4th gen Seat Cowl Question

I have a 1995 VFR and the PO gave me the seat cowl with the two front mounting holes in good shape but the rear tabs are broken/missing. I tried to JB Weld some thin metal tabs in place but the hold didnt last. Anyone have a decent "fix" to replace the tabs or supports? I may just want to sell it as-is but wanted to keep the original parts with the bike.

Thanks!

 

You should make the tab from plastic and use an adhesive that chemically fuses the two pieces together. If using JBWeld or similar product you should drill small holes in both parts to be connected so that the JB Weld has something to really adhere to.

Rollin

 

JB Weld ain't gonna work on ABS plastic. There are several types of catalytic "adhesives" on the market that will work. Ask the guys at NAPA. They have two tube catalytics that link up in minutes. Get a chunk of fairing from a dealer that is trashed out and make new tabs. Don't try using the ahesives until you have removed the paint on both sides of the fix and scuffed the areas up some with a small file or sandpaper.

Clamps can be fashioned from clothespins and a couple or rubberbands. If necessary a small drop of "superglue" will hold the two parts together allowing the catalytic adhesive to work.

Look up the difference between adhesion and cohesion before you roll. It will help explain the process.

 

I gotcha... I have used JB on different plastics and metals and had good luck, especially with my old bike. Maybe I am not putting the correct "tabs" on. I am not 100% sure how the two rear tabs look or hold once affixed. Anyone have a picture of the rear of the cowl, upside down? the two on the front, that are holed for the side screws are fine. My cowl just has nothing on the two on the rear...

Thanks

 

Keep working on it. The bike looks much better with the cowl on.
IMO.

 

JB Weld is good stuff but not for ABS plastic. You should be able to access one of the online Honda parts dealers that uses drawings from microfische to see the shape of the rear tabs.

There are many many thousands of words on how to repair ABS fairings and bitsas on the net. Everything from model shop MEK to plastic welding. Your best bet IMO is ABS to ABS for new tabs either from an trashed fairing or from black plastic pipe from the hardware store.

 

Hey MDHawk89

Here are a few pictures of the cowl cover off of my 97 VFR. Hopefully these will help out a bit. I measured 11 5/8" along the cowl edge from the rear edge of the holed tab to the front edge of the rear tab. I also did a tracing of the cowl tab itself to get the drawing. The tab appears to be inset from the edge of the cowl itself by about 1/16" or a bit less. Hopefully these pictures help and good luck with the repairs.

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Thanks zoom zoom! Exactly what I needed. all the microfiche shows is the basic shape of the cowl. I see the indentions where the tabs went, guess I need to form something so that it grabs where the tab goes in. A straight piece just sits in there, has nothing to grab. Appreciate that!

jason

 

Not a problem Jason. If you need anything more just let me know. If you can't get it to work let me know and maybe we can work a deal on the cowl itself. The cowl came off my old 97, which I no longer own. The new owner put a luggage rack on the bike and did not want the old cowl so it sits in my garage collecting dust. It has been painted a different color though so it would have to be repainted to match the color of your bike but it is in perfect condition.

Bill