Sraightening a bent aluminum part.

[Muzz]

I have had good luck bending it back the same way it got bent.  Hitting it with a mallet and or protecting the piece with a block of wood to save the finish.  No luck with the hydraulic press.  And there are some things that will just not respond to any method and just fail as soon as they are bent.  Locate a replacement first and things seem to work out. Try bending it first and be out of commission when it snaps.  Murphy's Law.  Mike

 :+1
Breva fell over in gravel and badly bent the gear change. In the middle of nowhere it was all or nothing; couldn't change gears either way.  Used a modified method of above and heaved a big sigh of relief when it worked. ;D

Used above system many times since and it has always worked. (subject of course as to what is actually mixed in with the aluminium.)

[jbell]

Well, Big Block, this thread should clear it up for you.   :BEER:

[tris]

Another old timers trick is to rub bar soap on the part before heating.  When the soap turns black the aluminum is the right temperature for working.  Don't do this with a critical part you don't have spares for, it is as likely to break as bend.  

 :+1  What I was going to write

IIRC if it goes yellow its too hot and you should desist from heating it immediately or risk a puddle of shiny metal on the floor  ;-T