Fixing Cracked Hubs On Plastic Wheelsby Dr. Vanski If you run your cars with stock wheels this is bound to happen one day: you'll crash hard, the hub will crack and the wheel will fall off.
There is hope. First, you'll need to make a trip to the hobby store/Canadian tire to pick up a few things to fix this common problem:
- pin vise with small drill bits
- small tubing cutter
- set of hobby files
- toothpicks
- styrene cement
- styrene tubing
- CA glue
Sure, the price of these items adds up to more than a set of aftermarket wheels, axle, and tires - but you'll be able to use them to fix other things, and you'll be able to fix any car that has this problem in the future.
First, drill a tiny hole in the hub of the wheel.
Why? Just do it already. You'll see why. Trust me.
Next, get the styrene tubing. Choose a size of tubing that fits snugly over the cracked hub. Best to bring the wheel in question to the hobby store so you can choose the right size. You may need to file out the inside of the tubing to get it to fit over the hub. Once the tubing fits, cut off a piece the same length as the hub of your cracked wheel.
The tubing cutter is your friend here. Mine was seven bucks at Canadian Tire. You'll get straight cuts every time, and you'll find lots of different uses for it. This works great on brass tubing too.
Next, file the burr off the piece of styrene you just cut off and make sure it fits onto the hub. Then, apply a drop of styrene cement to the inside of the tubing and smear it around the inside of the tubing.
Push the tubing onto the cracked hub.
Next, apply a drop of CA glue inside the hub.
Push the wheel onto the hub. Remember the hole you drilled? Check it out:
The excess CA glue (and any air that would otherwise be trapped inside the hub) squeezes out of it. If the air weren't evacuated from the hub, the wheel would eventually fall off again. Wipe up the excess glue and you're done. Give the works a few minutes to dry and you're ready to race.
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