Broken engine fins

[MikesBike]

I have an 80 Special with fins broken on the right side of the engine. It runs fine without them but cosmetically looks bad. I had a friend who is a welder take a look at it, says he can fix it but the engine would have to come apart... She runs too good to take apart ! So, just wondering if a false fin made from something like JB Weld would work? Any other ideas?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Mike,

J-B Weld appears too dark and plastic looking to me! In the auto stores and Walmart, I've seen those tubes/cylinders of repair material, called Magnasteel or some such name. You cut off some of it, knead it together until homogenous, and then mold it to whatever you want, whatever shape, and can be used to act like a glue "if you still have the broken off peice", but can be used by itself as well, it looks more like grey aluminum, after it cures and hardens can then be sanded, ground to match final shape dimensions you want!
HTH.
T.C.

[DeanR]

I have the same problem. There's a chunk out of the three fins right below the spark plug. I used a file to smooth off the rough edges. Also have wondered if a couple small breaks can affect engine cooling in any way?