Bush TR82 (etc); cabinet damage repairs.

[brunel]

Just acquired one from boot sale,it has been dropped and the chassis fixing clips have broken away from the cabinet.

The plastic mounts are broken.

Does anyone have a preferred method of repairing this damage?

Regards

brunel

[Darren-UK]

Choices are building up the damaged bits of the cabinet with Milliput, or by the use of Araldite or similar epoxy. The method you choose would hinge very much upon the amount of damage to the plastic areas into which the metal clips bite. On one very bad case I had to repair, I had little choice but to fix the clips permanently in place with copious quantities of Araldite Rapid. All very ugly from the inside but, of course, invisible from the outside.

This problem is common on all this series of radios and is not helped by design; the metal clips biting into the plastic tending to cause weak spots.

If you still have all the broken bits of the chassis mounts (they often end up just rattling around inside the cabinet), it is possible to 'reassemble' them using solvent cement or even by using certain types of paintbrush cleaner as a cement.

[brunel]

Thanks,

The Araldite method sounds the easiest, probably because I have a few tubes in stock.

I also have some Loctite Repair Express, a chemical putty.

It states it is not suitable for oily plastics eg: polyethylene, ptfe etc.

Will try both and post back some results

brunel

[Darren-UK]

Yes, let us know the results. Although it's obvious, perhaps I should have added that it's wise to lay the chassis on its mounts to ensure the fixings are properly aligned just before the repair medium has set solid

[brunel]

I found that the chemical putty was too thick to allow any adjustment.

I finally used some car body filler, Plastic Padding.

It is very runny when first mixed, allowing it to fill between the clip and the remains of the broken plastic, also allowing enough time to set the clip position.

It appears to bond well to the plastic.

[joe]

Although you have done it its worth remembering that the solvent adhesive used for fixing plastic drain pipes will "glue" plastics such as ABS.

I put glue in quotes because it effectively welds the plastic by dissolving it, evaporating, and leaving a solid piece of new plastic.

The best make seems to be Osma. I don't know what TR82s are made of, but if you get another with that problem its worth a try.

Joe

[brunel]

Originally Posted by joe

Although you have done it its worth remembering that the solvent adhesive used for fixing plastic drain pipes will "glue" plastics such as ABS.

I put glue in quotes because it effectively welds the plastic by dissolving it, evaporating, and leaving a solid piece of new plastic.

The best make seems to be Osma. I don't know what TR82s are made of, but if you get another with that problem its worth a try.

Joe

I have repaired a crack in the cabinet by "welding" it, using Hammerite brush cleaner, which I believe is xylene.
Only apply it from the inside of the cabinet of course, as it dissoves the plastic instantly.
If any runs through, wait till it hardens , then polish over the crack using one of the supermarket brands of "cream cleaner".. the stuff with the chalk in.