Rotostay IV not rotating freely

[Canoestern]

Hi,
I have a Rotostay IV of unknown age on my boat which we bought last year. When rolling up the sail it was always a little difficult to get the first roll or two, but then was fine. Until today. This time it absolutely refused to turn, even when winched, and we had to take the sail down. Having taken the sail off the drum rotated freely. Does anyone have any experience of fixing something similar, and are these furlers repairable? All help will be much appreciated.

 

[europe172]

Hi,
I have a Rotostay IV of unknown age on my boat which we bought last year. When rolling up the sail it was always a little difficult to get the first roll or two, but then was fine. Until today. This time it absolutely refused to turn, even when winched, and we had to take the sail down. Having taken the sail off the drum rotated freely. Does anyone have any experience of fixing something similar, and are these furlers repairable? All help will be much appreciated.

Sounds like the upper swivel is locking up under load

 

[Eeyore]

Had the same thing happen - twice! On both occasions, it was the upper forestay bearing.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Sounds like the upper swivel is locking up under load

Pour a kettle of boiling water into the bearings. No joking!

 

[Refueler]

Depending on furling type - there are various reasons they bind / hard to turn / don't work etc.

Crud in the swivels / bearings

Forestay not tensioned enough - allowing foil to 'bend' when sail is deployed

Forestay strand broken or catching internally

Lower drum catching on chain plates

Considering that drum rotated freely when not loaded - mmmmmmm ..... I would be inclined to try the 'wash out crud' in case it is sticky bearing .. if not - then a look at forestay tension .. unlikely to be broken strand or catching chain plates - because those will be there all time.

I regularly drop my mast for bridges and that means my forestay has to be let free ... lost count of number of times I have had furling refuse to work properly till I go fwd to tension forestay more !!

 

[bluerm166]

When you get too many broken delrin balls in the slider it will lock up .You need about 3 less than the full complement in each 'race'. Replacement balls from simplybearings.co.uk (pack of 50 c.£10) probably 3/16 dia. check against existing.
Don't use any grease but you can lodge temporarily in vaseline which you later wash out.
link here SIMPLY Bearings