Hello,
I'm here in BC Canada and it rains. Did I say it RAINS! I've noticed either I'm getter weaker (possible) or my winches are getting harder to crank. Was wondering if you lads ever clean them out or lubricate them? Not sure if this is possiblle as I believe they use a "dry clutch" system? in them. In fact, not sure if anybody ever does any chain lubrication (dry graphite type) or the like. All I know for certain is my mill used to crank up and down easily regardless of where the carriage was. Now, if I try to crank and the carriage is at the same end as that particular winch handle, it takes two arms to lift it. I can't figure if it needs lubrication & a cleaning or if this means it's lunched? The clutch bar has gotten extremely tough to push in as well. I'm not ultra mechanical and goodness knows those plastic housings on the clutches are a right pain to remove to even access the crank assembly. Anybody out there know if this is a replace or adjust or clean & lubricate situation? My mill is a 8-25. It sits outside, motor covered in the weather but winches are in the elements. And what is with the wasps? Seems I can't let my mill sit for a week without every rail, every winch handle being filled with wasp nests. Hmm, I did have a couple of wasp nests in each winch handle a few years ago. Couldn't even turn the handle it was so jammed with nest. Took it apart, cleaned it. Left it dry as a chip (the way I found it) and it wasn't too bad. But as I say, now it is just bloody way too hard to crank if it has the carriage weight on the end I'm cranking. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks to all. Scott