Help sourcing Orphaned Lewmar roller bearings

[LobeliaBlue]

Hola compañeros! Was servicing my 'Old 55's' (Lewmar 55ST 3rd Gen 80-84*) and the Small and Mid plastic roller bearing frames have crumbled.

Went to Lippert/Lewmar and the 1301/SA2 and 1300/SA2 have all been replaced by the 15000017. Do they stock the old ones? No. Rats.

Chased them down on the Net and they've become ghosts. Some websites advertise them, but don't have stock when ordering.
Does anyone have a lead for them, or a winch for parts on a shelf somewhere?

Thanks to all in advance. Maple Leaf 48, Cutter rigged.

cheers, LB

*identified by the black plastic ring on top held by 4 Allen headed screws

[LobeliaBlue]

https://imgur.com/a/z3UAoWd

relevant page from Lewmar Service Manual, Version 3
Couldn't get the Forum software to upload the pic, sry

[barnakiel]

Tried NSK catalog ?


b.

[LobeliaBlue]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Tried NSK catalog ?


b.

Yes, and EU bearing suppliers as well. It cross references as Zu0695.
no joy in mudville I'm afraid

[Kello]

Ooh, busted bearing cages, that's bad. A PO must have cleaned them with something terrible.

One of my Good Olde Boat's early '80s vintage jib sheet Lewmar winches was trashed so about 10 years ago I replaced it with a (well researched) SS Anderson winch, and I replaced the mainsheet winch on my mast with a self-tailing Lewmar winch. Both have spring-loaded line-gripper jaws because there wasn't any other option available.

OMG, modern winches are CRAP. Full of plastic parts, and the spring-loaded jaws suck beyond belief.

IMO, do everything you can to save your old Lewmars. Last year I bought two old Lewmars on ebay from a slavage operation and used the best parts from both to replace the Anderson. Going that route isn't the cheapest or easiest, but definitely preferable to a new winch.

The other option for your dilemma might be 3D printing. That field seems to be far enough advanced that you might find a printer to do the job for less than Lewmar or P2 Marine could sell an original cage.

[PippaB]

Don't know if this is real or not:

https://defender.com/en_us/lewmar-ro...u0695-1300-sa2

[LobeliaBlue]

Originally Posted by PippaB

Don't know if this is real or not:

https://defender.com/en_us/lewmar-ro...u0695-1300-sa2

It's a phantom, sadly. I've spoken with CS and they are waiting on a reply from Lewmar.

[LobeliaBlue]

Hello Kello!

I completely agree with you on most points here: the 'Old 55's' are wonderfully made
and have minimal wear and should last me my lifetime. It's infuriating that Lewmar
doesn't have the bearings when standardized Pawls and Springs are everywhere.


I'm being offered a pair of Andersen 52's, which I may get as stays'l winches,
but I think haunting eBay is probably my best bet.

I've been joking that I want a 3D printer for the Boat, but... maybe? Yeah?
I could try shipping the old cages off to SendCutSend or another service.

Hmm. I'll let you know how that goes eh.

[LobeliaBlue]

Hola Chupas. I've implemented a solution and will update if it fails.

A machine shop made me a solid bearing (dimensions of the old one)
out of a newer material called Torlon. It fits, the Winch is back together, and works.


So, make sure you have the parts before you take something apart?