Hey guys, I just wanted to know if you guys had any links or practical knowledge on how to repair the plastics on our bikes? I found a few cracks in plastics and a hole that I wanted to try and fix myself, but I thought I would ask you guys if you had any advice or products to use.
Motorcycle: GsxR 7/12 TT-F1, Kawasaki gpx750r rat fighter
Posts: 1,249
Re: Repairing body work
buy a plastic welder or you can use a soldering iron - you need some plastic weld eods of the same grade as the piece you are repairing this info can usually be found on the innerside of the fairing engraved in the plastic - you can also use a same grade scrap piece of plastic rather than the weld rods- where the crack or split is - groove a V shape section along the length of the repair so you have a little ditch in it - next take the welding rod and heat the two parts the fairing and rod till the fairing is just about to rin as it melts - dont let it get hot enough to run or burn just so you can see it is about to melt then melt the rod into the groove bonding the 2 pieces together - allow to dry and you can sand smooth - well done
Damn that sounds a little too skilled for me... plus I don't know where I could find plastic welding rods/or scraps to use... Is there anything that I could do that involves glue
I just bought a plastic welder last week for $30 at harbor freight. Once you get the hang of it it's not too hard. for 50 assorted rods (abs, pvc etc.) was $6 bucks. This would be the route I would go. Otherwise I would get some epoxy and then get used dryer sheets. Cut the sheets into small strips and then put the strips in the epoxy and epoxy the crack a little. Then lay the strips over the crack in a criss-cross fashion like fiberglass. This worked well for me before I got the plastic welder.
Motorcycle: (3) 1st gen 750's; (2) 1st gen 1100's; 90 7/11; 05 RMZ-450; 83 Honda CB1000C; 78 Yamaha DT 175E; 89 HD 883 Sporty; 98 KX250; 85 ATC 125M; 04 Polaris Predator 500; and a few kids quads.
Posts: 10,195
Re: Repairing body work
No, don't do that (dryer sheets/epoxy), and don't use the plastic welder. Use the Plastex. it's strong, it's easy, and you won't burn yourself or make a huge mess. Plus, until you get the hang of it, you'll be blowing holes in whats left of your bodywork with the welder. I know this because I have tried the other methods, Plastex is the best thing going right now.
i bought some stuff called q-bond QB2 its a powder and you mix liquid out of a dropper
it sets in seconds,I tried to break the join afterwoods -no go olym@worldonline.co.za
Motorcycle: (3) 1st gen 750's; (2) 1st gen 1100's; 90 7/11; 05 RMZ-450; 83 Honda CB1000C; 78 Yamaha DT 175E; 89 HD 883 Sporty; 98 KX250; 85 ATC 125M; 04 Polaris Predator 500; and a few kids quads.
Posts: 10,195
Re: Repairing body work
Quote:
Originally Posted by old gsxr
i bought some stuff called q-bond QB2 its a powder and you mix liquid out of a dropper
it sets in seconds,I tried to break the join afterwoods -no go olym@worldonline.co.za
Sounds like the same type of stuff that Plastex is made of, probably just as good.
Hmmm I was gonna order a small kit of the plastex stuff, but it looks like I won't be able to do it online... no friggin blanks for Canadians/rest of the world to put their address in for shipping/billing...
Motorcycle: (3) 1st gen 750's; (2) 1st gen 1100's; 90 7/11; 05 RMZ-450; 83 Honda CB1000C; 78 Yamaha DT 175E; 89 HD 883 Sporty; 98 KX250; 85 ATC 125M; 04 Polaris Predator 500; and a few kids quads.
Posts: 10,195
Re: Repairing body work
Doing well OG, thanks for asking.
Fibergalss doesn't bond well to this type of plastic and it will eventually fail. It's also pretty messy and the fumes are real strong. Plastex is just better all around for this application.
Gorno, give them a call, they will likely ship to you in Canada.
Good to know. I've usde FG in the past. This plastex stuff looks pretty cool. I'll have to give it a try next time I have to do bodywork. I gave up on my stuff this time and it's at the painters. He fixed all the pieces up REAL nice. I'm not sure what he used on it. It was some sort of plastic filler that he mixed up and spread on. Hard as nails and hard to sand, but hey, I wasn't the one doing it, right?
Motorcycle: GsxR 7/12 TT-F1, Kawasaki gpx750r rat fighter
Posts: 1,249
Re: Repairing body work
theres also a model glue cant remember the name it comes in a syringe with 2 sides that mixes 2 different glues together and melts itself and bonds strong a good model shop or craft store will supply it
I have tried to repair a crack in a side tail cover with 2 ton epoxy and it ended up cracking again. This is some rugged glue and it still broke, i wouldnt try epoxy to fix it.
One order of a small black plastex kit is now on the way. Thanks for the link Long_av8r, and I hope I can get similar results as yours. I wonder how long it will take to ship the prairies?
I actually did make a repair using that stuff one time but that was before I found Plastex. It never failed on me but I did use some ABS mixed in with it to make it more of a paste and then backed it up with some ABS sheet on the backside of the repair. I know I sound like I am pushing the Plastex stuff, but there is no need for the rest of you to do a trial and error to find out what I already know. Isn't that the point of message boards?
I use the oatey stuff lots, I've even filled gaps with it, no back up or additives needed.
I also been known to use mek by itself for hairline cracks. also have a plastic welder, for stuff that should be in the trash.
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