Windlass woes

[gene]

The windlass on my SO40 has a cracked clutch tension nut (ECROU DE SERRAGE) from a Leroy Somer SV 801 part numbers CODE LS = PUS080DB002, REF LS = 530000015. I have contacted Jeanneau and Leroy Somer and neither can help. These windlasses are no longer supported. I wonder if someone knows where I might source one, new or used. I'm sure there are some scrap windlasses around somewhere. I may try to have it welded but that is risky. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Gene

[sailbleu]

I would definitly have it welded (virtual impossible to do it yourself) , clean the surface on a lathe and make an ss pipe to go over it (exact size) and fix that pipe with short bolds or screws making sure you dont damage the thread inside
That wil give you the time to look for a replacement.
Did you tighten the clutch to much gene or what happened.

Oh and by the way , on the hints and tips page (and also on the forum) you will find and essay of me about the leroy somer windlass.

Greatings

[MalcolmP]

Mar 4, 2010 21:52:49 GMT sailbleu said:

Oh and by the way , on the hints and tips page (and also on the forum) you will find and essay of me about the leroy somer windlass.

Link is:
www.jeanneau-owners.com/hintsandtips/Leroysomerwindlass.html

[gene]

Thanks, the part is bronze with chrome plating. So it could be welded if it is the correct type of bronze.

This boat is fairly new to me so I have been going through it servicing and repairing where needed. This nut was really tight and took extreme effort to loosen it. I needed to get it apart to grease it and wanted to use the clutch to let chain out. So it either cracked while loosening it or it was cracked already from over tightening.

I have read the excellent writeup on hints and tips. Thanks for that.

Gene

[sailbleu]

Well Gene , this is the problem with this kind of windlass , most likely it went broke by over tightening.
These winches tend to get stuck due to corrosion , I experienced the same probleme as my windlass kept slipping as i was not able to tighten it up because of that corrosion.
It took me some googling around and also some risky hard labour to get if off.
No it's fine and only needs some greasing around once and a while.

[gene]

Too bad that just simple maintenance will prevent this. I do believe the drum is designed poorly. A simple hardened sleeve in the drum would prevent the aluminum from deforming. That seems to be the only weakness on this design.

I will attempt to have it welded.

Gene

[gene]

A good day. Interim fix initiated. Found a local welder. I had him just leave the bead and I filed it just enough to fit. Doesn't look very nice but it works.

The fix would not work without fixing the original problem, i.e. no proper tensioning surface in the drum. I scrounged for something I could modify. Ended up using a 1/2 inch bronze elbow and cut the lip off. Then I filed both sides and opened the inside to clear.

I left is a little over sized so it would wedge in the drum. It does not interfere with the square shaft yet, if it does I will file only where it interferes.

You can see it now sits above the drum. I believe an o-ring would be a good idea to seal this area from water.

I would still like to find one as I do not trust a welded one. However it does not take much torque to lock the clutch when everything is properly lubricated.

Gene

[sailbleu]

Hey Gene , you didn't mentioned it , although I suppose you actualy did it , but was the drum taken off .
And if so , was it also a struggle for you as it was for me ?

Oh and by the way , if the welding went deep enough that part will not be giving any problems anymore since de welding added more material.
I'm sure by next year you've forgotten all about buying a new tension nut.

Greatings

[gene]

I needed a puller to get the capstan off. Not a bad job with the puller. Nice to get it all greased up properly and working smoothly. Penetration into the nut was fair, but not all the way to the threads. We could not determine what the threads were. It turned out to be a cheap fix. I think it will be fine as all the force on the part is now on the bottom. And with the bronze insert the tightening friction is low. I sealed the top with some rubber until I find an o-ring to fit. I suspect the nut will last as long as the rest of the windlass does. BTW: I am a big fan of teflon grease.

Gene

[sailbleu]

What year is your boat ?
Mine is 1999 , and as far as I know all jeanneau boats of that time frame were fitted with this windlass.
But I was wondering when the shipyard changed the winch after the product was discontinued

[gene]

My boat is also a 1999. I just checked some pictures I took of another boat I looked at. It was a 2002 and the windlass is Lofrans Progress 2. So it looks like they only installed LS in the first year or so.