Plastic Repairs

[buggsubique]

This thread is really made for someone to do a search at some point in the future, having no doubt arsed off their pride & joy and cracked / shattered / destroyed one or more ABS fairing (ie the hard, brittle stuff found on bikes other than trail bikes which have "plastics" made of the softer, shinier Polypropylene).

I'm currently going through the process with the front cowl and side fairings on my AT which took a walloping on the Waiouru Adventure Ride.

This thread on the other site has really good advice using acetone and ABS scraps.

Often the challenge is finding ABS. ABS can be found on modern car bumpers. Plastic hubcaps are also ABS but the one I picked up actually had a thin outer coat of another form of plastic under the paint that was very brittle. More often than not the ABS is black, but can be off-white / white. You can buy sheets on Trademe sometimes - a quick search brings up white sheets only at the moment. Dick Smith Electronics also sells hobby boxes for electronics kits. These are black ABS. The other obvious source is broken fairings off another bike.

Often, if you look on the inside / underside of any moulded product you will find the plastic type stamped into it (eg ABS, or PS (Poly Styrene). Obviously you're looking for "ABS".

And if you're really into it here's another site on plastics in general.

Cheers, Buggs

[unstuck]

Awesome.

[hayd3n]

works better with MEK instead of acetone
either are nasty chemicals i can send ready made filler up if you like
diddint i send you some last time?/

[nzspokes]

Is there a way to clean up faded plastic on old bikes like my XR?

[buggsubique]

works better with MEK instead of acetone
either are nasty chemicals i can send ready made filler up if you like
diddint i send you some last time?/

yeah i have mek too...off to get some gloves. Kidney failure is not an option. I got paint last time but dont recall any slurry. All good.

[droid]

[buggsubique]

Is there a way to clean up faded plastic on old bikes like my XR?

Not sure, but doubt it. Abs can be sanded but polypropylene (if it is that) on trailbikes is softer stuff that just gouges and cant readily be sanded or properly painted.

[droid]

[hayd3n]

yeah i have mek too...off to get some gloves. Kidney failure is not an option. I got paint last time but dont recall any slurry. All good.

[droid]

i never sent paint its abs filler that i make was in a screw container if its dried up add more mek

[hayd3n]

Not sure, but doubt it. Abs can be sanded but polypropylene (if it is that) on trailbikes is softer stuff that just gouges and cant readily be sanded or properly painted.

[droid]

faded plastic use tyre shine or plexus

[nzspokes]

faded plastic use tyre shine or plexus

You mean the stuff in a can that foams? Whats Plexus?

[DR650gary]

Is there a way to clean up faded plastic on old bikes like my XR?

On the DR 650 mudguard, I sanded it smooth finishing with 400 grit. It made it all white but smoothed out the gouges, then went over it quickly with a blow torch. Looked excellent when done and i think i finished with 2000 grit for a wipe then another quick flick with the torch.

Googled it somewhere and it worked a treat.

Cheers

[hayd3n]

plexus is a really good clear spray it makes visors better too
and tyre shine is found at super cheep for $5 in a blue can
DO NOT SPRAY ON TYRES OR SEAT