heggen

Does anyone know who does tig welding commercially on model engines? I need to repair crash damage of a ripped out aft section of the exhaust port on my ST 2500.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Goog Luck

The zinc in the die casting makes it hard to repair one. The zinc is added to the aluminum to make metal flow well to all the corners of the mold.

ArcticCatRider

My Feedback: (6)

Yup. They call it "white cast"

It's history.

Lnewqban

On top of those arguments, the heat will deform machined parts.

The oil absorbed by the micro pores of the aluminum will contaminate the welding, if the whole body is not degreased thoroughly.

Could JBweld solve the situation?

controlliner

Agreed, I've done it on a Fox .36 Sport to plug the holes where the exhaust rotor went. It worked well but it bubbled and boiled out lots of oil and crap. It is doable but you have to do some finish sanding to make it look pretty.

w8ye

My Feedback: (16)

Maybe the so-called aluminum solder route should be explored?

Motorboy

See this article how to repair the casted crankcase

aerofly0610

http://www.alumiweld.com/ will that work?

frequent flyer

My Feedback: (6)

I fixed a broken motor mount that was broke off completly from a 61fsr and its had about 80 flights since and still going strong. I used this stuff /www.aluminumrepair.com/video_new.asp watch the video. I ran my piece and the crankcase through the diswasher a couple of time to degrease it the best I could before mending it with the hts2000. Good luck!

aerofly0610

I checked out the vid... looks just like alumiweld with a different name

Iflyglow

My Feedback: (79)

I have seen Tig Welded model engine cases. It all depends on the skills of the welder. How do you think they weld up old Magnesium VW cases. You have to be a very good welder and know what you are doing or you will have a very big sparkler with the old VW's.[X(]

TFF

I have played with it on some carb necks and it is not easy but can work, but you have to some how machine the glob you put on. Carb necks are easy with a Dremel but hard shapes you would need a machine shop. Unless you have the stuff and want to see if you can do it, it would be cheaper buying another. A machine shop would probably want $50-100 an hour.

jeffie8696

I am dying to try it. Wish Icould get some locally.

dennis

My Feedback: (90)

I had a tartan twin welded by a friend who worket for At&T. These guys were able to weld on a PC board. It is correct that the part must be boiled clean and usually a commercial solvent especially made for the task is best. The welder has to be good, The part of the crankcase that i had welded was no more then .062 thick so a hack would have burned through in short order. I still have the engine and it ran fine until I retired the model.
Dennis

carrellh

Alumiweld is sometimes available at Harbor Freight, if they are in your area. If you search for it on Google there are multiple mail order dealers.

jeffie8696

Imailed the company for more info. Maybe Ican get into the fixing model airplane engine business.
Not like I dont do it already.
I have taken literally hundreds of engines from swap meets, ebay and yard sales , fixed them up tested and sold them.

PatrickCurry

My Feedback: (20)

Yeah man, give Alumiweld a shot.... cheap to get started: