Repairing plastics, welding plastics
#31
good work on the welding!
have not fixed any cracks , but my (white) side panel was really badly scratched (crashed on bitumen) and i sanded it down until only the deepest scratches remained.
being white though, the sanded surface was rough and "absorbed" dirt and grease, really hard to clean and looked **** always being dirty.
only way to clean was to re-sand, anyway i re-sanded it, washed with water, resanded etc. to get it really clean, and then applied a heat gun (paint stripping gun)
you have to heat a portion basically to melting point to get back a slight gloss , but it also loses structure and starts to warp, so it takes a bit of practise. dont hold the gun on the same spot too long! i used a swirly motion like a hairdrier maybe. i got just one bit as glossy as new, but then ruined it again.
end result is pretty good, but not quite new. plastic is semi-glossy, but has a nice surface that you can wipe clean, and it stays white! the panel is slightly warped in shape, and was hard to screw on, but this is no problem could be fixed by careful re-heating and shaping, maybe even on the bike?
the warping can only be noticed really in strong sunlight etc. where it forms a shadow, but overall the finish is fairly impressive, after having it dirty and scratched!!! the white is a brilliant white, just not as glossy as new but you don't see both sides at once do you!
have not fixed any cracks , but my (white) side panel was really badly scratched (crashed on bitumen) and i sanded it down until only the deepest scratches remained.
being white though, the sanded surface was rough and "absorbed" dirt and grease, really hard to clean and looked **** always being dirty.
only way to clean was to re-sand, anyway i re-sanded it, washed with water, resanded etc. to get it really clean, and then applied a heat gun (paint stripping gun)
you have to heat a portion basically to melting point to get back a slight gloss , but it also loses structure and starts to warp, so it takes a bit of practise. dont hold the gun on the same spot too long! i used a swirly motion like a hairdrier maybe. i got just one bit as glossy as new, but then ruined it again.
end result is pretty good, but not quite new. plastic is semi-glossy, but has a nice surface that you can wipe clean, and it stays white! the panel is slightly warped in shape, and was hard to screw on, but this is no problem could be fixed by careful re-heating and shaping, maybe even on the bike?
the warping can only be noticed really in strong sunlight etc. where it forms a shadow, but overall the finish is fairly impressive, after having it dirty and scratched!!! the white is a brilliant white, just not as glossy as new but you don't see both sides at once do you!
#32
So on the JBweld, it sounds like you only applied it to the inside of the panel. Any structural attachment to hold it in place during cure? Did you lay a bead over the crack or spread out a big patch 2 inches either side? How thick was the patch? Any attempt to push it through the crack?
I replaced a shroud for 75$ or so and would like to repair the old one to back-up status.
I replaced a shroud for 75$ or so and would like to repair the old one to back-up status.
#33
High beam, did you buy an OEM replacement shroud? If so, did it come with the factory stickers on it? OEM parts fiche shows separate part no's and prices for the shroud and the decals. Someone on here mentioned that if you bought the shroud, it came with the decals already applied.
Thanks, Dan
Thanks, Dan
#34
Dan
I bought Black to replace the white side panels thru japan and they did not come with outer decals but they did come with the foam and foil internal stickers. I dont know if that reflects any on what a shroud purchased in the states would come with.
Cheers Jim
I bought Black to replace the white side panels thru japan and they did not come with outer decals but they did come with the foam and foil internal stickers. I dont know if that reflects any on what a shroud purchased in the states would come with.
Cheers Jim
#35
So on the JBweld, it sounds like you only applied it to the inside of the panel. Any structural attachment to hold it in place during cure? Did you lay a bead over the crack or spread out a big patch 2 inches either side? How thick was the patch? Any attempt to push it through the crack?
I replaced a shroud for 75$ or so and would like to repair the old one to back-up status.
I replaced a shroud for 75$ or so and would like to repair the old one to back-up status.
i will try to shoot some picture later today.
#36
High beam, did you buy an OEM replacement shroud? If so, did it come with the factory stickers on it? OEM parts fiche shows separate part no's and prices for the shroud and the decals. Someone on here mentioned that if you bought the shroud, it came with the decals already applied.
Thanks, Dan
Thanks, Dan
#37
did you get the shroud for that price from the local dealer? my quote was a lot higher?
#38
Yes, single right side shroud from local kawi dealer for about 75$. I had online quotes for in the 60s but didn't want to wait around.
That's still bloody expensive and considering the incident that broke it was little more than a standard low speed branch wack I was pretty miffed.
That's still bloody expensive and considering the incident that broke it was little more than a standard low speed branch wack I was pretty miffed.
#39
Babbits has the lowest price for radiator shrouds $52 each side. Service Honda $72.
I recently replaced the red plastic on my wifes 09 klx250s. All eight pieces of plastic from service honda was $380. & change to my door. Unfortunately UPS lost the two radiator shrouds, but SH shipped w/ insurance and they will be replaced.
I recently replaced the red plastic on my wifes 09 klx250s. All eight pieces of plastic from service honda was $380. & change to my door. Unfortunately UPS lost the two radiator shrouds, but SH shipped w/ insurance and they will be replaced.