Side cover fix?

[pathfinder]

I know someone here has repaired a side cover or a tail piece from a 78 or 79 standard. I have tried fiberglass, ABS glue, model glue and nothing I've tried has had any bond strength. I'm thinking about the Hotcha glue that you can get from Vetter. But I hate to open that until all paint work is done. It is what you use to install the chrome edging on a vetter fairing.

I have 2 right hand side covers, one has the pin completly broken off in a half circle off the bottom of the cover the other has a crack in the top starting at one of the tab slots running about three inchs toward the other hole. What I would like to do is get both covers fixed correctly before I paint so I will have a spare.

Any ideas?

[graybird78]

sidecover fix

pathfinder. I too had a broken sidecover. I used a 2 part automotive epoxy.has held up for 4yrs. you can find it at the auto parts stores. the stuff i used was called devcon 2 part epoxy. good luck.

[Pat Kelly]

I think the best fix I read (couldn't find the thread/post) was they drilled both parts and inserted a dowel pin with epoxy.

[LoHo]

Pathfider, I had a crack in my sidecover and used the heavy screen they use for drywall sanding (available at any hardware store) as a backing for an epoxy bond. Rough up the area to be epoxied, embed the screen in the glue and make sure it is saturated. If you're going to paint anyway, feather the crack line of the outside and fill in with a filet of the same epoxy. You can sand it flush (carefully) and viola, a like-new cover!

[pathfinder]

maybe an answer

Thanks guys I think I am going to try this. I talked to a body man today who suggested a product called SEM Bumper repair. Similar to duramix 4040 but you dont need the $80 gun. He pointed me to this web page to see in action. http://www.cheesebox.org/satdvd
It is a product that is flexable and sticks to all types of plastic. I am going to bring the side cover to him so we can try it, on my cover, it can be fixed from the back so it doesn't have to be that pretty. He kinda wants to know if it will work to, so the repair will be gratis, he has the stuff on hand already open. I like the way this guy charges.

[81xsproject]

the upper/right mount on my right side cover has one of the corners busted off. I was planning on using fiberglass and resin to repair it by ruffing both top and bottom surfaces, laying the fiber and resin up both sides and rebuilding the missing chunk, as I don't have the original broken off piece, and finally cutting in the needed shape out.

Input on this???????

[pathfinder]

fiberglass WON'T STICK I've tried it

[81xsproject]

That sucks!! I am out of ideas now.

[pathfinder]

See above post 06-03-2005 08:59 PM

[RUSH]

What kind of resin did you use? Polyester resin in cheap but dosent have good secondary bonding characteristics. Epoxy resin works very well in almost all aplications. Dont buy the stuff from Home Depot or Lowes, go to a fiberglass/ plastics supply shop like Tap Plastics for the good stuff. Be sure to clean sand and then clean the surface before you apply the fiberglass-epoxy. The idea is to remove all trace of wax or oil before you sand otherwise your just grinding it into the plastic.
Just my 2centssss

[pathfinder]

bondo resin jelly

[RUSH]

Bondo is polyester resin. You just add some catylist to the resin for it to cure. Usually takes about 10-15 minutes. With epoxy you have to meausre accurately per intructions (it varies per manufacturer) mix competely and then you have up to an hour before it starts to cure. Ive only had one time where epoxy didnt work for me and it was on a plastic part that I later melted back together with a soldeing iron

[pathfinder]

I stand corrected, I thought the stuff http://www.cheesebox.org/satdvd was pretty cool. There are always different ways.

[sksxs1100]

i dont know what my dad used to fix the cracks in my side covers, but it was fiberglass...

[fredintoon]

Hi Pathfinder,
I used metal & pop-rivets.
For the crack along the top use a 22gage aluminum strip on the inside.
For the busted-off corner cut it off neatly & use a piece of 12 or 14 gage aluminum with a metal replica of the plastic retaining pin bolted to it.
Fill the cracks with Bondo & repaint.
No-one will see the repair from across the street, tell close-inspection nitpickers to go eff themselves.
Fred Hill, S'toon.