So it seems like something has broken loose on my Lewmar 30's this past season. A small armature in the channel that catches the sheet looks broken and is spinning freely while winching (see photo). What is this part? Can it be replaced? (thinking the winches are ready for a rebuild anyway. Spring is on the way!

-Josh

Josh,
That part is the stripper ring. It is part of a rebuild kit as well as by itself.
-Chris
http://www.pyacht.com/lewmar-winch-schematics.htm
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|118|2358547|2358556&id=1558578

brilliant, thankyou! I have never rebuilt winches before, are there any other parts I should replace while I'm in there? Is there a tutorial online anywhere?

Pawls and pawl springs if they appear worn or weak, but they have always seemed as good as new for the winches I have serviced. The big thing is to clean out the old, dried up grease with a solvent like kerosene, oil the pawls and re-grease the rest of the winch as it goes back together. Youtube has a number of videos on this.
GL,
-Chris

Everything appeared to be just fine but I replaced the springs anyway. I was feeling pretty guilty for neglecting the winches since buying the boat last year and I feel much worse now as it appears to have been years before that since they last had a little attention. The internals were absolutely gobbed with grit and grease.



I replaced the stripper rings as well. The phillips head machine screws were quite loose (see picture below) when I disassembled the drum, are they supposed to be that way or should they be tightened during reassembly?



Happy to tick one project off the list, so many to go before launch