Threatened to effect a repair to cover crack (7)

I believe the answer is:

menaced

'threatened' is the definition.
('menace' can be a synonym of 'threaten')

'a repair to cover crack' is the wordplay.
'a repair' becomes 'mend' (I've seen this before).
'to cover' indicates putting letters inside.
'crack' becomes 'ace' (I've seen this before).
'mend' placed around 'ace' is 'MENACED'.

'to effect' acts as a link.

(Another definition for menaced that I've seen is " Threatened".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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