RotoStay Roller Reefing

tedbarnes

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Joined
5 Jan 2005
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30
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Essex
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I would like to unscrew the foil from the drum on my Rotostay furling gear (about ten years old) to check what is going on under there. However it seems to be seized solid, and my emails to Rotosaty have gone unanswered (mail box jammed with junk, no doubt).

Does anyone know of any tricks to free it, and advise me as to just how much heat can safely be applied?
 
When you say emails to Rotostay, do you mean XW Rigging at Haslar Marina? If so you might do better with a phone call. The owner [manager] there is very helpful but I got the impression they only have one lady to deal with the office work.

By the way, if your Rotostay is like my very early one, the foil does not unscrew from the drum but is a push fit over a d-shaped spigot which is bolted to the drum. I can send you a copy of the instructions but they may be of no help with the modern Rotostay. PM me with your email address if you want them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you say emails to Rotostay, do you mean XM Rigging at Haslar Marina? If so you might do better with a phone call. The owner [manager] there is very helpful but I got the impression they only have one lady to deal with the office work.

[/ QUOTE ] No I used "'info@rotostay.co.uk'.

[ QUOTE ]
By the way, if your Rotostay is like my very early one, the foil does not unscrew from the drum but is a push fit over a d-shaped spigot which is bolted to the drum. I can send you a copy of the instructions but they may be of no help with the modern Rotostay. PM me with your email address if you want them.

[/ QUOTE ] No mine is definitely screwed, with a left hand thread IIRC.
 
I should have said XW Rigging, not XM. It is the same outfit as Rotomarine and the email address you used seems correct for them. The phone number, in case you don't have it, is 02392 583633.
 
As you say, it may have a LEFT HAND thread. My Rotostay E has. Try some WD40 first then unscrew the foil from the drum in a clockwise direction (seen from above). You may need to gently shock it off using a wrench (or similar) and a hammer whilst jamming the drum with a flat metal bar through the slot. It's very difficult if the system has been removed because its not easy to jam the drum whilst you unscrew the foil. Its much easier when it is still on the boat.

Note that on the Rotostay E (possibly on others) the foil has an attached threaded disc at the bottom and this comes off with the foil.
 
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