Galley Maid Windlass Capstan removal

[Vincentc]

I attempted to remove the capstan by removing the screw and washer in the top, soaked it with PB blaster then tapped it upward with a rubber hammer and pried it up from the base with 2 pry bars. I assumed the capstan would slide off of the shaft however the shaft remained secure to the capstan and the shaft slid up about 5 inches. I did not pull any more. Is this the way it is supposed to work?
Vincent
Lilly Marie 43 DC 1983

 

[doc g]

yes , both the rope and chain capstan should come off. Try tapping the both of them down and then using the ply bar to lift them off............Pat

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Some of the capstans were two pieces. The top part had two holes in the top to tighten the clutch. If this is the type you have, you will have to unscrew the top part of the drum first. After that is off, you can slide the rest of the capstan off.

 

[Vincentc]

Thanks for the advice.

The windlass only has a rope drum, it is one bronze piece. If I understand, correctly, I need to tap the shaft inside the drum down and loose from the drum. Once if have the drum off, I need to loosen the bolts securing the windlass below the deck then knock the windlass down through the deck with a piece of pipe and a mall.

I am going to resume my efforts in the morning. If my plan is flawed, please let me know before I break something.

Regards,
Vincent

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You are correct. On a unit with no wildcat, there is just a one piece drum. The shaft is keyed in the drum. It should slide off without too much problem.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

One more thought. I have seen where someone once drilled through the side of the wildcat and added a bolt that went into the shaft. This is not OEM, but I'd check your drum for possible set screws, etc., just in case some PO messed with it.

 

[Bob Bradley]

I used a big gear puller and a bit of heat to get mine off. It was a bitch.

 

[Vincentc]

I put some wood spacers under the drum and knocked the shaft through without any problem. However the shaft is now sticking up and will not go back down. _It has been more than 4 hours, could be serious.

We decided to go to the Island and put work on hold. Think I will try to get a drawing from Galley Maid before I resume.

Regards,
Vincent

 

[Vincentc]

The windlass is out. I climbed inside the chain locker and removed the electric motor, and attempted to unscrew the nuts for the thru deck bolts. There was a mass of rust and by the time I chipped off most of the loose rust, the ss nuts were in mid air, essentially everything above the gearbox was rusted through.

I lined the locker with gym floor rubber mats and then stacked a few cardboard boxes to cushion the hoped for fall of the gear box, the went up on deck. A 1 1/4 steel pipe with a coupling on one end for extra diameter matched very well with the area inside the deck plate and easily fit around the windlass shaft. A few blows with a 15# mall and the gearbox slid free and landed on the boxes without any excitement.

Even with the motor removed (approximately 30#) the gearbox is a load, felt like over 40#.

Deck thickness with the pulpit is just under 4 inches and should work for the Maxwell 10-8 I selected. However, before installation, there is still some prep work, the deck was cored with balsa, and now is cored with a wet mush, that will need to be removed and replaced with filled epoxy.

I called Galley Maid this morning and they were very helpful, essentially reaffirming the advice on this site. Thanks for your advice.

Regards,
Vincent
Lilly Marie 43DC

 

[bobk]

Ever wonder why a 'quality' manufacturer puts rust-prone components in a salty chain locker? A PO replaced mine with the same. I wouldn't.

Bob

 

[Vincentc]

It is curious. I was tempted to go with a horizontal windlass to avoid locker placement, but wanted a capstan in addition to a rope/chain gypsy. Nigel Calders big book has a drawing of chain/rope locker with the windlass motor partitioned off and vented to the forward cabin. I hope to do something along those lines to separate the below deck portion of the windlass from the salty damp chain locker.

When you refer to not replacing it with "the same" are you talking about a Galley Maid or a Maxwell?

Regards,
Vincent