How to open Merriman #2 winches

[C-164]

Can someone please tell me how to open the old bronze jib winches with the square pawls on top above the screw. They are the Southcoast Merriman #2. I've searched through the archives and manual.
They are really stiff but maybe with some TLC they can be made smoother.
BTW - RigRite sell these pawls and springs.

Thank You
Barry
Commander 164

[kendall]

Did it a while ago to clean and lube when I packed them away a couple years ago, so may have forgotten some details, but as I remember I just turned the screw using two screwdrivers and kept upwards pressure on the body, that way the pawls rode up right along with the screw.

I'll pull them down and see if I remember it right.

Ken.

[Commander227]

The original fork ended winch handle was made to remove the center screw and works very nicely.

[C-164]

Thanks for your help. I don't have the winch handle so i'll go with the two-screwdriver method. I'm hoping that with a little rehab they will work good enough not to need replacing.

[kendall]

I resorted to the two screw drivers method because while I have two handles, neither one had the right spacing on the end to work on that style winch.

Sorry, didn't get a chance to verify dis-assembly, forgot it was the grandsons 1st birthday today, and was not so gently reminded by the wife when I said I was going out to play in the garage.

Ken.

[C-164]

Thanks Ken and congradulations. Sometimes it's smart to let the wife 'think' that she is the boss in the household!!! Provides for more uninterrupted sailing time!
My original sheet winches are really 'lumpy'. It's a sign that i'm becoming a better sailor that they bother me now.

[kendall]

Thank you, that's a lesson I often forget, will double check on the dis=assembly, though I think you'll have it done by then!

It's odd how experience makes it so possibly not so minor problems really stick out.
My first ever sail boat was a 20 year old O'day sprite with original sails/rigging, got pretty good with that thing and could hold my own against many newer boats. Finally picked up new sails and almost drowned myself because the new sails were so much better. Trim, as I was used to, was almost enough to kill me with sails that worked as designed. (ooops, losing drive?,OK, so snug the crap out of that line..... Holy smoking puppy poop what happened and why am I swimming????!!!)

Ken.

[C-164]

Thank you all. They are now 100 percent better and very usable. Soaked them overnight, grease on the drums and oil on the pawls. They ain't lumpy no mo.