Should I Worry or JB Weld it?

S

SNAFU1929

Junior Member
Saw this while lubing and doing an oil change. What are your thoughts?
1929 Model A Tudor
 

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JB Weld but clean thoroughly with solvent before using the epoxy. It looks like it was caused by something being forced through the housing from the inside. Check to see if there is something loose inside that would cause further damage. A bore scope might be good tool to use.
 
nkaminar said:
JB Weld but clean thoroughly with solvent before using the epoxy. It looks like it was caused by something being forced through the housing from the inside. Check to see if there is something loose inside that would cause further damage. A bore scope might be good tool to use.
Click to expand...

Great idea on the bore scope, although the hole might be too small, but I will order one and try it.

I am not sure if it was caused from the inside, the way it is broken, looks like something hit it from the outside. Not sure how to describe it, but it has like an inward cone shape (if that makes any sense).

My dad gave me this car last summer because he didnt want to drive it anymore, I drove it some 150-200 miles last season, but I didnt spend a lot of time crawling under it because he told me he had it lubed before sending it. So not sure if that is recent or old.

Anyway, I will try a borescope anyway, it wont hurt to try to look inside.
 
SANFU, welcome to the Barn.

Do you think that he might have a bolt inside that got caught and went for a ride?

Yes, jb will work, but you need to find out what did it.

I would remove the starter, get a flexible, powerful magnet and go fishing.
 
A conical shape like that is more likely caused by something inside coming out. Whatever it was may be long gone. But it would be best to check. Removing the starter, like Old 31 suggested, is the best place to look inside.
 
Simple explanation - starter bendix bolt.
JB weld will do nothing but hide the hole.
Leave the hole it's a handy spot to shove a screwdriver to hold the engine while you tighten the crank bolt.
 
Just another opinion: Yes, look for what did it on the inside. It does look like it has been there some time. Whatever did it may be long gone...but better safe than sorry.

I think I would probably just clean it up and install an expanding rubber plug or something like that. It doesn't look like it would cause structural problems. Maybe fix or replace the housing next time the engine is out.
 
ModelA29 said:
Simple explanation - starter bendix bolt.
JB weld will do nothing but hide the hole.
Leave the hole it's a handy spot to shove a screwdriver to hold the engine while you tighten the crank bolt.
Click to expand...

First thing I thought of also. Best to pull the starter and fish around.
 
I would clean it thoroughly with acetone and JB weld it you can get a small borescope for less than $20 for an iPhone on ebay that will definitely fit inside there!!!
 
The hole is a perfect place for a crack to begin from. And look what's just above where your hole is- the motor mount. I for one would never feel completely comfortable that the flywheel housing, which bears the weight of the engine, wouldn't let go at some inopportune time it it were my car.
 
Cracks propagate from sharp corners. That is why it is recommended to drill a hole at the end of a crack. Also the reason a glass cutter works.

Might be a good idea to smooth out any sharp corners in the hole before the JB Weld.
 
Just curious if anyone might have considered the stress risers that punched hole can/will create? The Flywheel Housing is subjected to severe duty from being one of the 4 crossmembers for a somewhat weak Frame. Secondly, consider the fore & aft forces that are generated as the vehicle is being driven. It is no wonder why so many Flywheel Housings are cracked.
 
Round the edges of the hole a bit. Cut a circular or square piece of cotton tee shirt material and saturate it with some RTV sealant and after cleaning the area with solvent apply the patch over the hole. Won't be a structural repair but neither will J.B. Weld. Keep an eye on it and drive it.
 
I thought I should update this, since I got busy with other stuff. Yesterday I took the starter out to look inside. I didn't see anything. I used a bore scope and didn't see anything.

I will seal it and move on. I will check it once in a while for cracks.
 
I would remove the starter motor and go fishing with a magnet to remove any leftover pieces. Use the type that is attached to a handle with a flexible cable. You might want to consider drilling out the hole and tapping it for a short machine screw in place of using epoxy.
 
Cast iron can be a PITA to drill or router out with a die grinder and carbide bit. A person can see the ring gear through the hole so using a rat tail file would be harder also. Be very careful using any method to smooth it out since power tools can jam and cause further damage. Cracks can and will propagate from a housing damaged like that. If a person can't file or sand it smooth then removing it would be the best way to repair it by brazing or what have you. Leaving it open won't really hurt any thing inside but you never know what will happen with stuff like this.

I have to agree that a broken starter bendix bolt is the most likely suspect for cause. What's left may be in the bottom of the housing or it could have been removed years ago. There's a lot of water under that bridge. Human nature dictates that folks don't do anything if they don't have to so no telling how long it's been that way.
 
ModelA29 said:
Simple explanation - starter bendix bolt.
JB weld will do nothing but hide the hole.
Leave the hole it's a handy spot to shove a screwdriver to hold the engine while you tighten the crank bolt.
Click to expand...


I think Model A29 is on the right track. The only best way to fix that in my opinion is to change out that flywheel housing. As Brent said that part bears a lot of the stress and weight of the car being driven.

Burtz makes an improved strengthened housing that address this common problem.

Plus, I'm no fan of JB Weld that stuff is garbage in my eyes never works like a proper repair.
 
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