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Plastic Repairs

  1. #1
    Permanent N00b -Dutch-'s Avatar
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    Plastic Repairs

    Posting for a friend of mine in Braintree. He's got a cracked fairing and is wondering who he can take it to in the area for repairs.

    I know a few guys on here were talking about starting to do that sort of thing but I don't remember who/where they were.

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  2. #2
    Lifer
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I can give you some tips on how to repair yourself. Soldering iron, heat gun and then a crapload of filler.

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  3. #3
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Wire ties are workable filler.

    Also you can add strength by embedding metal across the damage. Staples (flattened), thin copper wire, nails etc. will all word for this.

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  4. #4
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I've got to fix the Armorbodies I ruined last October.

    I'm thinking about fiberglassing the inside of the panel, body filler on the outside of panel, sand and rattlecan.....

    Am I gonna hurt myself?

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  5. #5
    Lifer
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Race plastics are totally different. $20 fiberglass kit from autozone. Goal should be for it to look okay from 100' or @ 100MPH. Unless you are me. Then the goal is just for it to stay together and pass tech.

    I spent a bit more time repairing the street plastics.

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  6. #6
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Fiberglass on the outside, where previous fiberglass was "rubbed off" will add strength.

    Sanding fiberglass is harder than sanding body filler, but you are getting strength, not just looks.

    If you are very concerned about finish, then yes, final with body filler, but start with fiberglass.

    Race plastics aren't plastic (usually), but are fiberglass.

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  7. #7
    Permanent N00b -Dutch-'s Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    It's a street bike so he wants it to look good when it's done. It'll need to be painted, too. 06' GSXR.

    I'm not interested in tackling it myself, I have enough to do to get my own bike up and running. Is this something any bike or body shops will do?

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  8. #8
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    If you need "finish quality" then you'll need to do 2 different things. First, structural repair, like described by 'bub's, then finish repair, which will probably be body filler to smooth everything out.

    Once you start talking body shop costs it may become more cost effective to just see if you can find a replacement plastic (flea bay, etc.).

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  9. #9
    Lifer
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    If you want finish quality you need to get people like me to stop posting in this thread.

    I honestly didn't know anyone professionally repaired street plastics. I thought they were more economical to just replace.

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  10. #10
    Permanent N00b -Dutch-'s Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    If it were my bike it would get the fiberglass treatment, I just don't want to do it on someone else's bike. It may be the case that no one repairs them professionally, I don't know.

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  11. #11
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    To start, drill out the end of the crack with a 1/8" or smaller bit to keep it from getting worse.

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  12. #12
    Super-Dooper User ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I've successfully used in the past this stuff called problem plastic. It worked really good.

    Good luck.

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  13. #13
    Lifer Stromper's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I can't find Empire anymore that did sport bike plastic

    You probably can get all new plastic on

    DHGATE.com

    for less than 1 pc from a dealer etc

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  14. #14
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    So, no? Nobody knows of anyone that does this professionally?

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  15. #15
    Lifer jasnmar's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Professionally, no. I've only seen this as a DIY trick. Mostly for those of us who are too cheap to buy a new body panel. This is the type of fix that takes some time to do, so when time is money, plastic repair is more expensive than replacement.

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  16. #16
    Have you seen my baseball GingahNinjah's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Quote Originally Posted by jwm2k3 View Post
    I've got to fix the Armorbodies I ruined last October.

    I'm thinking about fiberglassing the inside of the panel, body filler on the outside of panel, sand and rattlecan.....

    Am I gonna hurt myself?
    Thats the best way to do it Johnny... we can get it done in a weekend day if you wanna bring em up to my place we can hammer em out and primer them in my 'paint booth'

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  17. #17
    Back marker... jwm2k3's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Fuck yeah Brian....call ya later!

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  18. #18
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Looking for recommendations on where to get my HyperMotard's fairing repaired. My guess is that it's ABS plastic:

    Plastic Repairs-img_8296-jpgPlastic Repairs-img_8297-jpg

    Any suggestions?

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    '02 Ducati 998, '08 Ducati HyperMotard 1100S, '14 Subaru XV Crosstrek

  19. #19
    Lifer
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    Re: Plastic Repairs


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  20. #20
    Backwoods lobster boy number9's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Quote Originally Posted by nhbubba View Post
    I'll check it out, but I was hoping to pay someone to fix this for me...

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    '02 Ducati 998, '08 Ducati HyperMotard 1100S, '14 Subaru XV Crosstrek

  21. #21
    TWINS! xrocket21's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I know youre asking for a professional, but I inherited a harbor freight style plastic welding kit and I have got pretty good with it. As long as you have the right plastic, you just heat it to soften it, smear/stitch it toegther so the plastic mixes, let it cool, and sand. Even came with stainless steel mesh you can embed and it really strengthens it.

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  22. #22
    Lifer golden chicken's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    I had ok luck with two-part epoxy repairing cracked plastic engine covers on Mercedes. I'm pretty sure they're made of ABS as well, since regular superglues didn't seem to work at all.

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    Last edited by golden chicken; 09-15-20 at 04:45 PM.
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  23. #23
    TWINS! xrocket21's Avatar
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  24. #24
    Lifer wiggeywackyo's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Quote Originally Posted by number9 View Post
    Looking for recommendations on where to get my HyperMotard's fairing repaired. My guess is that it's ABS plastic:

    Plastic Repairs-img_8296-jpgPlastic Repairs-img_8297-jpg

    Any suggestions?
    Depending on how anal you are, acetone, a small paint brush and literally 2 minutes of your time.

    Brush some acetone on the mating surfaces, put the pieces together, hold for 30 seconds. Acetone melts ABS and then once it's evaporated, the ABS rehardens and bonds.

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  25. #25
    Lifer Garandman's Avatar
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    Re: Plastic Repairs

    Don’t post pictures of the broken fairing: that would make it too easy.....

    Quote Originally Posted by wiggeywackyo View Post
    Depending on how anal you are, acetone, a small paint brush and literally 2 minutes of your time.

    Brush some acetone on the mating surfaces, put the pieces together, hold for 30 seconds. Acetone melts ABS and then once it's evaporated, the ABS rehardens and bonds.
    You can also buy products designed for above, which is known as “Solvent Bonding.” Medium viscosity product is a lot easier to use with thicker parts. Acetone will turn ABS to goo if you aren’t judicious.

    That said, remounting a broken tab can be a challenge because it’s carrying the load.

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    Last edited by Garandman; 09-16-20 at 05:38 AM.

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