Beneteau Oceanis 381 stemhead fitting is bent. Main roller is fine but the cast “rail” that holds the smaller secondary roller on the outboard side is bent. This is the port side roller and I was wondering if anyone has had experience bending this part back to its original location. The roller is still in its spot so the bend is only about 10 degrees but the roller no longer rolls.
Stemhead fitting bent Oceanis 381
- Thread starter Brad Cross
- Start date
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,034
Not being a Beneteau owner or specialist, I need to ask. Is this an image of the stemhead that has the issue?
If so, then the image appears to be a casted metal fitting. If this is correct, then from a metal standpoint a cast fitting often has a brittle nature that will break rather than bend back with any ease. That said heat may be able to soften the metal enough for you to realign the unit. This is not an easy task and would be best accomplished in a metal shop with the item stripped of all attachments.
That said some folk try to bend a problem back to straight in place. This is a relative term. You may be able to bend it back for the roller to work. It may bend then just break off in your hand. It may get straight enough yet be weakened. Then again you may get lucky. The metal is not cast and it bends straight enough and continues to give you years of service. They bend car frames back to straight enough after wrecks.
You roll the dice and takes your chance.
If so, then the image appears to be a casted metal fitting. If this is correct, then from a metal standpoint a cast fitting often has a brittle nature that will break rather than bend back with any ease. That said heat may be able to soften the metal enough for you to realign the unit. This is not an easy task and would be best accomplished in a metal shop with the item stripped of all attachments.
That said some folk try to bend a problem back to straight in place. This is a relative term. You may be able to bend it back for the roller to work. It may bend then just break off in your hand. It may get straight enough yet be weakened. Then again you may get lucky. The metal is not cast and it bends straight enough and continues to give you years of service. They bend car frames back to straight enough after wrecks.
You roll the dice and takes your chance.
It is a casting. Could possibly be recreated in plate stainless too.
