Dismantling a Rotostay

[Seal_surfer]

Has any one experience of taking these apart?
I am considering stripping down the Rotostay (model E) roller furling on my 22' Seal. It is about 6 years old and I would like to check the condition of the forestay as a precaution. Obviously I could take it to a rigger, but it is a trifle long to get on the car roof rack!!
The top cast cap piece was easy enough to tap off, but I can't see how to get the drum end to release the turn buckle from the lower forestay connection inside. There is a large "R" clip that is probably relevant, but I am reluctant to use any force till I know more.
Any suggestions much appreciated.

Seal Surfer


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[bigmart]

I once visited the Rotostay factory in Chichester & I must say they were extremely helpful. If my memory serves me correctly you remove the R Clip & you will find a nut under the drum. This nut has a left hand thread. Find a suitable spanner & shock the nut in the anticlockwise direction with a hammer.

The lengths of extrusion are joined with an inner piece of Aluminium which you drift into place carefully so as not to damage the shape with some Loctite adhesive applied. Rotostay supply all the necessary items. If you need to remove any of the joining pieces it is necessary to heat the extrusion to something like 200 deg. C & drift out the joining piece.

Hope that helps.

Martin

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[paulrossall]

If you ring the rotastay factory and explain what you want to do they will fax you an exploded diagram of the rotastay which has dismantlin instructions with it. They are very helpful and I would not use any other furler because you can rely upon their help, in my experience. Do a search on all forums as I think this has been covered before.

 

[snowleopard]

in the dark with my eyes shut!

yes, i had to do it once when the toggle failed in mid atlantic and the jib wouldn't come down.

-remove the allen screw from the top of the drum
-remove the cast aluminium plug (left hand thread)
-with a narrow open-end spanner, loosen the locknut on the upper threaded part of the bottlescrew. you can access it through a slot in the drum once the rope is removed.
-loosen the locknut below the drum on the lower threaded section.
-hold the forestay with grips and unwind the bottlescrew by turning the rope guide arm which is locked to the middle part of the bottlescrew by the R clip.

that gets the forestay loose and removes the drum.

if you want to strip the drum you need to remove the circlip which holds the middle of the bottlescrew into the drum but beware that this releases all the balls from the bearing!!

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