Date:         Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:01:24 -0400
Reply-To:     John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Meeks <vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Marine Epoxy Stick saves the day!!
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Hi Folks ~
Here's a handy item to have aboard.  "Marine Epoxy Stick" from bondo.
After work Friday, I was stopped at a light when I noticed steam billowing
out of my side vents and back of the van.  "Oh Crap" thought I. Major
trouble here. When I pulled over and popped the hatch, there was a small
stream of coolant squirting out the expansion tank just below the cap into
hot exhaust parts. Looking through my small box of repair items I found "the
stick", an item that had caught my eye in the  Wal-Fart auto section a few
months before.

After letting the engine cool, I filed off the crud around the hole  and
cleaned out the crack. I cut off about an inch from the stick which is kinda
like a white tootsie roll in consistancy. Kneeded the piece till it was nice
and uniform feeling and jammed the stuff into the crack, spreading it out to
feathered edges into about a 1 by 2 inch oval shape. Just like putty. Let
dry for an hour and it's rocklike.

I've had no leaks while I wait for a replacement tank and I've driven over
many miles of milled pavement which really vibrates everything. This stuff
would work for many of the plastic parts in our systems and I can say it's
worth having along...

Safe Travels,
John Meeks

Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon_Rescue_Squad74.htm

'91 Westy MV
'85 GL  "Byron"
Top o' Northern Michigan
KC8ZFN