Cracked MFI bodies, Fixable? Need help

[Chuck Moreland]

Magnesium MFI throttle bodies. Some PO overtorqued them and a few of the mounting holes show cracks.

These pics are all of the same mounting hole and it is the worst of the bunch. It isn't completely broken off, but it's getting close.

How can this be repaired?

[Chuck Moreland]

Okay, here they are:

[Shuie]

If you are not real careful separating the stacks and the throttle bodies that will happen. I did it to the plastic RS stacks I had . I dont know what kind of tool you need to do it, but Magnesium can be welded.

[Chuck Moreland]

Thanks Sherman. These tabs are on the base (head mount) not the stack side.

I did find the attached which has some info on joining Mag, including welding.
http://www.magnesium-elektron.com/data/downloads/DS250JO0.PDF

However, I don't have the means to weld Mag and it might cost more than the TBs are worth to get it done.

I know this is a pretty common problem, maybe there is a pretty common solution?

[smdubovsky]

Any AC TIG (GTAW) that can do aluminum can do magnesium. Those look like it would be relatively simple to fix "well enough" to keep them from falling apart. FWIW, Ive never tried magnesium (but am getting fair at aluminum). I suspect the safest would be to purge a small fishtank w/ argon. Though, the cracks are small enough that a big gas lens might be all that is required.

SMD

[wevoid]

Chuck,

I m pretty sure Jerrry Woods could weld that for you.

Regards

Hayden

[Britain Smith]

Also try Jay's Precision Machine shop in San Jose (408) 603-9945. He welded my Mag 915 case.

-Britain

[jhora]

Hi Chuck,

Had the same problem. I could not find anyone locally that could weld magnesium. Not sure you can as when grinding the crack the magnesium dust would ignite in flashes. So I used good old JB Weld and it is still holding.

John