MacGregorSailors.com

I'm cleaning my winches (Lewmar 6s). I see that winch grease is available, but is that much different than the marine grease I'm putting on my trailer bearings?

I'm also a little concerned about grease attracting dirt. Are these better left dry?

Thanks.

--john

Hey John, can't comment on the grease itself, but Lewmar has some good videos on how to do the job. They mention the grease and a light oil, I believe, if my memory serves me.

Just a guess on my part, but I'd guess that 'winch grease' has a lower viscosity than chassis or wheel bearing lubes, and maybe a lower volatility. The parts inside a winch are pretty tiny, and thick (or thickening over time) grease would tend to gum up the works and cause the pawls to not click into the ratchet teeth.

I would follow the manufacturer's recommendations, at least initially, and perhaps modify my approach down the road once some experience is gained. Or not, since it's such a small amount of lube, and infrequent required service intervals. I've never serviced the winches on my boat, purchased in the summer of 2011, and they still work just fine, though I rarely use them. And I'm in a fresh water environment. So take that with a grain of salt (nyuck nyuck nyuck).

Good stuff in this link on servicing them.
http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/D ... ur-Winches

I use a winch oil as I found the grease collects grime & stiffens up in cold weather & if someone suggests to use KY don,t

J

Highlander wrote:I use a winch oil as I found the grease collects grime & stiffens up in cold weather & if someone suggests to use KY don,t

J

That would be Wench grease. Different subject.

RussMT wrote:

Highlander wrote:I use a winch oil as I found the grease collects grime & stiffens up in cold weather & if someone suggests to use KY don,t

J

That would be Wench grease. Different subject.

Well that all depends on which side of the continent u come from !!

J

Thanks, all.

The pawls and bearing, such as it is, were definitely gummed up before. Took a bit of brake cleaning fluid to get it off. We'll start with the light oil and build up from there.

Alas, and I was cleaning one of the pawls, I shot a spring across the yard because I didn't have the sense to completely disassemble it first. Thinking I'd never find such a small part for a 20 year old winch, I started thinking about how to build one. But they are available on the webbernet, so hope lives.

Regards,

--john

I heard that the white lithium grease works great for the bearings.