I tried again today after applying plenty of 3 in 1, I far prefer to WD 40)

Thank you for the clue on how you opened the winch .... gorgeous day today on the chesapeake

Discovered the handle end will not fit into the slot in the large screw - though it looks like an original handle -

I will try a deck key ( like for diesel filler cap) next weekend ... hate to think of the job of drilling out the central hard bronze screw ...

anyway - in frustration cleaned and oiled the other winch and reassembled it ... can reopen and grease properly in 2 minutes ...

lo and behold, both winches work now - but correspondents are right - these #1 winches are way too small for the genoa ... I have sailed on old S&S's of the early sixties - and they had far bigger winches ...

and the base-fitting handles gouge against the mahogany coaming ..

thank you for the advice!!!

Brenda