wiredgeorge wrote:
Personally, if I were going to cut a hole in the clutch cover, I would bevel the edge and bevel the edge of the clear plastic (not sure what you chose to use). The bevel cut would provide mechanical strength if there was pressure put on the plastic so the bond would not just rely on the strength of the epoxy.
I don't know much about plastics but some of them are affected by oil so you want to do some research and find out which are not going to get discolored and post this info...
Last, I recommend looking into golf club repair epoxies. The strongest epoxy (highest sheer strength) is that used to put the plastic face inserts into wooden clubheads. There is so much chance of litigation for professional clubmakers, that this epoxy is extremely tough and virtually impossible to remove (once set) without heat from a torch. It has much higher strength and longer cure time than does the epoxy used to retain the shafts to the heads. I have not found anything similar in autoparts stores, etc.
I'll post my research as I go in terms of which materials will work best. I'm gonna call some manufacturers and ask them what they recommend.
As for the bevels, it's impossible. The cover is very thin. Not enough to actually bevel it much.