Repairing Cracked Fairings/Plastics

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Shadow, Jun 14, 2021.

  1. Shadow

    Shadow New Member

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    What is best to use to repair cracks in fairings/plastics?

    I have and can use JB Weld. I apply it to the inner side of the cracked fairing and has been satisfactory, but wondering if there is something better, and I am at a point now where there is some filling of gaps in the cracks that need to be addressed.

    Thanks and peace to all!
     
  2. vfrgiving

    vfrgiving New Member

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    It depends on the material the fairings are made of. Most Hondas and other major brands made in the last 30 years are probably going to have ABS based bodywork. If that's the case for your bike, the best stuff to use is actually ABS pipe cement. (Don't grab PVC cement by accident). It isn't a glue, the solvent in the cement will actually soften and chemically bond the plastic together. I recently had a parking tip over that reopened a crack a previous owner had repaired with a two part epoxy, I could tell due to the wide smear on the inside of the fairing. I picked up an Oatey brand handy pack of Cleaner + Medium Black ABS Cement from the plumbing section of a local big box store. I used cotton swabs to apply the cleaner, and then the cement to just the thin edge of the crack. It bonded flawlessy. I tested this by gently pushing to flex the plastic on either side of the crack, it didn't pop back open. No wide smear on the inside of the fairing for reinforcement was needed.

    If you're looking at actually filling in and building up material, you can even make your own ABS slurry for this purpose. The guy who runs Goldwing Docs has a great tutorial on advanced plastic repair.

     
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  3. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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  4. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I've tried using Plastix and have not had much luck. Probably user error here. I have seen videos on repairs done using zip ties as they are the same type of plastic as used in our panels. But having seen the video posted up by vfrgiving, I think that looks like the easiest and best solution to most of our repair needs.

    I have a broken panel on my GS. I was just about to go out and order a new panel which is very costly, being a BMW and all. I thought it would be easy because the plastic they used is white, and my bike is white. But noooo. They ship primed then have to be painted white again. I think I am going to try this method. The break is on a fairly flat area so should be easy. Right now it is being held together with Gorilla tape. Maybe I will do a post on it even though it is a BMW, but it can apply to our VFRs too.
     
  5. Shadow

    Shadow New Member

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    VFRgiving, thanks for the response, information, video. I will go that route, should be able to find I think the ABS pipe cement easily, will see about the ABS pieces, not sure if will be able to get some of those.
     
  6. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    I would think you should be able to go to a plumbing supply shop or the plumbing dept. at a big box hardware store and get a ABS fitting that you could cut and mold to shape using the heating method shown in that video. Regardless, good luck with your repairs. Post up the results. Even a repair thread with pix.
     
  7. vfrgiving

    vfrgiving New Member

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    Forgot I had actually taken some pictures of the repair I did. I didn't see it necessary to glue in an internal patch, at least on the crack I just sealed back up. Now if it was an entire side fairing split in two, or bodywork that could potentially see weight pressing like a pannier lid I might apply a patch. If it's just a random crack, I'll continue to just glue the seam itself. Make sure to apply cement to both surfaces before pressing together and holding for a bit as it cures, doesn't take long. Maybe 2 minutes is enough to hold before you can let go. There's also no need to glob on tons of cement, as it will just squeeze back out when you press the crack together. Have a clean cloth handy to wipe away excess that squeezes out and do it quickly.

    In the following pics you can see the yellowish residue on the plastic that was holding the crack together previously. It was some sort of 2 part epoxy or resin. I've ridden the bike a few hundred miles since doing this, including bouncing down mountain gravel roads. Still holding together fine. I may at some point order a paint match pen to touch up the exterior, but the location is already inconspicuous.

    before.JPG
    after.JPG
     
  8. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    The reason I use Plastex is that for repairing Tabs I find it very easy to do.

    The main thing to remember is to take it slow & build it up in steps. These 2 fixes were done on Monday for a spare set of panels.

    IMG_0836.jpg
     
  9. Diving Pete

    Diving Pete Member

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    Missing mount top corner of bottom fairing.

    IMG_0837.jpg

    Backside of mount - still needs some work - but nothing a Dremal can't fix fairly easily.

    IMG_0838.jpg
     
  10. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Nice. Wished my luck had been better. Th broken fairing on my GS had been repaired by what looks like Plastix by a previous owner. I guess he was as competent as I was with it. It had failed and now gorilla tape is holding it together until I can get around to fixing it.
     
  11. vfrgiving

    vfrgiving New Member

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    If I have to replace a tab in the future I'll order an ABS sheet like shown in the video (you can buy them off Amazon. Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Install-Bay-89-00-9031-Plastic-8-Inch/dp/B0007WTF02). Sketch out the missing portion of the tab, cut it from the ABS sheet and just bond it to the fairing with the cement.
     
  12. Shadow

    Shadow New Member

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    Here are the two pieces of fairings/plastics (upper center and upper right cowls) (multiple pictures) that had cracks/breaks, still need to do some sanding and get a hold of the appropriate paint (if available) and painting, but ABS cement is some good/strong stuff.

    Again thanks for the advice on this!
     

    Attached Files:

  13. vfrgiving

    vfrgiving New Member

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    Wow, you did have a good bit to do. There may be other vendors, but ColorRite should be able to help. They do paint match codes for bikes, including the venerable 4th Gen. :) https://www.colorrite.com/department/honda-vfr750f-motorcycle-paint-10576.cfm

    See if there's a paint code sticker under the seat to be sure. You can also select from their drop down menu on the site. Just pay attention if your particular color requires a base and top. They also sell clear coat.
     
  14. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Obviously too late to assist here but this video shows an alternative and cheap way of repairing cracks and reinforcing any tabs or locations likely to be subject to load.



    A few years back I used this approach to provide a get you home repair for damage sustained by a VFR whilst participating at the imfamous R3 meet - indeed they managed to ride safely home thanks to a few parts borrowed from Reggie's bike. I see Randy somehow decided their spectacular forward roll during an off-road exploit on the route through Hunter Liggett should be discretely listed as a shooting accident.

    As for colour matching there is an obvious issue - paint colour fades over time, and worse still most older VFRs came with oil based paint which is no longer sold. So even if you can source the "same colour" in a modern waterbased paint, the panels will never look the same - especially under artificial light. If you have lots of panels to do, then you will probably get a better result and indeed possibly a cheaper solution, if once you have finished prepping the panels, you take the panels to a vehicle repair shop equipped with a colour matching paint booth. They will basically scan the actual colour it is now, and can then apply a colour matched paint which will probably look as good as you can get.

    Good luck and don't forget to post up photos of the panels after painting.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2021
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