Capstan winch experts needed.

Just fitted a capstan winch to my series 3, 1974, with a later 5mb diesel. It's a MAP, pre-fairely winch with an old style type UJ.

Does anyone know if the drive shafts were different lengths for different engines? Mine is too long! The winch is fitted correctly, followed the instructions! Even disengaged it touches the drive dog.

It looks fairly easy to shorten, but does anyone know what length it should be?

Is this the version you have if so the attached pdf's may be of help had to make my drive dog end of shaft.


View attachment Drive shaft.pdf

View attachment Control lever.pdf

View attachment Linkage measurements.pdf

There is an article in this months LRO about a guy/expert who collects and repairs capstans - think there might be some contact info in the article, cant remember now

here u go

When I had a capstan on mine...it was the later fairy...but you could alter the length of the drive shaft as it was on a key way locked with an allen type grub screw...I wonder if yours is the same.

Nick.

Thanks for the replies!


Blackburn, it's a earlier type driveshaft, but that may be able to adapt the measurements.

Joe, thanks for that, I will contact him.

Nick, mine sounds the same as yours. I can adjust it a certain amount but will need to cut it.

I'm hoping to get the dimensions then shorten it. Be good to know the standard size, rather than trying to work it out and getting it wrong.

What is thw manufactureres intended use for these capstan winches? Is it to pull the landy out of trouble or is it to use the landy as a platform to pull something else? If the latter, what weight can it pull without ripping the front end off?

Just had a look at my old instructions...Fairy quote 1400kg single line pull and can be doubled with a snatch block.

Intended use...what ever you want it to be...I bought mine mainly for self recovery...but also pulled a few trees down with it ect.

They will run 24 hrs a day not like some electrical types.

Nick.

Thanks for the info Nick - the winch seems a pretty useful accessory to have.

Two tips....
ALWAYS wear thick gloves when using the capstan.
Make sure you have a suitable rope.

Not a bad bit of kit,but bloody dangerous if you don't follow all the safety advice,LR used to do a booklet about them.

A genuine Fairey Capstan Winch for Land Rover Series II/IIa/III bought in late-1970s but never fitted and never used, just sold on eBay for £936! Wow!!