5ton winch repairs?

[spicergear]

I've fixed several of these without taking them apart that had frozen handles. If you DO have the TIME to take it apart, do so. On the clutch handle side at the bottom of the winch are two large plugs that can be removed. The sliding clutch dog has siezed by rust to the shaft so it won't slide, plain and simple. It is possible, though somewhat difficult, to get a long screwdriver through the bottom hole and up to where the clutch dog slider is and tap it in between that and the case to force the slider to move inward toward the drum if it's frozen disengaged...which is should be. Again, it takes some doing and patience but it will eventually free up. At one point the two drive lugs will probably bottom out against each other and the drum will need to be rotated so the clutch slider can go to full travel and engagement into the drum.

Do NOT beat on the engagement handle if your 20K Garwood that you have never used is seized. You will hurt or shear something. IF you have used the winch and the handle has seized, then try tapping it...but go easy.