Trailer ratchet

[rigi36]

The Sea Scouts have been gifted a trailer in excellent condition however we think we have identified a potential problem with the hand winch.

When you flip the ratchet thing forwards (the bit that 'clicks' into the teeth) it will dig in and 'click' whilst reeling in the cable. The problem we are having is that if you tug back on the cable (i.e. away from the winch) this bit will allow the cog to turn away thus unreeling the cable again. Obviously this is not good.

Photo of the suspect bit is below, we reckon it is because it is worn and is simply slipping when the cog is pulled against it by the cable.

3 questions:
Do you think this is what is causing the issue?
What is the circled bit called?
Is it possible to buy these bits to mount on the existing winch or should I be buying a
whole new winch?

Thanks for your help.

[jezza2011]

new winches dont cost much, but you can fix the one you have.

looks worn to me. my last winch was about £25.

[rigi36]

What is the worn bit called? You can see where it is worn in the photo just below that strange hook thing.

Thanks.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by rigi36

What is the worn bit called? You can see where it is worn in the photo just below that strange hook thing.

Thanks.

"pawl"

[rigi36]

Cheers.

[Ribochet]

The part of the winch shown in the photo is collectively called the "ratchet". The "rachet thing" as you called it is properly called the "pawl" and this engages or not with the gear teeth shown.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratchet_(device)

The winch is potentially the most dangerous parts of a trailer and the whole item should be replaced if there is any question relating to its effectiveness - more important in this case if it is to be used by scouts.

[matt h]

don't mess with repairing it.go get a new one!!

[rigi36]

This looks decent.

1400 LBS HAND GEAR 7.7METRE STRAP WEBBING WINCH FOR TRAILERS, BOATS, JET SKI | eBay

[Boatnomad]

Originally Posted by rigi36

This looks decent.

1400 LBS HAND GEAR 7.7METRE STRAP WEBBING WINCH FOR TRAILERS, BOATS, JET SKI | eBay

Bought this one 2 years ago,works fine,amazing value

[CJL]

Get a new winch and replace it with a strap instead of the wire cable.

Wire cable snaps and flings round potentially cutting sea scouts up! At least straps snap but they don't fling round quite as much or cause as much damage.

Watching a tug deckhand run for his life when a wire cable snapped with 10+ tonnes load on it is a sight not to be forgotten!

Chris

[keeno07]

Agree with CJL, get a new one with a strap. Don't mess around with cables, not when children are about!

[Maximus]

I Have a spare winch which is little used-it has no strap but if you want it pm me.
Free to the Scouts of course

[Jeff]

and I have an unused strap - same offer applies
Jeff

[wavelength]

The winch is potentially the most dangerous parts of a trailer and the whole item should be replaced if there is any question relating to its effectiveness - more important in this case if it is to be used by scouts.

took the words right outa m'mouth. Seen loadsa injuries from trailer winches ranging from a broken arm, to smashed knuckles on both hands, to face ripped by a breaking wire! Don't muck about with them, your duty of care demands a new winch and a strap. Cheaper than being sued.

[rigi36]

Thanks for all the help and support guys.

Maximus I think your PM box is full

Cheers.

[BogMonster]

Get a new winch and get some 6mm Dyneema synthetic rope to put on it. Safer and stronger than both wire rope and straps, fit and forget. It won't fray and snap like a strap, and if it does break (which is highly unlikely as the breaking strain of 6mm is 3200kg whereas a lot of straps are only about 1000kg) then it won't flay your skin off like wire. Yes it costs a bit more, but what price keeping your boat on the trailer - mine came from Goodwinch http://www.dborc.co.uk/goodwinch/

I smashed my hand with my winch a few months back - user stupidity, I had tension on the winch and hadn't engaged the ratchet then let the handle go! The handle whipped round faster than you could see and smashed me across the back of my hand and I was about a month before my hand recovered, I was probably very lucky not to break it. If there is any question over the effectiveness of a ratchet, bin it.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by rigi36

Thanks for all the help and support guys.

Maximus I think your PM box is full

Cheers.

Cleared it now

[CJL]

Originally Posted by BogMonster

Get a new winch and get some 6mm Dyneema synthetic rope to put on it. Safer and stronger than both wire rope and straps, fit and forget. It won't fray and snap like a strap, and if it does break (which is highly unlikely as the breaking strain of 6mm is 3200kg whereas a lot of straps are only about 1000kg) then it won't flay your skin off like wire. Yes it costs a bit more, but what price keeping your boat on the trailer - mine came from Goodwinch Goodwinch Winches & Parts, Electric Winches and Winch Bumpers, UK – Goodwinch.com

I smashed my hand with my winch a few months back - user stupidity, I had tension on the winch and hadn't engaged the ratchet then let the handle go! The handle whipped round faster than you could see and smashed me across the back of my hand and I was about a month before my hand recovered, I was probably very lucky not to break it. If there is any question over the effectiveness of a ratchet, bin it.

This is a good alternative but unless it is carefully winched onto the spool it can get jammed and if its not being used by people fully briefed in its use then they can result in people doing silly things to unjam them.

You'll find a strap a safer option in the long term, more common-place and simpler to operate. We have a mandatory replacement period just like you would do with a lifting sling. (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.pdf).

Chris

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by CJL

This is a good alternative but unless it is carefully winched onto the spool it can get jammed and if its not being used by people fully briefed in its use then they can result in people doing silly things to unjam them.

You'll find a strap a safer option in the long term, more common-place and simpler to operate. We have a mandatory replacement period just like you would do with a lifting sling. (http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg290.pdf).

Chris

I disagree and have never had an issue on the boat trailer, I can and do pull it out with one hand every time. It is a common problem with synthetic rope on a vehicle winch, because you can spool several layers of rope onto the drum just under hand tension and then put 10,000lb load on the top layer which will pull the rope down through the bottom layers and can be very hard to get out as you say. This is a problem in any situation where the bottom layers on the drum are loose and a high load is put on it, which often occurs winching off road.

But if you think about it, a boat trailer winch is always pulling its full load from the start (empty drum), so as long as the rope is not excessively long and the first few turns are tight on the drum when you first take the strain, the rest will and does lay on there neatly under load. Mine has never jammed in 2 yrs using it on the Osprey and about 2yrs prior to that using the same stuff with the old Humber, and it also avoids the problem with flat straps that if the boat is slightly skewed, the flat straps will ride up one side, mine used to do that all the time. The only thing you need to be careful about is if you take the rope off the drum for winch maintenance with the boat on the trailer, because you need to make sure it's wound back on tightly.