How to repair fiberglass body panels napa know how blog. Go at it with an electric grinder or very coarse sandpaper. Repair cracked and broken motorcycle fairing with plastifix. Fortunately, repairing a fiberglass fender is not an overly complicated process since it uses a secondary bond which is basically a repair patch that can be as strong as the original when applied correctly. Plastimend abs repair kit worked well for me with a broken tab and some cracks around the front turn signal and mirror. Repairing cracked fairings the tightass way netrider. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. I removed the fairing, held it in shape from the exterior with tape, and repaired the crack on the interior of the fairing using construction adhesive. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper. Jun 29, 2010 note that this repair was done on a fiberglass section, but we have done the same procedure repeatedly with stock abs fairings. Practice will hone and improve your skill, but following these simple guidelines will allow you to achieve a positive result the first time. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other. Bought the 3m marine premium filler to use as a fairing compound for fiberglass boat repairs.
Using the applicator bottle put a generous amount of filler cement over the cracks. The technical bit behind this is that the fiberglass just adds strength in a way that only a mesh grid can, and the plastic weld acts as a bonding agent that sticks to the fairing and the fiberglass. Adhesion failure in the repair laminate is the most common failure mode for fiberglass repairs. Making practical decisions when repairing machined holes in fiberglass. How to fix a cracked motorcycle fairing easy abs plastic. I experienced a low side crash on my track bike that left a few cracks in the fiberglass race fairing. Repeat this process until three layers have been applied. Repair cracked and broken motorcycle fairing youtube.
How to repair gelcoat, chips, scrapes and gouges yourself. This requires identifying and removing all damaged material. Since the cracks are all the way through, the first step is to grind the broken fiberglass back into solid unbroken material. Watch easy abs plastic repairs video on how to fix a cracked motorcycle fairing. Do not use a large amount of fiberglass body filler because it does not flex well and will crack. Finish sanding should be with a fine grit sand paper 220 grit. Use this procedure to make small fiberglass repairs to cars, boats, or other fiberglass objects. Heres some info to help you decide when to call in a pro. The front cracks around the mounting bolts are likely to come from the bike falling over. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat. Ive did a bit of research into the different methods of fairing repair including plastic welding with hot air, plastic welding with a soldering iron, abs cement, melting cable ties etc. Affordable motorcycle fairing repair easy abs plastic.
When looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. The filler should be about 316 deep and cover 14 on each side of the crack. Jun 06, 2016 when looking at cracks you may find that there are generally two different types. So please dont discard your fairing and do the best to repair them. Bonding the original skin back onto the new core can save significant time and money. Fairing large areas of a hull surface misshapen due to, for example, bowing out at the bulkheads as a result of years of hull stresses. The cracks are almost invisible, if it wasnt for the paint contamination into the weld. Step 1 motorcycle plastics are often discarded because of small cracks in the fairing. Take for instance the 1967 corvette convertible we have here. How to fix a cracked motorcycle fairing easy abs plastic repair. Definitely do this from the back, and do it from the front, too, if possible.
Repair cracked and broken motorcycle fairing with plastifix youtube. You can use epoxy to reinforce them just apply it around the outside of the base and let it cure. Note that this repair was done on a fiberglass section, but we have done the same procedure repeatedly with stock abs fairings. Fairing repair with plastic weld and fiberglass ninja250wiki. Jun 09, 2017 in the automotive environment, this means cracks, breaks and splits in the body of your corvette. Nov 22, 2014 making practical decisions when repairing machined holes in fiberglass. Aug 09, 20 the fiberglass repair kit will not work because the fairing is plastic. It is a vinyl ester formulation so better for filling underwater patches and the like. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. For basic cracks, it should be more than possible to carefully apply colormatched paint and have the fix all but vanish. Repair cracks and scrapes, gelcoat blisters, loose hardware, delaminated decks and panels, damaged keels and holes up to 1. To ensure good adhesion it is critical that the repair patch is adhered to undamaged laminate. Rummage thru the scrap pieces in your repair kit for a shape that is likely to conform to the shape of the windjammer where it is cracked. How do i repair hairline cracks in my fiberglass model racing boat.
Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. From boat building and repairs to automotive applications, there are many uses for this versatile fairing material, including. Whether you are working up the courage to embark on a fiberglass tub repair, a pool repair, or auto body repair, we this article can give you the fiberglass repair tips needed to get started. Then when that fails, dont slather a 14 layer of silicone caulking all over the inside of the fairing. Repair cracked and broken motorcycle fairing ninja 250r repair fairing with fiber glass repair kit. There are also putties designed for addressing scrapes, pin holes, and scratches on hulls and other belowwaterline areas. Fiberglass layup is nothing more than layers of glass fabric saturated with polyester or epoxy resin, yet most boatowners imagine a selfapplied repair as only slightly more durable than a wet bandaid. Fiberglass fairing repair tech and tips ohio riders.
There is not a lot there to support an overloaded windjammer. Once the adhesive dried, i peeled off the exterior tape, cut off the excess that seeped through, and coloured the excess in the crack with a sharpie to mask it at a distance. May 11, 2020 how to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and other objects. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. If your damage is more serious than this, you will need to take steps to temporarily restore the correct while you make the fiberglass repairs. Brush on the resin and apply the precut mat to suit your area to be repaired.
This manual provides repair and maintenance solutions to many of the problems that afflict fiberglass boats. In the end i decided to combine a few different methods i found on the net and do a bit of experimentation. To repair the breaks and cracks, we ground the surface of each one down about one millimeter and applied strips of glass cloth and resin to ment them. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth. This will show how to use plastifix to repair a crack in a motorcycle fairing. This was repaired using the above repair process, and the pieces put back together. If you dont repair a crack, there is a possibility that a crack will appear in the newly painted panel once its in use. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. The procedure is especially useful for marine applications. Add to that some of the more adventurous owners of many of these cars, you may have to repair fiberglass panels to get things back to normal. Clean the parts as well as possible with a degreaser. Somehow you will have to figure out how to repair abs motorcycle fairing when its not badly damaged, like. How to repair a motorcycle fairing with epoxy henkel adhesives.
In many of these repairs, the fiberglass skins are in great shape but need to be peeled off to replace the core. A crash had run a long, jagged break into this fairing. The sanded epoxy should be fairly smooth, but when you add water repellent paint over the top, it will be. Oct 05, 2011 ive did a bit of research into the different methods of fairing repair including plastic welding with hot air, plastic welding with a soldering iron, abs cement, melting cable ties etc. Creating sharp corners when shaping the area to be repaired.
The previous owner of my k75s had a very low speed lowside that put a bit of rash on the right upper fairing and a couple of. Unless your boat lives her life dockside cuddled up to a couple of fenders, shes going to get a few scrapes and bruises. Be sure to rough up the area around the hole on the inside that is being repaired and a second application around the new ferrel will give it more strength when cured. The crack in this fairing is typical of what you find in a broken motorcycle fairing. A common fiberglass repair is replacing damaged core, often because of water absorption. How to repair fiberglass on your motorcycle cycle world. Repair of fiberglass fairing parts does anyone have any experience repairing fiberglass fairing parts. Currently, it has a few chips that are under 2mm deep and a couple of hairline cracks. The materials and techniques for repairing fiberglass are far different than ones used for repairing sheet metal. How to repair a motorcycle fairing with epoxy henkel.
Before selecting a fairing compound or repair product, carefully assess the. How to repair fiberglass finishings on boats, cars and. Then for cracks, use a dremel to put a very small notch a v. Fiberglass repair products such as 3m high strength repair filler are used for bonding, filling and fairing repairs above or below the waterline.
A boss is the plastic piece that holds the threaded inserts in your fairing. Fairing small gouges and dents on wood, fiberglass, aluminum, or steel hulls before applying primer and painting. Motorcycle plastics are often discarded because of small cracks in the. Dont slap 2lbs of bondo over the crack and expect it to hold. You can repair cracked and broken street bike fairings with plastifix. Motorcycle fairing repair with plastifix polyvance. Mar 02, 2016 you can repair cracked and broken street bike fairings with plastifix. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. Diy or not stress cracks, dock dings and other minor injuries arent difficult to repair yourself. When fairing the repair, plan on applying at least three applications of fairing.
Custom fiberglass boat repair first, we will classify the types of holes we are discussing as ones that are round and have been machined, probably with a drill, as opposed to punctures and cracks incurred from damage. When this material has cured, you can use the dualaction to sand it smooth, still being careful to respect the cutlines in the bodywork. When a fiberglass body makes contact with a solid, heavy object, it doesnt bend, divot, or crease like steel automotive bodies. The epoxy goes in the cracks, and will act as a sort of glue as epoxy tends to do, and then you can sand it down to shape. Though fiberglass is a lightweight and durable material, it can still get damaged. The fiberglass repair kit will not work because the fairing is plastic. Glass reinforced plastic grp, known as fiberglass or glass wool, is thin fibers of polymer plastic woven together with strands of glass. Take the fairing off the bike, figure a way to tie it or hold it with something so the crack is closed and doesnt show. You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. Whenever small or large cracks need to be replaced or repaired brodak ca is an easy way to do the repair quickly. Below is the recommended repair process for cracks that go deeper than the gelcoat, but dont cause a large, gaping hole or change the overall shape of the surface. The marine epoxy fairing compound is for fairing surface imperfections or corners on a variety of surfaces with excellent weather resistance, for both above and below the water line. The fairing is cracked and scuffed but nothing is missing.
This liquid resin air cures within 24 hours to repair abs plastics at the fraction of the cost of replacement parts. Have had a go at fibre glass repairs before but plastics are new to me. Fairing fiberglass decks and hulls above the waterline only cosmetic filling on composite surfaces to repair shallow dings, cracks, dents, and gouges. Ive fixed cracks with epoxy a few times, if the crack is clean and no plastic piece chipped away, the hairline crack after the fix can be pretty much invisible with some luck. Following a brief slide down the road, mrs phuks fazer top fairing requires a repair. Stress cracks can help us understand what caused the damage. Motorcycle plastics are often discarded because of small cracks in the fairing. But in this case, they are probably the result of an overloaded fairing coupled with front mounts that have been modified for the guzzi crashbars. Aim for a 12to1 taper on the fiberglass, so for the thickness of your hull, this is 2 to 3 inches past the repair. Hi, im fitting a fiberglass fairing on my motorcycle. West system, 105 epoxy resin, 205 fast hardener, 206 slow hardener. After the basic fiberglassing is done and cured, grind the topside of the repair level with the surrounding bodywork, and then mix up and apply some duraglas or other fiberglassbased body filler.