Date:         Thu, 3 Feb 2011 12:46:49 EST
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: Bad plastic(s)...and how to fix them..  (cracked screw
              bosses, etc)
Comments: To: dhanson928@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 2/3/11 12:23:32 PM Eastern Standard Time,
dhanson928@GMAIL.COM writes:


>
>   You *can* fix the plastic parts with epoxy.  It takes some skills that
> must be learned and it takes good epoxy with some varied additives.  As
> everyone said in the other posts, you are probably better off just finding
> replacement parts..It is a bit tedious to do a functional repair, but I
> sometimes do it anyhow.
> I have no luck with cheap 5-minute epoxys that are found in chain
> stores...Worthless stuff, IMHO.
>
>

i have had good luck repairing cracked screw bosses in speedo clusters with
JB weld.   thats stuff is amazing.      virtually EVERY instrument cluster
out there in vanagons now has cracked screw bosses where the speedo and tach
screw into the plastic cluster housing..  (show me one that doesnt, Ha!  i
dare you!!)     i usually just smear the screws with candlewax and then
apply the JB weld around them..  the wax ensures that you can back the screws
out once the stuff sets up.  sometimes i make a "mold" with electrical tape to
hold the JB weld in if there are big chunks missing.   the stuff is very
strong and holds up well.

i have also used JB weld to repair screw bosses in map pockets, in the same
fashion, with positive results.