JB Weld/Plastic Steel

[htiek126]

I have a Hinomoto tractor with a narrow ring of pitting on a very expensive bearing where it contacts the king pin seal. I would like to repair the pitting, and I am considering using JB Weld or Plastic Steel to fill the pitting, and then machine the bearing back to its original dimension. Does anyone have experience with these products for this sort of application? Which product is better suited for this application?

 

[gmason]

I've used a tube of the jbweld and it is pretty amazing stuff. My application wasn't structural, but more of sealing a pipe joint under minimal pressure, and sealing a small leak in a water tank.
Not as good as a good weld, but a lot faster and simpler. I keep a tube of it around for quick repairs. I've never tried to grind/sand it down.

I'd say try it and see, your not changing the base metal in anyway like a weld would do, do you could always go back and weld it normally if JB doesn't work out.

gary

 

[SimS]

Keith;

I used JB Weld to fill and refinish some pitting on my old Land Rover front steering knuckle sealing surfaces. Worked great and saved me a bundle instead of a rechrome and refinish. Obviously this was a low speed non structural application, your results may vary.

Sim

 

[htiek126]

This is a low speed non-structural application. The only movement between the seal and bearing occurs when you steer the front wheels.

 

[northcreek2624]

Go to your nearest bearing store and purchase a speedy sleeve kit,it is a product that is designed just for your type of problem.......Mike
PS Without a picture it's hard to say for sure if your repair is a normal seal/shaft arrangement that is typically suited to a speedy sleeve,in rereading your post it sounds like it might be more involved.

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Try this site: http://www.epoxy.com.pk/steel.htm
I think it would be better than JB Weld for this application.

 

[RocketJSquirrel]

I have used JB Weld several times over the years. In my estimation it is just glorified bondo. I'm not saying it doesn't work for a lot of things, but it sure is not "steel" or anything close. I think it is good at sealing leaks or cracks or filling gaps in low-stress applications, but I wouldn't bet a nickel on it to replace any metal that has to withstand any serious forces.

 

[northcreek2624]

<font color=red>"I have used JB Weld several times over the years. In my estimation it is just glorified bondo"</font color=red>

Amen! to that, I've even used an industrial form of it, the word weld is misleading and the product is overated to say the least.
Now put it in oil or near heat and it gets worse,great for those Honey-do jobs though........Mike

 

[htiek126]

Do you buy that epoxy locally or from Pakistan?

Has anyone out there used the Devcon products like Plastic Steel? After the mixed bag of responses on the JB Weld, I am more inclined to try it rather than the JB Weld. It costs a lot more, but it was recommended by the guy at the local bearing shop.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Both Devcon & JB Weld are excellent products, for the purpose they were made for. Any EPOXY is made for pretty much a set of parameters, and unless they are met, the epoxy is next to useless.
I use both Devcon and JB Weld, and will say when they are used as intended, both serve their purpose. JB Weld is not Devcon though, it lacks the machinability, and variety of product. I've made a bearing for a tire machine from Devcon Bronz when a replacement wasn't available, and it lasted 10 years till the machine was replaced. Devcon offers far more buildup ability than JB.
I've also seated bearings in cast aluminum mower decks with JB and had no problem with the bearing moving in over 2 years.
Surface prep is critical with any epoxy, as is cure time. Try to cheat on either and you'll wish you hadn't. Many aplications that we soldered or brazed 10 years ago are now done with epoxy. 10 years from now I'll be able to tell you how long epoxy lasts.