Topic: If I can do this, you can certainly fix a crack

[PetesPonies]

I am taking the center part of the side cover from a 1976 or older, and putting it in the center of a '77/78 K side cover. This enables the use of the old style badges. Yes I know you can buy a decal that looks like the badges, but no. That is not the right way, IMO.Anyone can have that.
My bike is a '77 F and I wanted it different.I decided to skip some work and frustration buy just using a K cover from my year bike rather than adapt an older cover. These covers are made from ABS. Lots of automotive pieces are as well. ABS is a thermoplastic, meaning it can be melts. That is in different than thermosetting plastics which cannot be remelted, only degraded or ruined by excessive heat.But being it is a thermoplastic, this can be easily repaired or modified. You first start by welding the crack, or in my case the entire circumference of the piece I am adding. You weld with a soldering iron. You weld both sides. Then you use an ABS cement. Not a glue, not epoxy. That never works. If you have used that, it will eventually crack. You need a cement. Cement softens and dissolves the plastic. It is a chemical welding process. You cover both sides with the cement. The cement can be found in plumbing supplies. It actually contains some dissolved ABS in the cement. It will fill gaps if needed. It can be sanded, used to fill in more voids and finally treated as you would with any bodywork. here is where I am so fr in the process.

[Scott S]

 That looks like my home state of South Carolina!

[PetesPonies]

That's where I am as well Scott.

[Scott S]

 Rock Vegas baby!

[754]

Great idea.

[PetesPonies]

They should make someone "in the know" scratch their heads a bit 

[seanbarney41]

They should make someone "in the know" scratch their heads a bit 

yep, they will wonder, "why do people have to hack the #$%* out of these old bikes?"

[PetesPonies]

My work doesn't look like a hack job . . . .

[BLAC]

They should make someone "in the know" scratch their heads a bit 

yep, they will wonder, "why do people have to hack the #$%* out of these old bikes?"

Change ≠ hacked to #$%*

[PetesPonies]

Sorry you can't appreciate workmanship or understand the benefit. I figured  providing this technique for people who might want to save a cover from an old bike, would be good. But being persistently  belligerent is so much easier to do. I often say (or think ) if a post doesn't interest someone, why must they interject? Inadequacy ?

[seanbarney41]

sorry you can't take my comment with a sense of humor.  why do you take yourself so seriously?  Inadequacy?

[BPellerine]

I think it is great when someone comes up with a new idea to fix old stuff,the common fix has been epoxies and other glues,or fibre glass,this looks like a fix that will last,there are a lot of cracked covers out there!bill

[b52bombardier1]

I love the idea here and Pete's workmanship.  This is not much different than butt welding in a new piece of 20 gauge sheet metal on an old rusty automotive fender. And nobody complains about that.

Beautiful work, Pete.

Rick

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[PetesPonies]

Thanks, yes this fix is very, no extremely strong. I have enough pieces left over I'll patch some together and do a 180 degree bend on it to show    But that will be in a while. But I'll get to it.

[Tom in Newcastle......Ontario]

"necessity is the mother of invention"

If you get a chance ,can you put up a pic of the Glue you used,the only stuff I know of is the yellow.....inhale get high stuff..

[PetesPonies]

It's not glue, it's cement. And the difference is the dislodging properties. As for a pic, can't right now. But the reason you know of yellow or clearish, is because you are talking about PVC cement. This is ABS. There isn't as much of it in the stores, but it's there. Just ask.

[Tom in Newcastle......Ontario]

Ok, I will check it out,this is the stuff I use for ABS plumbing .
 

[JimJamerino]

This is a common topic in the Goldwing forums. There's a lot of plastic on Wings, so repairing it eventually becomes a necessity.

http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=35675

The second post in the thread gives a how-to on making an ABS "slurry" out of ABS filings and ABS cement, and using that to repair the damage using a similar method as Pete. Scroll down to see examples of the repair technique as it is used on a fairing.

[Jimray23]

Sorry you can't appreciate workmanship or understand the benefit. I figured  providing this technique for people who might want to save a cover from an old bike, would be good. But being persistently  belligerent is so much easier to do. I often say (or think ) if a post doesn't interest someone, why must they interject? Inadequacy ?

Most likely. Lol

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[MauiK3]

Very innovative and cool. These great old bikes have a devoted following of talented people. This is a great community.

[frodef2]

ABS glue/cement can be made by dissolving abs plastic in acetone.


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[PetesPonies]

Ok, I will check it out,this is the stuff I use for ABS plumbing .

Yes that is it. It has some dissolved ABS in it I believe. But only a few dollars has an applicator and last a long time. can't beat it. Weld the crack first, then apply the cement ( not glue ).

[frodef2]

As stated. ABS "cement" is ABS plastic dissolved in acetone, or another solvent that can melt the plastic. See page 2 of this sds

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/9a/9aeb944a-dc5a-45b7-8a2d-8f9e81a7fc54.pdf



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[PetesPonies]

There's MEK in it as well.

[Tom in Newcastle......Ontario]

Ok, I will check it out,this is the stuff I use for ABS plumbing .

Yes that is it. It has some dissolved ABS in it I believe. But only a few dollars has an applicator and last a long time. can't beat it. Weld the crack first, then apply the cement ( not glue ).

   Thanks

[Tom in Newcastle......Ontario]

 

This is a common topic in the Goldwing forums. There's a lot of plastic on Wings, so repairing it eventually becomes a necessity.

http://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=35675

The second post in the thread gives a how-to on making an ABS "slurry" out of ABS filings and ABS cement, and using that to repair the damage using a similar method as Pete. Scroll down to see examples of the repair technique as it is used on a fairing.

Thanks....hope you washed your hands(pinky finger),after doing a repair...

[PetesPonies]

When I taught, I used o put some MEK on my hand for the students to watch. It evaporated right before their eyes. Not much evaporates any faster 

[PetesPonies]

Here is where I am with the side covers now. They have been primed with epoxy. I will give these a couple days to cure well  and then block sand the epoxy. The epoxy I use sands well and I use it for blocking many times. After hat, the covers should be ready for paint.

[calj737]

When I taught, I used o put some MEK on my hand for the students to watch. It evaporated right before their eyes. Not much evaporates any faster 

I sure hope you wore gloves when doing that trick. MEK is extremely harmful to your liver and is absorbed quite rapidly through the skin and into your bloodstream. Even the "new, watered down" stuff demands care when using.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

When I taught, I used o put some MEK on my hand for the students to watch. It evaporated right before their eyes. Not much evaporates any faster 

I sure hope you wore gloves when doing that trick. MEK is extremely harmful to your liver and is absorbed quite rapidly through the skin and into your bloodstream. Even the "new, watered down" stuff demands care when using.

YIKES! Lung protection, TOO!!

[Restoration Fan]

Fantastic repair job on the side covers, Pete!  Well done and thank you for posting this because it encourages others of us to fix them as well.

[PetesPonies]

First, no respiratory protection specifically needed for dropping a dot of MEK here and there on an acrylic piece that is being cemented. The health issues with MEK are associated with high levels, not an infrequent occurrence.

Thanks restoration fan, appreciated.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

First, no respiratory protection specifically needed for dropping a dot of MEK here and there on an acrylic piece that is being cemented. The health issues with MEK are associated with high levels, not an infrequent occurrence.

Thanks restoration fan, appreciated.

Great repair job, Pete.

[palepainter]

Just wanted to say this method of plastic repair worked great on my Goldwing parts.  The stitching it back together with the solder iron was great.

[PetesPonies]

I first starting doing it with Mustang consoles, long ago. The tricky part with a console is that it has a camera finish on the outside. You can weld the back, no problem, as long as you don't burn through. But to get rid of the break line on the front means some welding must take place. After the melting is done, I use the tip of the iron to simulate the camera finish. I wouldn't say it is entirely invisible, but I have done it well enough you wouldn't notice  it unless you specifically looked for it.