Bend back a roll bar?

[that-guy]

Just recently bought a 10 point roll bar kit for my car, EWS .134 wall, and it looks as though they over bent my A pillar bars. I don't have a bender, but can get access to one. Would I be able to bend it back a few degrees to get the angle correct?

 

[txvwnut]

You’d have to just pick a spot to put a new bend in it, once bent they don’t like to be straightened.

 

[BD1]

What's tube OD ? Solid secure vise, cheater pipe to slide over tube, and pull on pipe to desired angle. You maybe able to stand on it too with pipe over tubing.

 

[JMLangford]

Send it back.....If it's incorrectly bent, they should make it right

You ordered it for your specific make & model right?

 

[PugetDude]

You can also change the angle a few degrees by heating the pipe on the side you want to close up. Heat a cherry-red V halfway through the pipe, let it cool to room temperature. It will shrink on the hot side by a couple of degrees as it cools. You can also use a cheater pipe to nudge it a couple of degrees while it's hot, just don't overdo it and deform the pipe. A little goes a long way.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Benders only bend one way, and you wouldn't be able to flip the piece an opposing direction once it's bent. I'd say send it back.

 

[Firstram]

Can you post a few pics?
How much is it over bent?

I have built quite a few cages and tweaking a few bends is just part of the process. We usually use .120 wall 1 3/4 DOM and it's not too hard to move a little, if you have something to wedge against.

 

[kkroger]

You can "Straighten" a little bit, but not much and it is tough to do, have to have a way to hold it, and a way to power it over... I've used a small chain hoist and a piece of tube I can fit the wrong bent tube in... then of course you have to have an anchor depending on where the bend is you can weld one joint and push the other into place with a port-o-power too.

 

[Medwards]

I've used the hitch on my truck to pull a few degrees out of bend. 1 3/4" fits inside the receiver nicely. You'll need a pretty long straight side (lever) to move it even a couple degrees.

 

[PugetDude]

You can "Straighten" a little bit, but not much and it is tough to do, have to have a way to hold it, and a way to power it over... I've used a small chain hoist and a piece of tube I can fit the wrong bent tube in... then of course you have to have an anchor depending on where the bend is you can weld one joint and push the other into place with a port-o-power too.

If you're trying to open up the distance between mounting holes, a notched 4x4 cut 1/2"-3/4" longer than the distance between the tube at the base works well; just anchor one end, drop the 4x4 in and drive it down with a small sledge. It will spread the base apart and allow you to drop the bolts in...

 

[bad_idea]

It's easy to take a little bend out. I fit pipe for a living and over bend pipe occasionally (never said I was good at it). Clamp it close to the bend on one side, slide a slightly larger pipe over other side and tweak it. Use a bouncing action on it. Kind of a reefing. Give it a couple yanks, then check where you are at. It's a pita if you take out too much and have to tweak it back.

 

[shadow images]

Just be careful. Anything other than something that can be done by a little manual manipulation may and probably will be noticed if you are looking to have the cage certified in the end. Do it right, saving a little is not a good idea on something that could save your life. I have seen too many people hurt in accidents on the tracks by not doing it right. jmho

 

[bad_idea]

I agree. I am comfortable pulling a couple degrees back out of a bend. Much more than 5 degrees or so and it will likely put a dent or kink in the pipe.