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Old 11-30-2014, 07:58 PM   #1
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1975 29' Ambassador
Fort Wayne , Indiana
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Cracked End Cap

We are working in a 1977 Airstream. The end cap has a few cracks. We do not want to take it down to replace it.

Can someone tell me of a material that will fix the cracks that can be sanded and painted?


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Old 12-01-2014, 08:28 AM   #2
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1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston , Texas
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It is likely made of ABS. I had some small cracks in mine as well and tried to repair it using the ABS cement you would use in a plumbing project, but it didn't stick so well. I ended up using a conventional epoxy, and so far it is holding. That being said, my cracks were very short, and are immobilized by riveting the end cap in place. You might post a picture of your cracks so we know what you are up against.

good luck!
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Old 12-01-2014, 09:00 AM   #3
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I used my hot glue gun and it worked pretty well on the thin cracks but not on the larger ones.

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Old 12-01-2014, 09:32 AM   #4
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I had cracks in the corner of the overhead cabinet in the rear cap. If you can remove the cabinet and get to the rear of the cap you can fiberglass across the crack and that will hold. I used 2 layers of 4 oz. glass.

The crack was about 3 in. long starting at the corner of the cabinet.
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Old 12-18-2014, 10:06 AM   #5
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1975 25' Tradewind
Navarre , Florida
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I have two cracks in my end cap. The other is a mirror image of this one. Both cracked right where a rivet holds it to the ceiling. I am about to start painting the end cap today. Any suggestion for a particular adhesive? Click image for larger version

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Old 12-18-2014, 11:39 AM   #6
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Richmond , Virginia
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I would suggest drilling a small hole at the end point of the crack to prevent it from going any further. Then, I used a some cement that is supposed to be universal - ABS, CPVC, and PVC. Rub it in to see if it starts to melt the plastic, then you know it will work. I think I had mine off, so I shaved some plastic from a part you couldn't see, made shavings, disolved them, then painted it back on, and then sanded.

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Old 12-18-2014, 01:11 PM   #7
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1981 31' Excella II
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Consider a trim piece that is bow shaped that just covers up that seam. I have the beginning of that sort of crack. The only thing that will stop it from cracking would be to put some fiberglass cloth and resin on it and sand it down flush then paint it. It will keep cracking unless there is something there like fiberglass to reinforce it. The crack started in a rivet hole.

Perry
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Old 01-08-2015, 08:37 AM   #8
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Methylene chloride... I did a thread on repairing my old yellowed fridge that gives info on using it... here is the thread

http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125067
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