What solvent and grease do you use for winches/windlass?

[flightlead404]

What solvents and greases do you use for regular cleaning and lubrication of winches and windlasses?

[Orion Jim]

Mineral spirits to clean and Lewmar winch grease to lubricate. A little winch grease goes a long way but regular maintenance is the key.

[Gary Mc]

Plus one for Orion Jim, that is exactly what I use.

[sagablu]

Harken or synthetic grease on the gears. I use a couple drops of synthetic motor oil on the pawls. I recall (to the best of my knowledge) this method was in practical sailor

[Sailmonkey]

I use mineral spirits or diesel for the clean, any any synthetic waterproof grease I can get my hands on.

Also a drop of motor oil on the panels.

[CassidyNZ]

Winches:
Wash with aerosol degreaser, clean with dry terry cloth (strips of old T shirts)
Grease with water-resistant “marine” grease.

My windlass requires no grease, I keep it filled it to the middle of the sight glass with EP90 gear oil. (Lofrans Tigres).

[tkeithlu]

CassidyNZ is making the distinction: While winches will be greased, windlasses often have gears running in, as you might expect, gear oil. It's usually 90 weight, as he uses.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Mineral spirits to clean and Lewmar winch grease to lubricate. A little winch grease goes a long way but regular maintenance is the key.

Ditto!

[phorvati]

Diesel to clean, white lithium grease to lubricate

[phorvati]

Originally Posted by phorvati

Diesel to clean, white lithium grease to lubricate

For winches that is.

[JoeRobertJr]

My Lewmar winch has mostly plactic parts inside, and I was warned about using mineral spirits on plastic. I do soak the metal parts in that, but use soapy water to clean the plastic parts.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by JoeRobertJr

My Lewmar winch has mostly plactic parts inside, and I was warned about using mineral spirits on plastic. I do soak the metal parts in that, but use soapy water to clean the plastic parts.

And then coat them with a petroleum based grease?

Mineral spirits are harmless to the types of plastics used as bearing cages.

[jordanbigel]

I use lacquer thinner to clean winches. Someone once told me its the best and I've used it since then. I think it works better than mineral spirits (probably more toxic too). I use Lewmar winch grease, plus Lewmar oil on the pawls. WRT cleaning, I usually go through a big box of Q-Tips also to clean between gear teeth.

[Coolerking]

De odorized mineral spirits and good parts cleaner.
Lewmar winch grease on the gears and drum rings only!
Light oil on pawls.

[kmacdonald]

Diesel to clean and Super Lube Synthetic grease for gears and Super Lube Synthetic oil for paws.