Fiberglass Muffler repair

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I just purchased a 1995 mastercraft 200 vrs and have put 50 hrs on it this summer. I started getting a ferocious leak that I believe I have localized to the starboard exhause silencer. I think I feel a crack on the back side of it and am prepping materials to hopefully fix it. I was wondering if someone knows what kind of epoxy would be best. the West marine around here has the 650 flex stuff rated at 150,000 psi. the jp weld stuff at Academy is 4000. is there are difference? any experience with this problem?

Leak details in case you have another idea for what is going on:

I get a pretty rapid leak from that area when running the boat in the driveway. it fills the bilge up pretty rapidly as well when I put it in the water, but it then stalls out and doesn't seem to leak super fast while out on the water thereafter. I don't see water leaking from the block anywhere, and I recently fixed a stuffing box leak.

thanks

 

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Re: Fiberglass Muffler repair

Follow up:

Found the crack on the muffler/exhaust silencer. It was quite tiny, but seemed to be the culprit. I drilled it out a little to ensure adequate epoxy fill, then I used the west marine 650 epoxy with a single layer of fiberglass cloth to make the repair. I also put a layer of that black plumbing insulation from Lowes under the muffler to reduce further vibration. Ran dry in the driveway and in the lake! Of interest as well, it seemed to have really improved some nagging vibration of the boat that I couldn't resolve with spark plug, spark plug wire, and pcv valve replacement. Hope this info helps someone.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Fiberglass Muffler repair

Howdy,

Welcome aboard!

I am sorry no one answered you on this. I have never tried to use epoxy on a fiberglass muffler but I can't think of a reason you couldn't use any type of epoxy to "fix" one. They don't get all that hot (unless you starve them of water)

You just need to use normal techniques to get the stuff to stick to the fiberglass (scuff it up good!)

Let us know how it works.

And YES, it will help someone in the future! The site has a great search engine!

Cheers,


Rick