Fiberglas repairs?

[painkiller]

Looking into finding panels for my right side zx6r, guy in the breakers suggested to fiberglas repair kit instead. Anyone actually done this or have experience?

[onesea]

It would depend on the nature of the repair and never on a bike....

http://www.tcschandlery.co.uk/west-system-epoxy-105-k-fiberglass-boat-repair-kit/p12763?gclid=CjwKEAiA8dDEBRDf19yI97eO0UsSJAAY_yCSxkEz9i3mitlKeHQoTdtmq-zr2td8aA6qvPIOmI400hoCHQXw_wcB

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/371836276983?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=36165537022&rlsatarget=pla-277568679110&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=1006900&device=c&campaignid=738474636&crdt=0

I had some success when I patched dinghies up at Uni, make sure the resins and panel are compatible and as a general rule the more expensive resin is better...

Do some homework and check your reparation.

If its a crack and need reinforcing it could be relatively easy if you need to create shapes it could be challenging...

[Oasis]

I used to do up old RIBs to sell on and I've done lots of hull repairs.

Fibre glass is far from waterproof, in fact it's absorbent qualities is what makes it. It needs an air tight layer on it. Know as a gel coat, this will only cure in an air tight environment. You can get top coat, which has a wax that floats to the top to seal it from the environment.

If it's a small area, you can seal off the gel coat with cling film until it goes off.

[painkiller]

hmm, not too sure if I can manage it. I hope you dont mind sharing your experience but in daylight will take a shot of the damage and ask for advice if can / worth doing.

[MarkW]

I hope you dont mind sharing your experience but in daylight will take a shot of the damage...

Aghh! It's the Daywalker!

[Joeman]

Bike fairings are made from ABS I think. They don't take too well to fibreglassing.

There are videos on YouTube that show people melting the fairing back together.

I've often wondered if the solvent weld used in plumbing to stick plastic pipes together would work on bike fairings... Worth a try!

[Mr Fro]

Bike fairings are made from ABS I think. They don't take too well to fibreglassing.

There are videos on YouTube that show people melting the fairing back together.

I've often wondered if the solvent weld used in plumbing to stick plastic pipes together would work on bike fairings... Worth a try!

It does work Joeman. I nipped up a couple of cracks on the side scoops of wifey's toy car a few years back and they're still good.

There are specialist kits available for this - I saw one in action on Wheeler Dealers.

[Joeman]

Bike fairings are made from ABS I think. They don't take too well to fibreglassing.

There are videos on YouTube that show people melting the fairing back together.

I've often wondered if the solvent weld used in plumbing to stick plastic pipes together would work on bike fairings... Worth a try!

It does work Joeman. I nipped up a couple of cracks on the side scoops of wifey's toy car a few years back and they're still good.

There are specialist kits available for this - I saw one in action on Wheeler Dealers.

 

Well solvent weld is about 5quid for a pot, so cheap repair!

[MonsterMunch]

I've had a great deal of success repairing fairings with old bits of ABS. ABS dissolves in acetone which is freely available through ebay.

I've repaired mounting lugs with it, fixed cracks and even filled holes with it. For cracks, first drill a small hole at the ends of the crack to stop it spreading further, vee out the back of the crack, fill with a creamy paste made from ABS dissolved in acetone, and reinforce the back with fibreglass matting soaked in the paste.

It works well because the acetone in the paste softens, then bonds to the surface of the repaired object.

I sourced sacrificial ABS from a couple of old bits of fairing laying about in my garage, and also from the front cover of my knackered spin dryer, you might be surprised just how much stuff is made from ABS. A quick test for ABS is to wet a bit of cloth, or tissue with acetone and rub it on the plastic you're testing, if it's ABS, it will start to dissolve and will mark the cloth with the colour of the plastic.

[Oasis]

I've had a great deal of success repairing fairings with old bits of ABS. ABS dissolves in acetone which is freely available through ebay.

I've repaired mounting lugs with it, fixed cracks and even filled holes with it. For cracks, first drill a small hole at the ends of the crack to stop it spreading further, vee out the back of the crack, fill with a creamy paste made from ABS dissolved in acetone, and reinforce the back with fibreglass matting soaked in the paste.

It works well because the acetone in the paste softens, then bonds to the surface of the repaired object.

I sourced sacrificial ABS from a couple of old bits of fairing laying about in my garage, and also from the front cover of my knackered spin dryer, you might be surprised just how much stuff is made from ABS. A quick test for ABS is to wet a bit of cloth, or tissue with acetone and rub it on the plastic you're testing, if it's ABS, it will start to dissolve and will mark the cloth with the colour of the plastic.

Interesting stuff!

[painkiller]

Seems a very delicate and risky job to do. I looked at the damage but I think is beyond FG repair. Sorry said would take a shot, forgot. But the body protector mushroom/ cotton reel seems when prev owner dropped it pushed into the bodywork so pieces are missing, the only thing i can do is the hairline crack. I have been talking to a friend and says its possible he could make a 3d printed replacement? never tried it for a bike either of us but should be a laugh. The only other option is to buy a new one, hard to find.

[onesea]

It depends upon how pretty a result you want and how much money and probably more importantly time you want to spend is my thinking... Next time you get chance post up a pic...

[painkiller]

Not the best shot as taken from a photo but can just about see what i mean

[onesea]

If the panel holds its shape when off the bike, it should be easy enough to put layer of glass behind the panel (using right glues). Then fill and spray panel, it might not win any shows but would probably be good enough for your average onlooker...

[fq-craigus]

Pop to halfords and look for a 3 part plastic repair kit. Seen it used and it's ace. Can't for the life of me remember what it's called how ever.

I have plastic welded panels before but success varies as the melted plastic is brittle rather than flex. I have also used the drilling and v out method with 2 part epoxy which works better

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[Mr Fro]

I've had a great deal of success repairing fairings with old bits of ABS. ABS dissolves in acetone which is freely available through ebay.

Why fanny about with eBay when acetone if freely available from builder's merchants as UPVC cleaner and Boots/Superdrug etc as nail varnish remover.

Alternatively, nail varnish remover can be stolen from your wife/girlfriend/father.

[MonsterMunch]

Probably because that was the only source I was aware of, as for nail varnish remover, there's hardly enough in one of those bottles to test for ABS, let alone repair it.