[a-ron]

I'm pulling out my winter project, as theres not much use for my bike on the ice and snow, and I need to find a way to fix a couple cracked spots on my bikes fairings.

Sorry for the lower picture quality.. It's with the camera phone and a flashlight in a very dim garage.


Is there some kind of putty that I can put over the crack, after putting epoxy or something on the inside, and sand down a bit or...????
I know someone out there has to know something about this, lol.

 

[A2rider]

Plastiweld

Plastiweld (1) (pls00002) Plastruct Glue Plastic Cement

 

[a-ron]

Should I try and epoxy the crack first and then put some plastiweld over it.. sand it down and (the repaint is coming soon anyway) repaint it?

Thing is the crack is right on the end of piece, and when it's installed it flexes a small amount, thats the only reason I'm trying to figure out if I should epoxy it or not.

 

[A2rider]

Wish I could help more. They have a contraption that actually welds plastic. It can be found at Harbor Freight. We have one, but he's never used it yet. Hopefully someone else will come along here and help.

 

[SilverBullet]

Had this same issue. You can find Plastic epoxy at home depot or advance auto parts, Use it on the back of the piece then you can sand the front and paint it. You couldn't tell as long as you are using actual paint, not rattle cans.

If you need a paint match I suggest color rite. Color Rite Distributing Co.

It matched my 2001 ZX-12R perfectly when I needed it.

EDIT - Mine cracked right at the top of the nose fairing where the mirrors and fairing out to the front "antler" bracket. That area has a lot of stress and after using the epoxy it never showed signs of weekness and I wheelied that bike all the time.

 

[a-ron]

Thanks for the tip... As far as paint goes, I could give two hoots less, lol... I'm eventually going to repaint the whole thing.

 

[SilverBullet]

Thanks for the tip... As far as paint goes, I could give two hoots less, lol... I'm eventually going to repaint the whole thing.

Right but if you are going to paint it with rattle cans you may still see the crack untill you paint it properly. Thats all I was getting at. You can even fill the crack once the inital curing takes place just to fill the front and sand it smooth for cosmetic reasons.

 

[SilverBullet]

This is what I used. You can get it at Adavnce Auto parts (or similar) or home depot. This stuff dryis clear and hold better than my 2-Ton model aircraft epoxy.

WARNING: Mix it on a piece of cardboard or somthing. and once you put it on the fairing make sure it doesn't move, this stuff really is permanate.

 

[xeon]

For small cracks I have some ABS from a piece of fairing I use to weld with my soldering iron on the back side. That joins the crack up nice... on the front I've used Weld On #16, let it cure, then sand smooth. There are probably better ways to do this, but I have these things on hand, so it works for me.

 

[a-ron]

Here is a better picture of the crack.

So far what I'm gathering is I have a couple options...

- Use some kind of expoy to fix the crack, then put a filler in/over the crack and sand it down
- Use a bit of spare ABS, weld it onto the back / inside of the fairing, then use a filler in/over the crack, sand it
- Tryout plastiweld (basically like an expoy, am I right?), use filler in/over the crack, sand it down

Each way sounds the same basically, I'm fixing the crack from being able to rupture any further, and then filling it.

Does anyone recommend drilling a small hole at the end of the crack to prevent it from breaking any further, then filling in that hole with a filler as well? Or should I not worry about that too much?

It all sounds easy, lol, but I guess I'll see how easy it truly is within a few days

 

[SilverBullet]

No do not drill a hole. You don't know if there is any further issues within the make up and you could make it worse or possibly cause the cracked piece to break totally off. Just epoxy it form the back side and use filler on the front for cosmetic issues.

 

[MR.S7]

Tienes que poner malla y quemar con el cautin plastico del mismo tipo ensima moldeandolo usa tus dedos eso lo dejará como nuevo.


(i wish i could explain it in English =/ but Thats the way to fix it.)

 

[a-ron]

Tienes que poner malla y quemar con el cautin plastico del mismo tipo ensima moldeandolo usa tus dedos eso lo dejará como nuevo.


(i wish i could explain it in English =/ but Thats the way to fix it.)

Ran it through google tools...
You have to put mesh and burn with cautin plastic similar ensima moldeandolo use your fingers so it off as new



This is what I've done so far.

- Cleaned the entire crack and surface with alcohol then some soapy water.
- Took some Surehold Plastic Surgery super glue (says it bites into plastics to form a better bond) and used that on the crack itself.
- Used DevCon expoy rated for metals and plastics (called DevCon Plastic Welder supposedly rated up to 5000 psi) along the back of the crack Picture
- Purchased some Bondo Body Filler (red can), tried to decipher the instructions (girlfriend had to help, lol) and put a bit of that on it.

This is where I'm at before sanding... Does it look and or sound correct so far?
http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/5420/dsc0102rq8.jpg

 

[NCDave]

dude...you'll get your nads slapped if you don't take it out of the living room before you sand it!!!!!

 

[a-ron]

ha ha ha haaaaa

Laid down enough cardboard and plastic... she was cool with it.
She hated the smell though.. :-o

 

[a-ron]

Well... Heres the after picture.
Gimmie some critique...
I couldn't wait any longer, I just wanted to have at it with the sanding, lol

You can clearly see where the turn signal is suppose to be.

 

[MR.S7]

THE TRANSALTION IM NOT SURE BUT SEEMS GOOD.

THE PICTURE LOOKS VERY GOOD.

BUT IT WONT HOLD UNLOEAST YOU USED THE MESH! metalic mesh back side.

 

[a-ron]

got'cha... I saw the mesh you are talking about as I picked up the bondo, I'll go get some.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[MR.S7]

ShouLd mIX the metalic mesh with the "plastic Glue" use devcon with with some plastic for missing parts.
good luck =)

 

[MR.S7]

and to make a better finish next time get extra fine sand paper and put it in water befor to make the "cleaning of the plastics" .