Hello all, I normally just read the forum rather than posting but I'm always impressed with the depth and variety of the knowledge on this forum so I'm hoping you can help solve my problem. I've got a Tecumseh single cylinder 13.5hp vertical shaft engine on a piece of equipment and the intake manifold has developed a hairline crack. As the equipment vibrates a lot I am concerned this will open up and fail if not repaired. The manifold is discontinued so replacement is not an option.
I think the manifold is cast aluminium although I am not certain. It's definitely cast of some description. I have access to mig and arc welders but I don't know that either of these will do well on the cast material, especially if it is aluminium.
Additionally due to the location of the crack I don't know that drilling the ends to stop it spreading will help since it appears (at least on one end) to run right to the edge of the casting.
My only idea was to smear some JB weld over it but I am not sure if the JB weld would hold it together sufficiently to stop the crack spreading.
So does anyone have any ideas how to make sure this doesn't get worse or ideally repair it completely?
I think the manifold is cast aluminium although I am not certain. It's definitely cast of some description. I have access to mig and arc welders but I don't know that either of these will do well on the cast material, especially if it is aluminium.
Additionally due to the location of the crack I don't know that drilling the ends to stop it spreading will help since it appears (at least on one end) to run right to the edge of the casting.
My only idea was to smear some JB weld over it but I am not sure if the JB weld would hold it together sufficiently to stop the crack spreading.
So does anyone have any ideas how to make sure this doesn't get worse or ideally repair it completely?