trailer front winch part . Spring broke ?

[Crazy D]

I don't know how to explain it , but here it goes

I have a 1999 triton trailer for my tr-17 .

The front strap has the winch thing to crank up the boat onto the trailer .

There is a little lever to engage the winch , so it can go forward or reverse .

When you switch that little lever , it also makes a little "u" shaped piece pivot , to lock the sprocket in place when you crank the boat all the way up . (this is the piece i believe that makes the ratcheting noise when cranking )

The little lever is loose now , and i think the there was a little spring in there to hold everything in place , and i think it is gone .

My trailer winch wont stay in a locked position after i am done cranking the boat up on the trailer . Unless i move that little "u" shaped piece by my hand to press up against the sprocket .

I don't feel this is safe , cause if that little piece moves the front strap will back off and the boat will become free

So my question :

Can i buy that little spring from somewhere , without buying the whole winch ?

Thanks . Sorry if that's confusing , i can try to post a pic. .

[CatFan]

You may be able to get the spring from the winch manufacturer, but I'd just replace the winch. They aren't too expensive. It could be that wear caused it to fall out, and the new spring will go too.

[ReelDoc]

If it's a Fulton winch, they make a repair kit for it. I replaced mine last year.

[haveme1]

They can and will get knocked off. Just replace the spring. It hooks in a hole on the "U" shaped gear, goes under the arm, hooking on top in that hole.