Repair to Fulton T3205 winch

[localboy]

Our trailer has the above winch on it. Its a 3200# model. The locking lever that controlls the ratchet has bent inward, twice. This week it bent to badly I almost could not retrieve the boat. I looked at it and figured a way to repair it, make it stronger and save the $175 on a new 3700# model. Pics in my album.

I dissasembled the thing. Went to Ace and bought a 3/8" diameter 6.5" bolt, nylok nut, washer, locking slide nut and larger diameter spacer/bushing. Drilled the hole opposite the lever to 3/8" and did the same to the lever side hole. Straightened everything out and re-assembled using the larger hardware. The bolt now goes through both sides of the winch; this is how the 3700# models are designed. The locking slide nut holds the lever assemble in place. We'll see how long this lasts. Should work way better though.

[Sea Wolf]

Mark- Good Job!


Bench ratchet assembly. The inward bend made the locking ratchet useless.
I almost couldn't get the boat winched onto the trailer yesterday.
This is the 2nd time this has bent.


After the repair. $6 in parts and an hour and it is much stronger than before.
I also used a much larger spacer in between the assembly and the frame.
It's about 4x's the circumferance of the factory unit. Should flex way less.


The bolt now goes completely through the winch adding much needed
strength/rigidity and a slip nut holds the ratchet assembly in place.



Completed Winch Repair.

Joe.

[Jack in Alaska]

Good repair job Localboy......
THe only suggestion I would have was to use a piece of althread so you could use another nyloc nut in place of the slip nut to hold the lever in place.
Just another idea.......yours looks great.

Those winches are generally a POS as well as the trailer jacks.