Fish 0 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 We have Harken 42 primaries. They need servicing regularly, and the palls stick so they don't actually work. This is the primary problem. To service them we actually have to unbolt the whole winch from the boat which is a 2 man job and a pain in the arse. We also have smaller Neilson secondary winches for the kites, and three very old side winders on the mast for halyards and clew out hauls. All these other winches never need servicing, and the palls never stick. We use the proper Lewmar winch grease on the Harkens, and are economical with it. Is there a better way to deal with these winches? What would happen if we used no grease at all and run them dry? What do other people do (other than buy Andersons in the first place, grrr, if only we had the extra $$$ at the time) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,211 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Is it the dry grease making the pawls stick, or other crap? I use a very thin smear of waterproof grease on my Barient winches, service about once a year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 any help here? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The big T 40 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 You should not use grease on the pawls - a light oil like the old sewing machine oil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Fish, winches need serving yearly, whether they need it or not.I use a very light synthetic grease like inox or something you would use in a fishing reel or similar. Never use an ordinary grease like you would use in such things like say a wheel bearing. That kind of grease is designed to work in a different way, as in a large volume. That kind of grease is actually a gear oil held in a carrier of very fine clay. It is designed to work in volume and the clay slowly leaches out the oil. Once the oil has leached out, you are left with this useless dry'ish gunk that sticks everything together.I use the synth grease on pawls because light oil doesn't last.Not only does grease act as a lubricant, but more importantly, it acts as an isolator between dissimilar metals. Especially the pawls because often these are the first and easiest things to get contaminated by salt water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clive 13 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I use motorcycle chain oil - spray type, the pawls don't stick and the grease stays put. Lasts for years too! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Black Panther 1,566 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I use motorcycle chain oil - spray type, the pawls don't stick and the grease stays put. Lasts for years too! Thank you!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twisty 164 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Clive that's a brilliant idea, seems obvious when you think about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dambo 44 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I use motorcycle chain oil - spray type, the pawls don't stick and the grease stays put. Lasts for years too! I would have thought this would be too sticky? While all the moving parts will be greased, they'll also stick together and any small particles that find their way in will also stick? On the other hand, I haven't actually tried this so... maybe I should just shuddup now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twisty 164 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I think the big thing is that the grease won't get washed out easily. I have a boat that spends half it's life underwater so I think it's perfect Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 "Spectro" make a motorcycle chain wax that is brilliant at lubing without being sticky, Darbi Accessories are the NZ distributor, I've used it on anchor winch cones, bowden cables, winch pawls etc. etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Battleship 100 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Thats the thing with a lot of motorcycle chain lubes, they are designed not to be sticky otherwise all the road dust would stick to the chain which leads to premature wear on the chain and sprockets. They dry to a waxy finish so as not to attract the dust. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dambo 44 Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Thats the thing with a lot of motorcycle chain lubes, they are designed not to be sticky otherwise all the road dust would stick to the chain which leads to premature wear on the chain and sprockets. They dry to a waxy finish so as not to attract the dust. I'm clearly out of touch - I sold my last bike about 10 years ago. M/C chain lube sounds like the answer all right. Don't tell the manufacturers though, they'll re-brand it with the word 'Marine' and put the price up! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Years ago Maxwell recommended Wynns Viscotene to me for their winches http://www.wynns.eu/product/viscotene/ not sure if it is still available in NZ. I have found it very good Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Viscotene is still available. And it's as slippery as. When i was working for Wynns, I tried some on a power boat propellor. We water skied all day with the boat and when we trailor'd the boat that evening, the stuff was still on the prop.CRC have a version called Tac2, but I don't think it is quite as slippery. There are several other Brands that make a Chain lube as well. They are all basically what is called an "Open gear Oil". They have what they call, extreme EP, or "Elastopolymer strength". The stuff goes all sticky and stringy.Another product well worth trying is Moreys Airtool oil. It is a light oil with this exact same EP strength. Slippery as snot, sticks like the proverbial, but is light weight.All of the Moreys greases are good as well, but their Marine grease in particular is something stunning. Extreme anti washout properties and as smooth as silk. Well worth a try. I use it in the stern bearing and hardly have to pump grease in, where as the ordinary everyday greases washed out quickly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 Some good stuff here, thanks for the replies. It would appear our primary problem is that we only ever used grease and not light oil on the palls. I am very interested in the motorcycle chain lube. The spray on lube, where can I get that from? is that the sort of thing Repco or Supercheap Auto supply? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 A product by CRC - Hi-Performnce Multilube Gel might be suitable. I use it on chains (like bicycle chain) on a mower deck so lots of dust about but no dust adheres to it. Edit : It is spray on Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 All those CRC RIB rides at Russell after the coastal , buy that. I can't recall exactly but there is one type of grease you don't want on a winch because it reacts with bronze( IIRC). Lithium? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
erice 732 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 lithium i think is good that bad seems to be.... Many of the automotive greases have anti-wear additives that are made from polysulfides and/or chlorinated esters. These additives will attack "red metals" (copper) and will pit bronze and many brass alloys molybdenum disulfide which has better temperature handling capabilities but is more expensive and should not be used around brass or bronze bearings. http://wiki.vintagemachinery.org/Greases%20and%20Lubrication.ashx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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