Where is my winch supposed to be threaded???

[100guard]

I could've sworn it wasn't like this last year...but it makes no sense who or HOW it suddenly became like this.

Should the winch be going over the two bars like it is? Or shouldn't it just be spooled around the main disc, then between the bowtie rubber thingy??

The weird thing is that the hook is too large to just move it where it needs to be. One of those three pipes must've been removed to reposition it there....but why?

Before I open the winch to put the winch strap where I think it needs to be, can someone confirm it's in the wrong position...or the right one?

 

[Dr Honda]

It shouldn't be over either of those. It should just come off the top of the spool, and to the hull. Right now... you are putting extra pressure on the drive gears.

THe easy way to fix it is to remove the bolt in the spool, and thread it properly.

 

[100guard]

OKAY! Thanks for confirming that what I had thought, is how it is.

Now the question is....HOW THE HECK...did the HOOK go the wrong way???? There is no way it's been like that all last year LOL. But then the only logical explanation is that the guys at the winterizing place, did this. Either that or it was like that all last year.

I tried fixing it at the launch yesterday but couldn't. It was just too narrow a spot and the hook is too large to maneuvre through without removing a bar somewhere. Hmmm, maybe I'll unwind the strap all the way-maybe that'll give it enough room to wiggle through.

So strange.

 

[100guard]

...Hmmm, maybe I'll unwind the strap all the way-maybe that'll give it enough room to wiggle through.
...

Woohoo!!!

This worked.

I'm baffled now though. Did the garage guys do this??? I have had to tow up the boat a few times last season, so if it was threaded like this since then, I am certain I would've noticed this previously-but I haven't. Leading me to believe it is something new that someone did.

Anyway, Glad I unwound the strap as it reminded me that the strap is still brand spanking new just a foot and a half down, so soon I'm going to cut the exposed (and highly crummy looking) portion and sow a new loop for the hook.

Does anyone know if you can repair the little 'lock spring mechanism' easily or should you replace the entire winch? Surely one can. It works fine., but worried it's a hazard. We aren't planning any long haul trips, so just 10kms to the further launch I imagine.