filling gouged aluminum

[Guest]

I am getting my engine ready for paint. I have some gouges in my generator cover. I would prefer to fill them rather than sand them out. I was thinking JB Weld, but thought I would see if anyone here has a better idea.

[old_skool]

As long as your painting them, might work, not sure how well it will hold onto smaller gouges like that, On my new to my wife bike, it had JBweld on the engine case (aluminum) and it chipped off fairly easy.

[GateKeeper]

Those seem to be very small gouges, it would not take much to sand/dremel them out, and leave yourself a nice smooth surface for painting.

I think the JB Weld would work, question is how long will it stay in place

.

[nastyjones]

make sure the surface is super clean & JB weld will do the job. It needs a clean surface to bond to.

[nvr2old]

It'll take darn near the same amount of time and effort to prep and then sand the JB weld after it's applied then to just sand the imperfections smooth. Those aren't bad at all. A flat file and then some 80 grit should take em right out. Finish sand it with some 180, 400, and then paint. If you're going to shine it up, then continue with 600, 1,000, 1,500 and then polish.

[mighty13d]

Sand them some to rough it up, then wipe with alcohol and make sure it is clean and jb weld/epoxy them. Those are deep enough that you will notice it if you sand them out. No use thinning out all of the surrounding alum. To each his own though.

[bwringer]

Probably be easier to replace it.

Stator covers in better shape than that are cheap and easy to find.

[snyderman]

Thanks for all the replies. I may do both. I think it might be better to fill the ones near the emblem; sanding might show more there, I could probably get away with sanding the others though...

[DannyMotor]

I have this stuff called alumilux or alumiweld. Just heat with a torch and braize it in the pits. Then you can sand/buff and polish it up. I used it on a couple cracks in my stator cover with great results.

[snyderman]

Thanks DannyMotor,
I got some of that at the Minnesota State Fair a few years back. I never tried it. I think I'll dig it out and give it a try.