Overtightened the chain on my trail rig and cracked the housing 20 miles from camp
Went out near Grand Rapids, MN over the weekend and figured I'd snug up the drive chain before the ride because it felt a little loose. Grabbed the ratchet and gave it way too many cranks, heard a pop, and saw a hairline crack in the case right where the adjuster bolt sits. We were 20 miles from the trailer with no cell service, so we limped it back at like 5 mph and the whole chain kept skipping every few bumps. Now it's sitting in my garage and I'm staring at a $180 part plus a week of waiting on shipping. Has anyone here ever tried just JB Welding a cracked chain case or is that a total waste of time?
That hairline crack is right where the adjuster bolt puts all the stress, so JB Weld alone won't hold up once that chain starts pulling on it again. It might get you through a slow ride but the case will flex and the crack will just spread.