In mast furling on a Benneteau 40 catches as it turns

[jsbartley]

I own a 1996 40 ft Oceanis. I've chronically had problems with opening and closing the mainsail (in mast furling), especially on the initial turns during closing (i.e. not a problem with sail bunching).

I theorize the aluminum tube that the sail rolls up on is bent or twisted - perhaps from years of opening and closing with lots of power (power winch). It jams at the same spot on each turn and I can hear the tube thumping against the inside of the mast each time it catches. I imagine that heavy pressure at the bottom, where outhaul and inhaul force is applied, working against tight fitting sail that catches further up the mast is creating strong twisting pressure on that tube which, over time may have actually twisted the tube itself. Does that make sense to anyone else?

If this is, in fact the problem, I'm thinking this means dropping the mast and replacing that inner tube?

All suggestions are most welcome and appreciated.
Thanks!