Are You A Fall Guy? Repair The Damage With An Epoxy Kit

On a recent group dirt-bike outing, one of the riders stalled on a steep hill climb and fell over. She and her bike were all right except for a hole punched in the clutch cover. The temporary fix was right out of Robinson Crusoe: some foam earplugs, a bit of manzanita branch, and duct tape. Amazingly, the quick-and-dirty solution kept enough oil in the engine to get our friend back to the pickup truck, but it did put an end to her day and, quite possibly, might not have worked at all. Such mechanical disablement is not only disappointing but could also put you at risk for heat stress, dehydration, hypothermia…or worse. And so, when you go dirt riding, take along an epoxy patch kit. Easy to pack and use, it may not only save the day, it might even help save your life.

On Planet MacGyver, JB-Weld KwikWeld is as universal as is Kleenex in soap operas. This two-part epoxy has a high viscosity, letting you form specific shapes that’ll stay put while curing. Example: If you crack an engine cover, lay your bike over, clean oil off the affected surfaces with gasoline, carb, brake, or contact cleaner, mix and apply KwikWeld, and wait six minutes for it to set up and be usable. (Full curing happens in four to six hours; the warmer the weather, the less time is required.) JB-Weld KwikWeld withstands temps up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

This epoxy product is designed to work on PVC, ABS, polyethylene, polyurethane, fiberglass, polycarbonate, and more. The maker says it can be used wet or dry, creates a watertight seal, and resists vibration and bending. Thus, its potential usefulness to adventurous riders is profound. So, your ADV windscreen broke in a fall, your enduro bike’s coolant catch tank got punctured, or your classic bike’s fiberglass or plastic fuel tank sprang a leak? Marine Tex Flex Set can help. Just remove the cap, push the plunger to dispense the epoxy and catalyst, mix, and get ’er done.

This may seem strange in a motorcycle gear review, but truckers know a thing or two about keeping their rigs rolling. So here goes: This fuel-tank repair kit by Versachem is said to permanently repair diesel- and gas-tank leaks in less than 20 minutes with no draining or welding required. The kit includes epoxy, fiberglass cloth, sandpaper, and even an applicator brush. The maker suggests using it to fix pinholes, rust-outs, hairline cracks, and holes up to 1/2 inch in diameter, and notes that the materials are resistant to gas, diesel, kerosene, and, presumably, two-stroke premix. Braaap!