How to repair a 6" long gash in the Poly tub

[superherojohn]

Ok so the MAX II rebuild is way over budget but moving along nicely otherwise. I pulled all six wheels and dropped them off at a local tire place to have my 6 new dirt devil II installed.
I had always known there was a slice thought the tub on the passengers side (center, right inside the wheel, on the flat bottom) and with all of the wheels removed I think that this is the time to fix it. So what is the best method? I have read the hot iron method and I have my doubts... why should these two sides WANT to melt together? I am temped to goo on some water proof caulk and put an aluminum sheet patch spanning the gash and screw the crap out of it on both sides! My issue with though fastners is that the center cog is right above this area and I don't want anything to stick though the tub into the chains.
What do you think?

JOHN

[ygmir]

HI John,
I've had good luck welding my Hustler tub.....it's quite strong, I think stronger than "goo" and easier than an aluminum plate........it's pretty easy.
I don't know the plastic used in your rig, but, it should be weldable..........you can weld from both sides, and, even "fish plate it, if you want.......just like steel fab.

good luck
Henry

[racerone3]

poly is pretty easy to plastic weld. use a soldering iron that you dan't care about. a radio shack cheapy works well. you just use the tip of the hot iron to melt the edge of the patch into the original body, or if it's just a crack you can melt one side to the other.either way, move the iron back and forth in a stitching motion untill the entire patch or crack is sealed up. practice a little on a scrap if you have any. there aren't too many adhesives, or silicones that will stick to poly so welding is really your best option

[brushcutter]

I had a few small holes in my Hustler tub that I used a Matco mini gas soldering torch to weld up.You can refill them with butane lighter refill cans.How cool is that! I had to trim some of the plastic off the edge of the tub to get my angle band installed,so I used that for "rods".To fill,I held them slightly above the work area and heated all to sticking point.Then I used the narrow flat tip and repeatedly pushed it into the crack or hole until it was filled and then smoothed all over Repeated on reverse side and done.Rather than just trying to melt two edges together,if you can get a piece of your tub to use as a melt-on patch I think you will have a stronger repair.
Good luck.

[ygmir]

I posted some how to stuff in the gallery.
also, if your tub is HDPE, most 5 gallon buckets are made from it, along with drinking water bottles......it'll say on the bottom if it's HDPE. most food grade containers and barrels, to.

good luck

[alaskacody]

Here is what i did on my argo i put an exteranel temp gage in my argo and i ran the wire to the back of the argo and to get the senser out side the argo i had to drill a hole about 7/16 and i could not figure out how to plug the hole up untill a buddy of mine said he had a hole in one of his plastic gas cans he said it was about the size of a half inch bolt and he said he patched it with some shoe goo so i got some and put it in the hole and some over the sencer to make it stick a little better it dried hard like the body of the argo and looks good and seems to work OK it pluged the hole and looks good to just my pennys werth skip

[brushcutter]

OOOOHHHH YEAH!
You are right Skip,I had not thought of shoe goo.Man that stuff is awsome!I had a hole in a pair of chest waders that I patched with that stuff and it was still there 9years later when I had to discard them due to dry rot.The hole NEVER had to be fooled with again in all that time.I would think that if you cleaned the surfaces really good and lightly sanded it then you would have a repair that would last for some time and it stays elastic too.I wonder how it would work for plugging holes in tires,or if applied to the bead and allowed to set up would it cure the age old bead pop problem?One thing about it,if it would work to plug holes then the only time you would need to unseat a bead would be when you wore out the tires and had to replace them.I think the tire guy would HATE you by the time he got those broke down !!!!!! LOL If I had an old tire and rim I would I would try it just to see.What do you think? Gregg

[REB181]

I posted pic's of a tear repair on my hustler it's about 6-8 inches long (L) shaped if you go to my gallery they are in the Repairing a tear folder

http://www.6x6world.com/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/525

[BRIAN E. SEAS]

Poly Welding

HOW YA DOING! I JUST HAD TO THROW IN MY 2CENTS HARBOR FREIGHT HAS A VERY INEXPENSIVE HOT AIR PLASTIC WELDER . IF YOU CAN GAS OR TIG WELD YOU CAN DO THIS! I'VE USED PLASTIC BARRELS AND CUT STRIPS WITH A HOT KNIFE AND USED THEM AS WELD RODS. OR YOU CAN BUY ACTUAL POLY RODS ,ITS ACTUALLY FUN! JUST MAKE SURE THE AREA IS OIL FREE! HAVE AT IT 1

[duckhunt81]

welding

are you guys saying you can use old 5 gallon pasltic buckets as welding rods? I have a Poly body hustler and I don't want to hack it up to get "rods".

[micmac]

are you guys saying you can use old 5 gallon pasltic buckets as welding rods? I have a Poly body hustler and I don't want to hack it up to get "rods".

Yes,

The color just wont match. Someone on here recommended clear coffee can lids but I haven't used them

[superherojohn]

I think the best answer is just try it

I was very surprised how easy this was. Granted I used poly from the top tub.
I think if you take a soldering iron and weld up some of the minor scratches your tub has you will get a feel for what you can get away with.
My past issues with plastic is that it is smokey and sticks to everything. It was too damn cold out to do this in the driveway and I was surprised that it didn't make much smoke at all. (the smoke detector in the garage didn't go off) As for what plastics you can use, always try a little in a spot that you can't see in case you screw up.

[ygmir]

Yes,

The color just wont match. Someone on here recommended clear coffee can lids but I haven't used them

that may have been me about the coffee can lids.
a professional told me, that, semi transparent hdpe is the only one with no colorant.....and, colorant is what "can" make it hard to weld......I had fine luck using a plastic, blue I think, bucket.
He said fine, if it worked. He just said the clear is the easiest to stick and mix in....