Cracks in the plastic...repairs?

Hello all,

the old 87 is running as good as ever. But i have some serious cracks in the front fairings. I would guess the best way to fix would be something on the inside of the fairing for some reinforcement...but whats the best way?

 

Go to Lowes or Homedepot, go to the paint supply area. Look for MEK. Get a jar with a lid and put some scrape chunks of plastic(same kind as your bike's). No paint on them, small as you can get them. Pour some MEK in the jar, not to much. Leave overnite, it will make a slurry(melted plastic). Clean repair area from paint, oils, and dirt. Apply slurry with acid brush. Let sit till hard, and apply another coat till desired thickness, sand smooth. Let us know how it works. Common problem on these old timers. Weak areas like the tail, I got some paper clips and cut them a inch or so long. Took a sodering iron, made some gouges in plastic (on the back side), place clips in gouge and melted the plastic back over it and added some slurry to reinforce it.

 

Much appreciated! (runs off to Lowes)

 

Shaving a piece of ABS pipe (the black stuff) into some MEK works too. Couple of bucks gets you a can of pipe dope that is the same thing. Be advised, the stuff does not dry fast.

MEK=methylethylketone.

 

ABS plastic cement, also at Lowes, the product is used on drain and waste pipes and is the same material (ABS) in a solvent. I've used it on fairings and bags to repair cracks and fill in deep scratches in the plastic. Once it dries and sets it can be sanded and painted.

 

wow nice trick with the MEK. just be careful though that's some serious stuff carcinogenic too. if you can get your hands on some 3M Duramix. semi-rigid plastic repair that stuff works wonders. just did my bike with that stuff. so far it's great.

 

Epoxys will work with F/G reinforcing tape on the back or F/G woven cloth. Gouge out the front and epoxy putty. MEK WILL GIVE YOU CANCER Ventilation and gloves. There's a great book at Whithorsepress.com on the subject.

 

Mcdonalds happy meal will kill you also if you live on them. Your right you can't put MEK in your coffee.

 

None of these "fixes" will stick to paint and the substrate including the fix needs to be abraded.

"Painted" means primed and then painted.

Chemicals ? Go to Google or Wikipedia. Include the MSDS in the search.

MEK is not good in coffee. Even Blue Mountain tastes like shit with MEK. MEK is also a reducer for both epoxy and polyester resin.

If necessary to use fibreglass cloth on ABS, go for triaxial from a specialist shop. Shameless plug here: Welcome to System Three.com - Epoxy Resin Products - System Three Resins, Inc.

Of course be careful with any of this stuff and remember that one can also OD on horseradish.

 

thanks guys, and bussman, i'm not worried about carcinogens, i have deiced airplanes for years! cheers all, learning a lot these days from VFRworld