track tear rip / fix

[**sj**]

I've seen many post questions on this....I've had success so I figure Id share ...

this what I've done with success on a bad rip....
first off...let me say the inside of the track is a mat kinda like a window screen ..

get some upholstery thread and a heavy duty needle and thimble(leather type or similar if the track is a dense rubber)

essentially...depending on the severity of the rip.... a minimal tear from a pullout...take the small tears and sew the parts back together...I've even done this and put a stud back into the whole whereas the stud "compresses" the repair..if it is a larger tear...go beyond the pullout area ..sewing it in a starlike pattern...pulling the "quadrants" of the rip together...

small tears, you could go about 1/4" into the "good track" material..the larger the rip and softer the rubber the further into "good track" you should stitch.

repetitive "looping" keeping the stiches a bit apart ...

 

[Grimm]

I'm curious to know, how long would upholstery thread last? It seems like a novel idea though, however if I would attempt this myself, I'd consider sealing the repair with some type of liquid rubber product, and maybe combined with a patch.

How long have you run a track with this type of repair? To me, it doesn't seem like a long term solution.

Do you have any pics?

 

[**sj**]

well you are right...optimal would be a vulcanized rubber patch...repair..I'm not claiming it to be the end all be all...just a cheap alternative...and we all know on some pullouts guys have ran for years and miles with no fix...so this is better for sure...one older machine was done a few years ago and is still rolling strong

 

[Len Todd]

THIS is the only repair that will hold up. I have had it done. It takes about $30-40 for round trip shipping. But if you only have a couple K miles on the track, it may be worth it.