JB weld - stable in gas?

[pano]

I would like an epoxy fix because it is easy but I think a mechanical fix is the way to go. I would hate to have the epoxy decide to take a day off when I am 300 miles from home.

I called Mikuni today and was told people use epoxy with mixed results and there are services that will machine a billet post and fasten it with a threaded stud.

Mikuni offered to exchange the ones I have for a brand new set at cost. I may just do that.

[80GS750]

that sounds like the best bet to me! at cost! always a winner.

[FL_gs450L]

I did not use JB Weld, I used Quicksteel (similar product) to replace the stripped out drain plugs on my carbs. Made a thin line, fed it through the hole, and smushed it down on inside and out. It's been in full contact with gas for over a year now and not so much as a seep. Quicksteel states on the package that it is designed to be used to repair gas tanks, so if JB states the same thing, I would trust it. If it doesn't, look into Quicksteel as an alternative. I bought it at Autozone for a few bucks.

[Marine36]

Used JB Quick to repair broken housing on carburator on 1939 Allis Chalmers B. It held for the 5 or so years I had it after that.

[jadesystem]

This JB Weld is the finest miracle adhesive known to man. I've repaired
frames with it, and yes, repaired the fuel petcock on my FJ1100. It
holds well as long as it is cured for 24-hours. It is an incredible
cold-weld adhesive that is very cheap and available anywhere for
$5.00 !! It is impervious to most oils and gas, based on my own
experience. It will not stick to poly materials such as teflon or
plastic seat pans.

I love this product with all my heart and soul, as I can't get enough
of it. I would eat it if I could !! We can be proud this is an American-
made product made in the great state of Texas.

Thank God this was not made in China.

[tkent02]

It
holds well as long as it is cured for 24-hours.

I think curing completely is the secret to having it work permanently in gasoline.

[tfb]

OK, that's inspired me: let's start a fresh thread, 'Chemicals and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance', where we all get to tell about our favourite chemicals for fixing our GS Suzukis...

[willie]

Has anyone ever filled the pits on a caliper piston with JB Weld? Curious, since the one I currently have apart has a handful of them. Rick

I used JB Weld to fill in the pits on the caliper of my GT750 about 8 yrs ago. Still holding fine and not leaking a drop. I had my doubts before using it so I soaked a wad of hardened JB in a glass jar of brake fluid for a week first. The brake fluid didn't seem to faze it in the slightest. I also figured it was cheaper than buying a replacement caliper. Brakes still work great and don't leak a drop. Just my experience.
Willie in TN

[tkent02]

I used JB Weld to fill in the pits on the caliper of my GT750 about 8 yrs ago. Still holding fine and not leaking a drop. I had my doubts before using it so I soaked a wad of hardened JB in a glass jar of brake fluid for a week first. The brake fluid didn't seem to faze it in the slightest. I also figured it was cheaper than buying a replacement caliper. Brakes still work great and don't leak a drop. Just my experience.
Willie in TN

I like JB but that scares me, if a tiny flake of it gets loose inside the brake system it could block the return port in the master cylinder, if that happens the brakes will stay on and not release when you let go of the lever, it can even lock up without touching the brake lever at all as any fluid expansion from heat will cause the brakes to come on, making more heat and more expansion until it locks up.

[jpaul]

All epoxies are impervious to gasoline. JB Weld, and Quicksteel are both epoxies. The biggest cause of failure in using any adhesive is poor surface preparation. The second biggest cause is probably poor joint design. The broken post is an example of a butt joint, which is the worst case scenario in an adhesive joint. There's just too small of a surface area to bond to hold up to the forces acting on it. Drilling out the center and fitting some type of dowel pin is one option (the small nail mentioned above). Putting some material over the outside of the post to overlap the broken area would be another. Aluminum foil would probably work well, but I would be concerned that the household grades may be too thin, unless you used several layers with some epoxy in between each layer. If you could find some that was equal in thickness to 3-4 layers of the regular stuff, I would expect it to work well. For surface prep on aluminum is especially critical. Water has a way of adsorbing to the surface of aluminum and weakening the bond. Prepare the surface immediately before applying the epoxy, don't let the parts sit around. The last step of prep should be to rinse the surface with acetone to pull water away from the surface.