Plastic Welder

D

Dewster

Member

Feb 4, 2002

216

0

• Apr 21, 2004

• #1

I clipped a tree this past weekend at an Enduro and ripped my radiator shroud off. The shroud is still in good condition but the bolt holes got broken out. I was thinking about investing in a plastic welder to repair this damage and any future minor damage that may occur. Anyone have any experience/opinions of these?

 

Last edited: Apr 23, 2004

Someone

Member

Mar 12, 2001

865

0

• Apr 21, 2004

• #2

Shrouds are probably cheaper than the kit you would buy to repair it. The only downside is that you don't have the graphics on new plastic. After my current graphics get messed up, I am going with plastic only. Graphics IMO are a waste of time when the bike is covered with mud anyway.

 

splatt

Resident mental case

~SPONSOR~

Dec 1, 2001

907

14

• Apr 21, 2004

• #3

My brother in law borrowed a plastic welder from his dad to repair his rear fender. It didn't work to well he might have been using the wrong filler rod but it lasted about one ride.

Steve

 

C

chris023

Member

Mar 14, 2004

15

0

• Apr 21, 2004

• #4

I bought one a while back. Didn't like the way it worked, so it's for sale.

 

W

WWR

Sponsoring Member

Jul 15, 2000

161

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• Apr 22, 2004

• #5

I dont know if this will work, but it is worth a try:

Walmart sells some epoxy called "Plastic Weld" that works awesome on streetbikes. It bonds so well, it actually acts as if it were originally molded with the plastic. Problem is, it works for streetbikes because it hardens just like sportbike plastic, and may be a little too hard for a dirtbike. I would think it is worth a try, though. It comes in one of those double-pump 2-part epoxy tubes.

 

splatt

Resident mental case

~SPONSOR~

Dec 1, 2001

907

14

• Apr 22, 2004

• #6

My brother in law(being a cheap SOB)ended up drilling corresponding holes on each side of the crack and used zip ties to "stitch" it back together. That was about four years ago and he is still using the same fender.

Steve

 

I

inolen

Member

Aug 3, 2003

3

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• Apr 23, 2004

• #7

splatt said:

My brother in law(being a cheap SOB)ended up drilling corresponding holes on each side of the crack and used zip ties to "stitch" it back together. That was about four years ago and he is still using the same fender.

Steve

Click to expand...

I do that on my r6 day in and day out, plastics are expensive!

 

Moteaux

Professional Mud Tester

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Aug 30, 2001

1,524

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• Apr 26, 2004

• #8

Dewey,

I am wondering if it was the same tree I clipped at that race last year. I lost and broke a couple of pieces of plastic there last year.

Randy

 

K

KAY DEE EXER

~SPONSOR~

Mar 3, 2003

629

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• Apr 26, 2004

• #9

What Splat said. But I use a tiny drill bit and tie wire. My back guard looks like Frankensteins forehead. I also am a "cheap SOB".

 

D

Dewster

Member

Feb 4, 2002

216

0

• Apr 27, 2004

• Thread starter
• #10

My plastic welder should be in tomorrow. http://www.urethanesupply.com/5500ht.html. It retails for $200 but I'm getting mine at cost ($100) from a buddy of mine who sells them. I've heard pretty good things about them. I know two guys who have used this same welder to repair gas tanks and it worked fine. I think you can get them on cbay for around $120.

I'm a cheap skate when it comes to cosmetics, but I don't mind spending the dough on mechanical stuff. I'm getting ready to revalve my suspension $ouch$.

I just can't see making my bike look good to go bang it up in the woods. I'll replace the plastic when there's nothing left to tie wrap.:aj:

Randy, it may have been the same tree. There was a pretty big gouge in it after I tagged it and it looked as though there may have been some scar tissue underneath.:laugh: Didn't see any orange remnants though.

I rarely get upset but that set me off. Especially when there was a check less than a mile away.:whiner:

 

Last edited: Apr 27, 2004