Member Contributer interceptor69 Posted May 28, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 28, 2022 This plastic piece broke off after hitting a particularly bad pothole. It's there any way to repair this? I can't imagine adhesive of any kind would be strong enough. Ideas? BTW it's the rear cowling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted May 28, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 28, 2022 I've not used this, but have seen people talk about it working well for them. https://www.polyvance.com/PlastiFix-Kits-1/2503/ Legos are also ABS plastic. I've used it to fill scratches in my sidecases (dissolve it in acetone) - works great. Can be used to reinforce the plastic or as a filler. You can look on youtube and find lots of videos on welding plastic. There are special tools made for it, tho I suspect you might be able to use a soldering iron if careful. https://www.amazon.com/plastic-welder/s?k=plastic+welder If you use Legos, you can sand it to a paintable finish and get some spray paint from Colorite and I doubt you'd ever see the repair. Best of luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer interceptor69 Posted May 28, 2022 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 28, 2022 Thank you. Since it's not visible won't have to worry about beauty, just durability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Cogswell Posted May 28, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 28, 2022 6 hours ago, interceptor69 said: Thank you. Since it's not visible won't have to worry about beauty, just durability. If you go the Lego route (shout out to DannoXYZ for that suggestion), you can form some aluminum foil over a small cylindrical object to make an expendable cup - 3 or so inches in diameter will be plenty. I used the end of the handle on my floor jack. 1 or 2 of the smallest blocks should get the job done, add a bit of acetone and wait a bit, I used a wood stir stick to mix it around. Add just enough acetone to get to a peanut butter consistency. Then get the repair parts softened just a bit with acetone so they'll bond to the slurry. Apply and rig some way to retain the parts in place until the acetone evaporates. Sand as necessary to fit. Should be strong as new. Practice bonding Lego blocks together 1st will help get just the right mix of legos and acetone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer interceptor69 Posted May 29, 2022 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 29, 2022 I ordered a Polyvance kit off eBay. Hope this works but if the stresses that broke it the first time are present it will likely break again. Thanks for the suggestions. The Lego solution appeals to me as terribly clever but I don't have a Lego or acetone, although I could get both. I'll try the kit first and it that doesn't work I'll go the Lego route. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Thumbs Posted May 29, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 29, 2022 You’re going to be better off with some 1mm ABS sheet to make a support for snapped part, then use ABS pipe cement from Lowes The sheet is easily heat formed if you want to increase the area to cement together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer interceptor69 Posted May 29, 2022 Author Member Contributer Share Posted May 29, 2022 Thanks for the suggestion. I will try that if the Polyvance repair doesn't hold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer ShipFixer Posted May 29, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 29, 2022 I wonder if anyone has successfully replaced the tabs on any seat cowl? I bought a red one for my 2002 and it was advertised on eBay as not broken. Sure enough, it was actually plastiwelded and broke right away 😕 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer DannoXYZ Posted May 30, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 30, 2022 Odd, must be poor plastic-welding job. Post some photos? Laying up some re-inforcement sheet layers sounds like good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer ShipFixer Posted May 30, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 30, 2022 11 minutes ago, DannoXYZ said: Odd, must be poor plastic-welding job. Post some photos? Laying up some re-inforcement sheet layers sounds like good idea. To be fair, the 5th gen and 6th gen are different problems so OP should have an easier time. Just how the 6th gen tab is constantly flexed a little to get over the button...I think it's made to fail eventually. I'll have to dig it out of the "parts closet," I plan to try to fix it myself just also don't desperately need the cowl. Pretty sure someone tried to fix it by just slathering JB Weld or something on both aides. Been thinking of painting a carbon fiber one from MDI instead as a final solution, but gotta complete my fuel system and everything else before I get to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer stuartb3502 Posted May 31, 2022 Member Contributer Share Posted May 31, 2022 I've used Plastex for similar repairs. Works pretty well, but you need to think a bit differently to glue. It's strongest when the original part and the new "plastic" are mechanically as well as adhesively connected. To do that, you can drill small holes in the existing parts you're joining on either side of the join. Then the Plastex is flowed into these and across the join. Fairing tabs is a an example use case Plastex show. They show how you can mould a new one (rather than just attaching a broken piece). The kit comes with a little reusable moulding stick. Heat in some hot water, mould around a spare tab and then fill with the Plastex once it's cooled. I've also used milliput to repair where some brass thread inserts fitted in a headlamp moulding and had broken off (different bike). Fiddly, but a strong repair which was almost invisible after a spray of Plastidip over the repair to match colour and texture better. Just been using JB Weld to repair some lawnmower bits. More difficult to use as it's runny when first mixed. I found I needed to set an alarm and keep checking after 2 hours, 3 hours etc and reshaping as it became more viscous/solid. No idea how it will stand up yet, but I managed to repair a plastic part which had self-tapping screws in. Was able to pilot drill and file sand the JB Weld as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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