convenient time especially when racing ideally winches should be completely serviced twice a year for cruising ,for top end racing after EVERY race ,a simple spring failure could cost you not only a place but the entire race .⛵️⚓️

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by DougR

Replace them and keep the old as spares....

Recently had two pawls fracture on a Lewmar 48 that are primaries on a boat I crew on. Jammed up the winch and caused scoring in the particular gear set. The gear set is a couple hundred bucks alone.

Don’t cheap up for 4 pawls...

Close, but I disagree.


Replace the springs, replace the pawls ... and then get a new kit and put that in the spares bin. You'll need to buy it in the next year or two anyway, so there is no actual cost.



Don't keep old crap worn parts for anything critical. I've seen winches destroyed beyond economical repair by a worn pawl or failed spring. I've worked in too many plants where people put worn parts on the shelf, thinking they were "good." 80% of the time they aren't.

[donradcliffe]

What wears in a Lewmar winch is the hole the pawl goes in. The pawls are much harder than the hole or the gears..

Somewhere around a 48 or 56, Lewmar fits bigger pawls. Much harder to find.

[Mickeyrouse]

I have no idea how long pawls will last. The Barient 32's on our boat, launched 1973, look good as new. No obvious wear on the pawls. I've never replaced them. Possibly a previous owner did. The pawls on all the other 12 Barients look equally good.

[Jim Cate]

^^^
My experience as well: Barients (24,28 and 32 ST, chrome bronze) are now 34 years old. I don't know if the PO ever replaced any parts, but in my 21 years and ~64,000 miles logged I have noted no visible wear on the pawls nor loss of spring tension. I service the winches annually (+/-) and they still function as new.

I've not had as good results with other marques of winch, especially Arco, but the old Barients were superb bits of kit!

So, to me all the talk of replacing pawls on a frequent schedule seems overkill.
YMMV.

Jim

[rognvald]

"So, to me all the talk of replacing pawls on a frequent schedule seems overkill.
YMMV." Jim Cate

Yes.
Rognvald