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Old 04-30-2017, 02:51 PM   #1
The Winster
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Default Tips for lowering aluminum dock

Wondering if anyone can offer some advise for lowering an aluminum dock with a Dutton brake winch. The winch requires a minimum of 75 pounds of pull on the line in order to be able to cranked out. When the dock is lowered to the point where most of the load is relieved from the winch cable we end up with a spinning handle and the aluminum lift arm still up in the air. None of the methods we've used in prior years have been particularly easy (or graceful) so any recommendations/suggestions would be welcomed.
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Old 04-30-2017, 05:43 PM   #2
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That is what I have.

What is stopping it from continuing to turn?

Is there still sufficient weight pulling on the cable?

Is a piece of the cable jammed in the gearing?

Can you manually unwind the cable with the crank?

My lift arm is about 45 feet long and just the weight alone requires a substantial amount of braking to keep it from slamming down on the dock frame. I have let it drop too fast in previous years and that did some damage.

Two of my docks are aluminum crank up and I have been dealing with them for years. If you wish to PM me with contact information and your location I would be glad to come see if I can offer free advise. But what is free advise worth................
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Old 04-30-2017, 09:35 PM   #3
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What is happening is that there is not sufficient weight pulling on the cable once the legs of the dock hit the bottom of the lake...so we end up having to have one person grab onto the cable and pull with enough force to keep the winch from slipping while another person cranks...it's a difficult process...and I thought there must be a better way. The dock is 40 feet so the lifting arm is only about 30 feet and it doesn't weigh enough on it's own to allow the winch to be unwound.
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Old 05-01-2017, 04:46 AM   #4
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Something is binding on it.

Try oiling the pins at the base of the boom. Check the pulley that the cable goes through to be sure that it is pointed in the right direction and the cable can move through freely. If your winch has grease fittings you should be greasing it, if not put some lithium on the gears and where the shafts come through the case.

I have had the opposite problem. My boom comes down too fast so it requires extensive braking.
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Old 05-20-2018, 08:10 AM   #5
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After lubricating the 2 drive shafts on the winch everything went smoothly this year...no spinning handle...dock and boom lowered completely with simple cranking...no additional pulling on the cable needed...what a difference a little lubrication can make...Thanks Tilton
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Old 05-21-2018, 10:12 AM   #6
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thanks for reporting back on the solution to help others
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