<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Hitch pin trouble</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<STYLE type=text/css>BLOCKQUOTE {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
DL {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
UL {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
OL {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
LI {
PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
</STYLE>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3059" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>West System epoxy can be mixed with a number of their
fillers to achieve any consistency you may desire (in this case I'd recommend
their # 404 High-Density filler). So sag is not an issue. What can be an issue
is adhesion to the substrate. With the two-step bonding method you first apply
unthickened epoxy to the substrate surface to wet the substrate out - much
easier to rub/brush/drip in a thin material than a paste to make intimate
contact with the substrate. Then you mush in the thick stuff. Epoxy in an
application like this relies on a mechanical bond, so the more you can work the
epoxy into the substrate the better. In fact, if possible, it is recommended
that one sand unthickened epoxy into a metal bonding surface for maximum
adhesion - you can't do that with paste.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I'm not saying a paste won't work, simply that the
two-step will give an extra measure of adhesion. If epoxy ever fails, it is when
it breaks off from the substrate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>><FONT face=Arial color=#000000>West System Two-Step bonding
method.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV>I would be inclined to use Marine-Tex epoxy putty.</DIV>
<DIV>Being a paste, it won't sag. Great stuff.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR>Jon
Page</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>