I am getting a used front fender for my Radian. Not sure if it is plastic or fiberglass, but it has a small crack on the area inside the fork. What is the best way to repair? I have done some fiberglass work, so I am assuming a standard glass repair job will work if it is just glass, but I have never done bike panels before. I've heard that some panels are a combination of plastic and glass. If so what are the right materials to use.
Most current parts are straight plastic. Ducati use to use something like a fiberglass reinforced plastic in the 90s. I use a SEM product called problem plastic repair along with a fiberglass screen as reinforcement on the back side and as a filler on the front.
Quote from: ducpainter on December 10, 2009, 02:21:44 AM
Most current parts are straight plastic. Ducati use to use something like a fiberglass reinforced plastic in the 90s. I use a SEM product called problem plastic repair along with a fiberglass screen as reinforcement on the back side and as a filler on the front.
Good tip on the SEM stuff, I like it. When I repaired a couple of cracks on my Triumph plastic, I used regular plastic screen door material along with a plastic epoxy from Loctite.
+1 on some fiberglass reinforcement. The area near the fork gets lots of stress. Most window screen these days is fiberglass BTW.
Scott
Cool, Thanks Ducpainter and other for the input. I'll have to wait till I get the part to see if it is plastic or glass(I know both were made for the Radian). Can't really afford the SEM product for the one time repair, so I guess I'll go with Epoxy if it's the plastic version. I guess I'll have to find my Surfboard repair kit for the glass or go to the hardware store. Would it be better to go with the coarse weave for strength rather than the ultra fine Surfboard variety?
Depends on your adhesive. Epoxy works great with standard cloth. If you go with something much thicker it may not saturate a tight weave cloth. Then screen is the way to go. Don't know if SEM is thick and goopy or not.
Scott
Quote from: LowThudd on December 10, 2009, 06:09:11 PM
Cool, Thanks Ducpainter and other for the input. I'll have to wait till I get the part to see if it is plastic or glass(I know both were made for the Radian). Can't really afford the SEM product for the one time repair, so I guess I'll go with Epoxy if it's the plastic version. I guess I'll have to find my Surfboard repair kit for the glass or go to the hardware store. Would it be better to go with the coarse weave for strength rather than the ultra fine Surfboard variety?
quick set JB weld would work too along with the glass screen. Prep the surface well for adhesion.
I wouldn't use mat or cloth with the epoxies unless you're using epoxy resin which is a very slow cure.
Ah! I assumed epoxy resin which is fine with cloth, nice and thin. If it's some putty type epoxy, then no.
Scott
Quote from: ducpainter on December 11, 2009, 01:45:03 AM
quick set JB weld would work too along with the glass screen. Prep the surface well for adhesion.
I wouldn't use mat or cloth with the epoxies unless you're using epoxy resin which is a very slow cure.
JB Weld it is! By glass screen do you mean actual screen door material? Or just the coarse weave cloth like at the hardware store.
Quote from: LowThudd on December 11, 2009, 10:27:13 AM
JB Weld it is! By glass screen do you mean actual screen door material? Or just the coarse weave cloth like at the hardware store.
Screen door material is fiberglass these days and works fine as a reinforcement. If they have something else similar try it. Don't sand and break the fibers/strands. Perform the repair like you would if it was fiberglass by extending well past the crack in all directions.
Quote from: ducpainter on December 11, 2009, 12:14:21 PM
Screen door material is fiberglass these days and works fine as a reinforcement. If they have something else similar try it. Don't sand and break the fibers/strands. Perform the repair like you would if it was fiberglass by extending well past the crack in all directions.
Thanks! One last question. There is a 3m Bondo Bumper repair kit. For about the same price as JB weld, plus it comes with the screen. Think I should try it? Or go with tried and true.
Quote from: LowThudd on December 11, 2009, 01:42:00 PM
Thanks! One last question. There is a 3m Bondo Bumper repair kit. For about the same price as JB weld, plus it comes with the screen. Think I should try it? Or go with tried and true.
Hmmmmm...3M musta bought Dynatron-Bondo.
I'd try it.
The SEM product was originally designed for flexible bumper cover repair when the type of plastics available were pretty 'dirty' [mostly PP (polypropylene)], or the plastic couldn't be identified.
I suspect the 3M product is similar.
The plastics today are 'cleaner'.
From experience, if it sticks to PP it will stick to anything.
Quote from: ducpainter on December 11, 2009, 02:13:46 PM
Hmmmmm...3M musta bought Dynatron-Bondo.
I'd try it.
The SEM product was originally designed for flexible bumper cover repair when the type of plastics available were pretty 'dirty' [mostly PP (polypropylene)], or the plastic couldn't be identified.
I suspect the 3M product is similar.
The plastics today are 'cleaner'.
From experience, if it sticks to PP it will stick to anything.
Thanks for all your advice. I'll report back on the 3M kit.
Or . . . send the fender to empiregp.com and have him repair it flawlessly for very little cash. This guy is incredible with body parts and unbelievably affordable. I've had great results with him on a variety of fairing repairs from simple scratches to complete fractures and they've always turned out so good that no one could tell they were ever damaged.