Boat lift hard to lower

[GRA]

I've got a smaller shoremaster boat lift that I'm having a problem getting adjusted so the brake is not so tight when you crank it down. I've had the winch apart and the clutch or brake disc looks ok. If I put a big screwdriver in the cogs, loosen the big wheel, tighten the center bolt, it still seems to tighten up. In the center of the big wheel theres a bolt, a bushing about an inch long and a coil spring.  The coil spring has probably gotten bigger in diameter as it goes over the bushing. Should this spring be on the outside of the steel bushing?

[leech~~]

13 hours ago, GRA said:

I've got a smaller shoremaster boat lift that I'm having a problem getting adjusted so the brake is not so tight when you crank it down. I've had the winch apart and the clutch or brake disc looks ok. If I put a big screwdriver in the cogs, loosen the big wheel, tighten the center bolt, it still seems to tighten up. In the center of the big wheel theres a bolt, a bushing about an inch long and a coil spring.  The coil spring has probably gotten bigger in diameter as it goes over the bushing. Should this spring be on the outside of the steel bushing?

I wouldn't screw with the brake to much unless you want your boat to drop like a rock into the water. Been there done that on my old shoremaster.