Common ABS cracks and what to watch for.

[LarryW]

The picture pretty much says it all. Use good quality chains. Don't climb logs.

If you look carefully you will see chain damage from it breaking and wrapping around the sprocket bulging the body until it cracks. In between he axle holes you see cracks on the side of the body from slamming down on logs mainly. I used a soldering iron(poor mans plastic welder) to melt a grove in the cracks which I hope helps bond the crack together. Then I am putting aceton on cracks hoping to chemically bond the cracks. Then I am going to ABS goop it with the ABS/acetone mixture.

I am actually going to put something in the lower chain rails to protect further chain damage. I have some plastic strips I think I can just lay in there to protect it. I dont see a need to attach it to anything. Put the strips in before the axles and should stay put.
The log damage is something you should watch. My other bodies arent cracked there but do bulge from being slammed on logs. I am going to try building a HydoMike Skid Plate that I hope will fix that issue. Thanks Hydromike!

[jeffery9076]

I use MEK i cut up pieces about a inch or smaller and put in a canning quart jar about half way full. Fill with mek about a half inch or more above abs pieces. Close jar and shake away from face with safety glasses on. You should see a little color transfer from pieces used (MEK is clear). Put in cooler area out of the sun. wait a few hours then stir. can repeat if you like wait 24 hours and is ready usually to use. MY suggestion is use MEK can purchase at lowes and while there get blue painters tape the abs mixture does not stick to it and get some door shims they make great aplicators and are very cheap. I put the tape on the other side of a opening and put the mixture on a clean area use the MEK you can put a rag soaked in it on the area for a while not to long smear the mixture on at a desired thickness smoothing out the big bumps if any wait usully 24 HOURS pull of tape and do other side while pliable. For bigger holes it will take longer to setup for sanding if desired and takes 2 weeks to fully cure. I sand with a 36 grit flapper disc on a grinder if i have to remove alot quickly.

[Groundhog]

Outstanding description on how to patch ABS. The procedure you describe makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[racerone3]

Larry, my Wild wolf had the common chain damage under the right center axle. after i fixed the crack with ABS goop, I cut a piece of 1/8 black poly to fit in the chain trough on each side of the machine. i put them in before i installed the frame, but found after the fact that i can slide them out under the front of the frame and flex the poly enough to pull them all the way out of the machine for cleaning. knock on wood, i haven't broken any chains, but i think they will go a long way toward protecting the body if i do have a failure. mine aren't attached to anything and in a year of riding only have minimal scuffs from rubbing the chains/sprockets.

I also need to do a Hydromike style skid plate... spent a good bit of the day today repairing cracks in the lower tub from my fathers post porkslap carnage