Abs repair

[grumpy72]

I havent looked in years. But a company called plastex used to make repair kits. They had a wonderful video you can watch for free. All those broken mounting tabs, or screwholes they show how to do it. Plastic welder? No.this is much better.

[cushman eagle]

Thank you grumpy 72
I do not have any broken parts right now but that can always occure

[SgtSlag]

I used ABS Glue from Ace Hardware on two Vetter fairings, as well as my Voyager's Tupperware. It is ABS Plastic suspended in Acetone: once the Acetone evaporates, there is only plastic left behind. My repairs have lasted 10+ years, so far. Cheers!

[grumpy72]

Abs glue is good. But the plastex video shows how to create mounting points.

[grumpy72]

How do i reach carl leo?

[Nails]

I search here on his name.

[Chris Cochran]

This bike has ABS??

[Nails]

Most of the XII bodywork is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, I think the only common plastic that dissolves in acetone. ABS cement is just some ABS dissolved in acetone. It chemically (and literally) welds ABS, as opposed to adhesive glues that just stick to it.

[Chris Cochran]

Ohhhh, I saw "ABS" and I thought brakes. Ok, I got it now.

[SgtSlag]

All those broken mounting tabs, or screwholes they show how to do it.

My lower Tupperware pieces had broken out screw holes and anchor points on them. I repaired them using ABS Glue by applying masking tape to cover the screw wells (holes), then I painted in ABS Glue. After it dried, I peeled off the masking tape, I drilled a new hole for the screws... Note that the masking tape is not smooth, and the ABS Glue will assume the texture of the tape (rough). It ain't perfect, but if it bothers you, feel free to sand with 200/400/600/1,000/1.200 grit sand paper to achieve a smoother finish.

What I ignored was that there was torsion on the Tupperware which led to the screw well breaking, initially. I was unable to relieve that stress, so my repairs broke, exactly like the original factory molded plastic. As stated ABS Glue bonds/welds with the plastic, it does not adhere to it, it melds with it.

Long story short: you might be able to fix the broken bits, but if you do not relieve the stress which caused the OEM parts to break, history will repeat itself.

My solution was to use black plastic Zip Ties, looped through the holes, cinching the parts together, somewhat loosely. The Tupperware holds together, looks fine, at arm's length, and no more fractures of the plastic. This is a limited solution, obviously, but if you can make it work, it is simple, and it can be highly effective. I cinched my Tupperware together, 11 years ago. Still holding together, around 40,000 miles later.

As to the burning question, "How do you disassemble it for maintenance?", and, "How do you re-assemble it after maintenance?"

"Cut the Zip Tie with a pair of wire cutters," and, "Use a new Zip Tie to re-assemble it."

I can feel everyone grimacing and cringing... Relax! Crack open a beer. Sit in your chair out on your porch/deck/lawn. Take a deep breath, and let it out, s -l-o-w-l-y... I am not the owner of a Garage Queen bike/car/whatever. I am a practical man who enjoys what he has, even if it is... Blemished. (Gasp!) If that bothers you, I recommend that you avoid reading all of my posts...



Cheers!!

[GrandpaDenny]

"My Kawasaki is a tie-wrap queen,
She's held together no bolts to be seen
I don't know how she don't fall apart
Oops lost another screw over here"

My apologies to the Stones.