Brian COOK

I have since found there are "two" different "thumb tabs" being changed in 1935! Mine is patent applied 1930, so not as old as the one in Scotland which has a heavier frame and different wheels with round holes. Appears the parts I need are Numbered 2 and 23, shame they could not provide a diagram as opposed to small vague drawings, sign of the times? It is odd that the liquidators have not released the inventory from Trewhella, perhaps it's been sold and melted down? Hope the attached helps others with theirs as well as mine.

There is also a chap on Ali Barba in China selling them US $200-$300, still waiting for a response if they sell parts, all Greek to me...well Chinese anyways! Photos of my winch and the missing thumb tab and what ever lives in the bracket on the opposite side.

Perhaps this makes sense. The top photo from David shows the "spring assembly", just above the pawl that rotates the winch drum is the "THUMB TAB" living at the far right end of the spring assembly. The thumb tab being used to lock and unlock the winch drum so it can unspool the cable. The 2nd photo, to the left of the yellow painted rectangle and directly above the winch cable is the "bolt" that is also missing from my winch. I have no idea if it's a bolt or a spring loaded shaft, but it sits in two cast circular guides and retained by a split pin....apparently! Hope that helps.

Brilliant idea!.............However I live at "The end of the World" (literally) Tasmania! Shipping would be astronomical, be cheaper to hire a 20 ton dozer and sell the winch for scrap!

The "bolt"? on the right side looks easy enough to remanufacture by the photo of the one for sale in Scotland, it's the thumb tab that concerns me as it locks/unlocks the winch drum and getting that part wrong could literally kill me if it let go under a few ton cable tension due to me getting it's design wrong.

Had a look and it's still for sale, has the "bits" I need. Be wishful thinking to find a "parts" Monkey Winch where the seller would be happy to sell the parts I need, save allot of grief.

Hi, Really appreciate the offer don't make a special trip for my sake. If you could get some measurements and what lives off the end of the thumb tab would be great, thank you.

Perhaps a "lead" for a current member...in the UK?

That is what I am hoping to do! Pretty hard getting someone to fabricate the part when I have not the slightest idea what these parts look like. The "thumb tab" has some form of engagement pawl on it, shape, length, angle of the thumb pawl? On the opposite side of that same assembly resides some form of bolt that slides into two steel ring supports with an apparent taper at the end? Is it a bolt, a spring loaded assembly, again without knowing what these parts look like, I doubt an engineering shop would be able to fabricate correctly. So, my hope is a member has one of these and can let me know what these bits look like.

I like this old winch and would like to get it working again, beggar for punishment?

Apparently US$1770.00 .........not including shipping. I think they have something wrong as the Monkey winch may be heavy but I think 80kg would pull it up! They literally sent an updated e-mail when I questioned "what" they were offering to sell at a weight of 500kg and again asked "do you/will you sell spare parts"? The answer literally "No, we will not"...end of message, polite buggers they are not! So forget the land of "Ohh the elephants"!

Thanks, however I have searched every available "source" including that Manufacturer in India. I actually sent him an e-mail asking if he sold individual repair parts! The response I got was a quote for a complete winch with a shipping weight of 500kg! So, another dead end. Appreciate the advice, thank you for trying.

Thank you! However I live in Tasmania...Australia so purchasing a "complete" Monkey Winch would be cost prohibitive on shipping to this Country. Just hoping to find a thumb lock tab and the insert that fits on the opposite side. Open to suggestions as despite these being made here in Australia, most have been scrapped as "they are hard work" and an air conditioned excavator is so much easier. Thanks for the contact.

Hi Treewolf, My apologies but as these "beasties" are hard to find I am hitting dead ends in trying to complete an otherwise perfect Monkey Winch. It's missing the "thumb lock" at the spring return and whatever bolt/shaft? That lives and engages the round ratcheting assembly on the opposite side. Do you know of anyone that may wish to sell these parts or where I may get them as I know Trewhella has gone belly up in the UK. Thanks in advance. Brian