Rotastay . Seized Drum.

[Digger F]

Am about to drop my main mast to replace rigging and wonder if any forumites have ever managed to separate the drum and foil base, which have decided to become completely stuck together. No good saying try the supplier, I think they went out of business some years ago. Haven't tried heat yet. Also any other drums, or bottom fittings which may replace affected area ? Advice from successfull riggers much appreciated.

 

[bluerm166]

Amongst the Rotostay data I have discovered in order to deal with my FS5 there is this link in which there is reference to a tooled up rigger.May help.http://www.troppo.co.uk/odds/Rotostay%20Drum.pdf

 

[Hadenough]

Am about to drop my main mast to replace rigging and wonder if any forumites have ever managed to separate the drum and foil base, which have decided to become completely stuck together. No good saying try the supplier, I think they went out of business some years ago. Haven't tried heat yet. Also any other drums, or bottom fittings which may replace affected area ? Advice from successfull riggers much appreciated.

I've done it. I took down the whole foil and had to cut the forestay to slide the upper foils off the top. (If you are working on site you may be able to avoid this bit, can't remember offhand). I then used a Dremel to cut a slot in the foil the length of the stub on the drum, about a 100mm from memory. Need to be careful not to cut too deep, the foil section is not very thick. I was then able to ease the foil apart with a broad bladed screwdriver enough to break the seize. I had the foil professionally re-welded by a specialist for about £25 and cleaned up the inside with the Dremel, a file and some abrasive paper, that was I recall the hardest part. Refitted it well greased with waterproof grease and made sure that I lifted the foil on the stub at regular intervals afterwards I also drilled a small hole just above the stub so that I could lubricate the inside now ands again. Don't have the boat now but I know that is is still working 5years later. Good luck.

Edit. Just looked at the PDF above and remembered that I got the welder to weld a section of the shaped collar onto a swage fitting so the rigger could swage it onto a new wire.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Might be left hand thread

I unscrewed my Rotostay and just wanted to add that the version I have is a left hand thread. I think mine is a F 40 / 50

Mine is very similar to this type shown in link

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tonyandgi/Technical/Rotostay.pdf

Just one more point is that the ball bearing in mine is a very odd size and I could not find one off the shelf but you can get new SS balls from bearing suppliers.

Try giving Barry Locke a call, he collects Rotostay spares.
Barry's Reefing and Rigging Services
07970 772686

 

[merlin3688]

Attached fitting instructions for rotostay which I used along with internet research. Luckily the following worked for me although there can be no guarantee

To remove the drum place the foil tightly in the length of the v section jaws of a workmate bench with the drum as close as possible to the edge , put a screwdriver to the right flat on the workbench insert blade through the eye used to connect the tack of the genoa at the base of the foil.

Gently heat the drum with a blow torch then fit the strap wrench and turn clockwise (reverse thread) with alot of pressure the screwdriver should be tight to the surface of the workmate to stop the foil from twisting.

I used a 150 mm strap wrench from B & Q ( £9.99) which had sufficient leverage,
http://www.diy.com/nav/fix/handtool...-Q-150mm-Strap-Wrench-11247648?skuId=11758353

Unscrew the drum and move the foil up a couple of inches to expose fore stay , put a set of molegrips on the flat on the fore stay hold and use open end spanner to release drum from fore stay. Then use a set of bolt croppers to cut through fore stay so that damaged foils can be removed.

 

[Dipper]

I unscrewed my Rotostay and just wanted to add that the version I have is a left hand thread. I think mine is a F 40 / 50

Mine is very similar to this type shown in link

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tonyandgi/Technical/Rotostay.pdf

Just one more point is that the ball bearing in mine is a very odd size and I could not find one off the shelf but you can get new SS balls from bearing suppliers.

Try giving Barry Locke a call, he collects Rotostay spares.
Barry's Reefing and Rigging Services
07970 772686

Mine's also a Rotostay E with a left hand thread. The OP could try tapping the 'tag' at the bottom of the foil with a heavy rubber or wood mallet (I use a lead mallet very gently).

 

[Hadenough]

All depends on how early the Rotastay is. The early ones didn't screw onto the drum. On the old ones there is a D shaped stainless steel stub which is an interference fit into the drum. The aluminium foil slides over this and often gets seized on. If you try to bash it off you will break the interference fit between the stub and the drum. Been there, got the T shirt

 

[Digger F]

I unscrewed my Rotostay and just wanted to add that the version I have is a left hand thread. I think mine is a F 40 / 50

Mine is very similar to this type shown in link

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tonyandgi/Technical/Rotostay.pdf

Just one more point is that the ball bearing in mine is a very odd size and I could not find one off the shelf but you can get new SS balls from bearing suppliers.

Try giving Barry Locke a call, he collects Rotostay spares.
Barry's Reefing and Rigging Services
07970 772686

Many thanks for the above link. Hopefully will be able to sort the thing out as soon as the stick is down . Discovered the "hard way" LH threads !!

 

[Dipper]

Many thanks for the above link. Hopefully will be able to sort the thing out as soon as the stick is down . Discovered the "hard way" LH threads !!

You could try loosening it with the mast up. I find that easier than when the mast is down as the rigging holds it all in place. Just jam the drum and tap the bottom of the foil round. Use Plusgas or similar first.

 

[chewi]

Mine's also a Rotostay E with a left hand thread. The OP could try tapping the 'tag' at the bottom of the foil with a heavy rubber or wood mallet (I use a lead mallet very gently).

I would caution against that, gentle is good, as Dipper advises, but might not be enough to split it while too much beans might break the lug and that would be fatal for it.
That's a close call.

I have fitted a 4" metalwork vice to fence post.
( I can drop the fence post into a workmate and get a machine vice)
Clamp that vice tight around the foil extrusion, close to the bottom, but carefully avoiding the lug.
wrap plenty of turns of line around the drum and restrain that, then unscrew the foil (clockwise!) using the fence post/vice.
If it doesn't split you either snap the line or scratch the foil.
Neither is a serious consequence.

 

[KREW2]

What Rotostay is it.
The rotostay 11 fit is different to the Rotostay E.
I have Rotostay 11, it has no thread, there is a plastic pin under the drum which knocks out, then the drum can be tapped down. This reveals the bottom bearing.
If you do have Rotostay 11 the whole forestay turns when you reef/furl, so while the mast is down I would be a good idea to change the grease in your top bearing.

To sum up, if you have Rotostay 11 DON'T try unscrewing it.

 

[Digger F]

What Rotostay is it.
The rotostay 11 fit is different to the Rotostay E.
I have Rotostay 11, it has no thread, there is a plastic pin under the drum which knocks out, then the drum can be tapped down. This reveals the bottom bearing.
If you do have Rotostay 11 the whole forestay turns when you reef/furl, so while the mast is down I would be a good idea to change the grease in your top bearing.

To sum up, if you have Rotostay 11 DON'T try unscrewing it.

Guess what ! I have a Rottonstay "E" so when the stick is down it WILL be screwed/unscrewed as appropriate. Many thanks for all comments.

 

[RTB]

Hi, I also have a Rotostay (1V model 426) which I have taken off the mast because it has a "bent" foil section. So far I've managed to remove the drum but can't quite get the "foil end connector" off the foil. Is this the same model as yours? I'd like to know how you're getting on and perhaps swap experiences? PM me if you're interested.
Ross