Sump hairline cracks

[kquacker]

I found this on stripping my 14 to repair a gear issue. It's only on the inside of the sump and looks like it's possibly from over tightening the plug underneath.The advice from a buddy who's a welder is to use an epoxy to strengthen it rather than attempting to weld it. He sorted a sump on my ZRX12 some years ago so knows what he's talking about. Anyone come across anything like this before? Or use an epoxy to repair parts like this?

[Kiwifruit]

Probably not over tightening, most likely been hit on something. KiwiCol ripped a big hole in his after hitting a pothole.

[KiwiCol]

Yes I did!  Hundreds of K's from home too, but that's a story for another time. 

Are you sure it's cracked?  I have a lot of aluminium castings at work & many of them have lines just like your one.  They're not cracked, even though they really look like they are. 

If it is cracked, at least it's back into the sump.  A damn good clean & epoxy would work if you're worried about it else get a 2nd hand sump from a breaker?  Seth has a couple of 14's, he can't be needing both sumps . . .

[KiwiCol]

Actually, I've got a spare sump in the garage, I'll go see if it looks like yours.

[KiwiCol]

Yep, mine is almost the same, in the same place & it's not a leaker.

[VladTepes]

Actually, I've got a spare sump in the garage, I'll go see if it looks like yours.

When I screwed up my sump I wish I'd had a spare - managed to find one eventually and get back on the road - but haven''t been able to find a spare since.

[KiwiCol]

Why didn't you keep the old one & fix it?

[T 24]

If you use epoxy, make sure you have heat-resistant quality of epoxy. Some epoxys start to melt at 60°c.

[froudy]

I think to be honest they are casting marks rather than cracks. If you look at your rear sprocket carrier you'll find the same type of markings and are nothing to worry about.

[steve porter]

I think to be honest they are casting marks rather than cracks. If you look at your rear sprocket carrier you'll find the same type of markings and are nothing to worry about.

Agree, and think the oil just highlights them

[grog]

Agree. Quite a few car rocker covers, timing covers etc have same/similar. I wouldnt be concerned.

[T 24]

Make a simple test: wipe it clean, then heat it with a gas burner, if it starts to boil up, it's a crack, if not, it's a casting mark.

[grog]

T24, you amaze me with your genius. 

[Del]

my spare one is the same there casting marks

[Notty]

Best not to look I reckon !!