Date:         Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:15:12 -0600
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: how to fix cracked intrument cluster housings where
              speedo/tach mount to cluster
Comments: To: JordanVw@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <c24.50e3e3c4.367d4872@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

A good fix it idea here!!  Technically however, the plastic welder is
not an epoxy and this might confuse some of those going shopping for
such items.  The Devcon and Duro (and whom ever else makes the stuff)
Plastic Welder is a Methylmerthacrolate based adhesive and really
stinks when it's curing.  The high grade MM comes from a company
called Plexus up in New England, but the Wal Mart stuff Devcon sells
is more than adequate for a lot of plastic repairs, but not for
polyethylene. Just remember when you do this repair, that you're not
adding any reinforcement tot he repair, just glue.  That makes for a
brittle repair at best, but likely not much of an issue with a dash
fix.   Even taking a pair of scissors and cutting up some fiberglass
cloth or mat into really small lengths and mixing that in with the
Plastic Welder or Epoxy repair will make for a much stronger
repair.  Kevlar and carbon fiber are even better; kevlar adds tensile
strength and the graphite/carbon fiber adds stiffness.  I've had
great luck repairing torn fiberglass bumper bolt sockets with this technique.

that was likely more than you wanted to know about the subject.

DM&FS

At 12:56 PM 12/19/2008, JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:
>nearly all vanagon instument clusters are going to have some of the screw
>bosses cracked where the speedometer or tach screws into the back of the
>instrument cluster housing.  after 15-25 years, its inevitable.
>
>they can be repaired easily with JB weld or plastic weld epoxy.
>
>i remove the speedo or tach,  and remove the screws.
>
>then i coat the screw lightly with grease - not too much.. then wipe the
>excess off.  i also coat the edge/lip of the speedo or tach with grease where
>it
>will come in contact with the plastic welder epoxy or JB weld then wipe the
>excess off.  i
>do this so it wont stick.
>
>then i clean the cracked screw bosses..and use black electrical tape, to
>build a "form" or "mold" to hold the epoxy.
>
>i then mix up the plastic welder epoxy, and spread into damaged areas,
>building it up  where the plastic once was.
>
>then i reinstall the speedo or tach, and lightly run the screws in by finger
>pressure.
>
>once dried, you will be able to remove the screws..
>
>chris
>
>
>
>
>
>**************
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