[AT] Shifter boot repair

[szabelski at wildblue.net]

Haven’t done the foam under the pan trick, but you have to be careful about which spray foam you use. The high expanding stuff may actually lift the pan higher than you want. I would use the low expanding stuff for what you’re planning on doing. Keep in mind that the foam is somewhat soft and will compress. It will also start to break down over time. It will probably also take several cans of the foam to do the job and you won’t be sure that you built it up enough under the pan sufficiently, except where you drilled the holes. Don’t know if you plan to Swiss cheese the pan in order to get enough foam under the pan.

You’ve probably already had to repair the pantry ceiling, if not you may want to consider removing the whole ceiling (depending on how large the pantry is) and then cut a hole in the sub flooring under the pan. Then you can put in solid wood supports between the pan and the sub floor. This would be a sure fix for properly supporting the pan.

One thing to remember when using any type of sealer is the get the surface clean. I usually rough it up a little and then clean it with something like carb cleaner or alcohol to make sure I’ve removed all grease/oil in order to get a good bond.


----- Original Message -----
From: deanvp at att.net
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Thu, 17 Oct 2019 23:47:52 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: [AT] Shifter boot repair

Flex Seal has been a miracle fixer for me. I’ve used it as a temporary fix on strange things like rain gutters, etc. In a non-antique tractor related fix I used it as a temporary fix for the pan of our Master bedroom shower. After about 25 years apparently the pan flexed enough due to poor support underneath that it cracked. We paid someone to fix it the first time. That lasted about a year and came back in spades again.  As long as the support underneath isn’t right its never going to be permanently fixed and our plan is to remodel the whole Master Bathroom anyway in the next year or so after 28 years so was looking for a band aid until we take on the whole project. Things have to be color coordinated and all the female stuff. Anyway, I roughed up the surface where the crack had developed again and sprayed several heavy coats of the Flex-Seal waiting for each coat to dry properly.  Worked like a champ even when the pan flexes way too much.  I keep anticipating that it is going to fail but it hasn’t yet.   Since we are gone for 5 months a year I’m now thinking of drilling a couple small holes in the pan and filling the underside of the pan with the spray foam to give it more support and then since the Flex Seal has worked so good just seal the holes I drill with it. It should be thoroughly cured by the time we get back. In my experience to date I highly recommend Flex Seal. I don’t know how it would stand up to fuels and lubricants but it has stood up to hot soapy water  and all 250lbs of me trying to make it fail. Ok, I’ll admit I don’t step in the weak areas if I can avoid it.  But… we don’t have water leaking in the kitchen pantry anymore. I’ve also used it on Garden tractor shrouds, etc. Hasn’t failed me yet. I think one of the keys to success is properly roughing up the surface before application. .  A miracle chemical.  Anyone used the foam trick under their shower pan to fill in the support gaps after the shower is installed ?

 

Dean VP

Snohomish, WA 98290

 

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Indiana Robinson
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 1:54 AM
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AT] Shifter boot repair

 

I noticed that the shifter boot on my Allis C was showing some splits around the top and more around the skirt. At some point I'll pick up a new one but wanted to do a temp patch on this one. I have a small can of that "Flex-Seal" stuff on hand even though I don't have a rowboat to glue back together.  :-)  It really is extremely tough stuff.

Anywho, I grabbed it and a 1" foam brush and gave this boot a quick coat and it looks and feels amazing. I will give the top another coat to fill the cracks a bit more but it is sealed well now. It actually looks much better in person than in this picture. The stuff cures very wet and shiny looking and the whitish looking patches in the picture are really just reflections.

I also dabbed a bit on a spot on the tired steering wheel and decided that I will patch the wheel with some JB-Weld then coat it with the Flex Seal. Even though it looks wet and slick it is an excellent grip surface and is recommended for dipping tool handles.

 



 

 

.


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Francis Robinson
aka "farmer"
Central Indiana USA
robinson46176 at gmail.com <mailto:robinson46176 at gmail.com>