VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

[cmfsac]

There is piece of the aluminum that has been damaged on the leading edge of my ourdrive by the previous owner. An attempt had been made to fill it with an epoxy type filler that has come off today. Is there an epoxy that will hold? Is there an existing thread that covers this topic, seam like this would come up often.

Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,... How 'bout a picture to better explain exactly where the problem is,..??

 

[cmfsac]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

Thanks bond-o, with a username like that it sound like i'm talking to the right person...

The boat has been put away in storage, I will take a picture this Friday and get it posted.

The damage is on the front edge of the lower, right about the level of the bottom of the boat. It is about 3/8" to 1/2" deep and about 1-1/2" in height. I'll get a picture posted soon.

 

[cmfsac]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

I have taken a photo of the damage, hopefully i'm succesful in uploading. I'd like to get thru this season making an epoxy type repair and then remove the outdrive for welding in the fall. Anyone have any recommendations on how to repair with exopy or similar product?

Thanks

 

[Augoose]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

If it were me, I'd pull the drive and take it to an aluminum fabrication shop - they'll have some ideas as to how to patch it and it should be pretty inexpensive. I just had a shop lay a 1 3/4" long bead on a crack in my outdrive for $25. Granted I did all the prep, bringing it down to bare metal and all but you could certainly do that as well.

If I were going to try and do a temp job myself I would try to mold a new edge out of the jb weld epoxy stick- that way you have something like play puddy which will hold a form. Once its hard, sand it down smooth. It comes in a tube- cut off how much you need, nead it together, and form it.

waterweld

 

[cmfsac]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

I agree that welding is the way to go. The boat is new to us and we are excited to use it if we can without causing further damage. I'm a mechanical type and plan to remove the unit myself and maybe even do the welding, I was just hoping to get thru the summer. The temp repair is really to make it look better, it's a little embarasing as is. Have you had success with using JB water weld in the past?

 

[Augoose]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

....I'm a mechanical type and plan to remove the unit myself and maybe even do the welding...... Have you had success with using JB water weld in the past?

Can you TIG weld? Your drive is cast aluminum....

And yes, I've had good success with it. I've JB welded in 4"x4" steel patch panels to repair a cavitation plate before -worked great. The water weld stuff in the tube is easy and you can mold it like putty vs the gel stuff you mix.

 

[cmfsac]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

Ya I can tig pretty well and have access to that equipment. Might just have it someone do it though just to be safe, a new housing is expensive.

Thanks for the JB weld tip.

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

If you weld it make sure it is a marine grade filler you use. I once had a casting that had been welded and in two seasons it had corroded all the weld away despite having painted it, the base metal was still in reasonable condition.

 

[cmfsac]

Re: VP SX-M Repair on leading edge

I wondered about that. I have been searching forums looking for information on how to repair and paint and several peaple mentioned that Volvo uses a silicon alloy. I'll keep that in mind, thanks.