Parkster said...Re-fitted main winch on "Soliloque of Searle" today when I had it stripped down it was a bit gummy inside any suggestions on what to clean and re-pack winch gearing with? Very close to being able to sail her since restoration exciting times
That looks like either a Barient or Barlow winch. Barlow fairly much copied Barient. When you have the winch completely stripped and cleaned, lubricate the pawls (the ratchet bits) and springs with oil. If you use grease they tend to stick a bit and sometimes not fully engage. Engine oil is as good as any.
The winch does not need to be "re-packed" as such. Too much grease and trying to speed sheet will be like swimming in syrup. It just needs to be lubricated. It is not as though the winch drum is going to be turning at 100 rpm all day is it. It is not going to overheat and bind up on the bearings.
When you tack the winch drum will probably do a dozen quick revolutions with little load as you take up the slack in the sheet as quick as possible and then it will come under load, you insert the handle and the drum might do two more revolutions as you trim. Then it just sits there and holds it until you tack again.
The gear teeth, shaft or post and bearings just need a light coating of grease. I use BP Boating Grease and it works fine. No need for any special, sexy, yachting, expensive,"marine" grease. That stuff is just a con job to separate you from your money like most things that have the adjective "Marine" before them. "Marine" paints are the same.
The best things you can buy for your winches are hats. They are these rubber or plastic things that fit where the handle goes and have a dome top that sheds the rain and dust fallout so that it does not go down through the winch when you are not sailing.
I hope this helps and saves you from blowing your dough.
For cleaning use kerosene or petrol and a wire brush.
