Lever hoist will not lower (pics)

[mart]

My (speedy brand) lever hoist will lift ok, but will no longer lower. I left someone using it in my garden yesterday. He ratcheted it up all the way until the hook with the load was literally touching & jammed up against the part where the lever is.

I dismantled almost everything to try to find out what was wrong. Although it is no longer jammed up, there is still something preventing the lowering motion from working. From what I understand, the lowering/braking action on these devices tends to be facilitated by small circular friction discs.

Has anyone worked on these, specifically this particular type?
The 3 photos below are of the device when I originally got it. I am going to have another look at it today, and will provide some photos of the area I think is at fault.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Cant remember a great deal, As you will have found, the operating system incorporates a multi-start quick threaded piece that operates the clutch plates that do the weight holding, Close examination should reveal what is wrong with yours.

 

[mart]

Hi Gordon.
I`ve dismantled it again. Just like yesterday I am (until someone guides me) still unable to figure out how to gain access to the part that is probably causing the problem. I`ve got all the covers off, but it is possble that the central drive piece (like a geared spindle) needs driffing out or, a special tool or puller is required on the brass "coloured" wheel with teeth like edges around it. I don`t want to damage anything without first obataining advice on here.

I am just going back to the garage to take the necessary photos.

 

[mart]

 

[mart]

How am I going to remove the central spindle in the bottom 2 photos? In one photo you can see the spindle coming through the two years. In the other photo the opposite end of the spindle can be seen coming through the brass "colour" wheel with castlated teeth. I am thinking that the spindle either somehow screws out or is drifted out

 

[oilyneil]

We use these lever hoists at work for tensioning powerlines and we have had them stuck before.
The repair is fairly straightforward, put it back together and set the lever to lower.
Hold the hoist main body in a vice or something to stop it moving.
Whack the handle in the direction to lower it with a big wooden mallet or chog of wood and it should free off.
Job done and dont lend it out again !
The clutch on these is a disc which is screwed to make it tighten when load is applied to stop it free wheeling loose. when it gets over loaded it locks up solid and wont release, the whack shocks it loose.

 

[mechman]

Hope you fix it and let us know the cure, I agree with oilyneil on letting someone else use that type of equipment (that looks a tidy bit of kit)some people should never be let loose on any mechanical devices whatsoever.

 

[oilyneil]

The clutch on those is under the gold bit, like i said if you give it a whack in undo it will free it off,, need to do it to work ones probably once a month when pulling big stuff up with them.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Clutch as I remember is similar to a motor bike with multi-plates, Your plates are probably just stuck together and need seperating.( freeing off )

 

[mart]

Hi guys and thanks for the guidance.

I didn’t actually lend the device to anyone. I needed some help in my garden since I have torn my knee cartilage. (I’m in pain just walking around, and especially when lugging stuff around like the lever hoist). I’m on my own here. I fetched this guy over to my home as I wanted him to give me some help pulling tree roots out with the lever hoist. He lugged it down the garden for me. I showed him what to do, and I started tidying around the garden some meters away. I really didn’t think he would have done what he did.

Anyway, regarding the lever hoist, I believe I have sorted it. There were two faults. I think that while I was trying to drift the shaft out using a copper hammer it has freed off the friction plates. Also, it seems that the spring located just under the round hand operated knob was not positioned right. I say this because it seems to function much smoother than when I bought it a few weeks ago. There is no play now. I have not tested it under load, but feel confident that it will be ok after testing the up & down motion inside the garage which worked quite smooth and freely.