whats a good glue

**motelbob** · 21st July 2005, 13:16

trying to glue down some plastic bits and pieces on the bike that have come loose. Tried superglue and plastic glue but it just wont grip. Anyone got a brand that works.

**vifferman** · 21st July 2005, 13:26

You're a bit vague there, Bob.

Fairing plastic (ABS)? Look for a glue that has MEK as a solvent (I think that stands for "methyl-ethyl-ketone"). At a pinch, you can use summat acetone-based, like the stuff used to glue plastic plumbing bits.

I had trouble finding the right adhesive, but model shops often have the right stuff. Something that did seem to work was "Vinyl Repair Adhesive" which is supposed to be for fixing stuff made out of vinyl, but actually worked very well for the plastic bits inside the car, fairing bits, and (here was the big surprise) the tank pad on my VFR750.

**bugjuice** · 21st July 2005, 13:27

how about 'man-made' stuff..?? give it a shake, and about 5 minutes later, sticky stuff that just gets everywhere..

Else make sure the abient temp is high enough to make it stick. Cold weather won't help the drying and bonding process. Loctite is often good (stuck my fingers together all the time), and most other glues.. Which bits exactly are you sticking together?

**Hitcher** · 21st July 2005, 15:26

Offer a prayer for guidance to Araldite, the Greek goddess of adhesion...

**bugjuice** · 21st July 2005, 15:37

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Offer a prayer for guidance to Araldite, the Greek goddess of adhesion...

goddess? was she attractive? and therefore hold the ironic link to a previous comment?

**ManDownUnder** · 21st July 2005, 15:37

I'll vouch for Ados... and Araldite

but to be fair it really does depend on what the various things are made of, what conditions they're in, and if you EVER want them to come off (i.e. in the case of repair or whatever).

5 min or 24 hour Araldite it bloody good stuff... give it a while to cure - let the bike sit in the sun while it down - it AIN'T going to move

**James Deuce** · 21st July 2005, 15:40

Horses make good glue.

**Blackbird** · 21st July 2005, 15:44

As Viffferman said, it depends where. I'm not normally a Selley's fan but their Urethane Bond is quite impressive. When I fitted the Scottoiler piping, the superglue they supplied was hopeless to bond the plastic retaining clip to the swingarm. Araldite lasted a bit longer but was too rigid and eventually detached. The Urethane Bond stays slightly flexible and has stayed in place for 4 years. If it's a significant load-bearing area, then plastic welding might be your only option.

**vifferman** · 21st July 2005, 15:48

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I'll vouch for Ados... and Araldite

but to be fair it really does depend on what the various things are made of, what conditions they're in, and if you EVER want them to come off (i.e. in the case of repair or whatever).

5 min or 24 hour Araldite it bloody good stuff... give it a while to cure - let the bike sit in the sun while it down - it AIN'T going to move

Sometimes epoxies aren't the best for bike plastics - depends on what you're joining, and how. With flexing, the bond to plastics can let go, especially if the surface area being joined is small.
For fairing cracks etc., gluing them from the back can work well, especially if you do it from behind and reinforce with slivers of fairing plastic, fibreglass tape or whatever to increase the size of the bonded area.
Ados (there's several adhesives - I guess you meant the rubber cement?) isn't the best either - not rigid enough. The exception would be for some things that are meant to flex and where the bonding area is relatively large.

**vifferman** · 21st July 2005, 15:49

Originally Posted by Jim2

Horses make good glue.

And not bad pet food.
Apparently horse steaks are prized in some countries too.

**Brian d marge** · 21st July 2005, 16:11

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Offer a prayer for guidance to Araldite, the Greek goddess of adhesion...

Id bend over ...umm backwards to those deities ( gods) ,,,if only they would play ball with me ,,,,

I now realise that glue and me were never meant to work together ,,,,,,I follow the instructions , clean ..with the right stuff ,,,glue ..press wait ...

Clean ...repeat step one .....

2 pot araldite seems to stay glued long enough to make me happy ...but for some reason the same stuff isnt working as well here in Japan!?? humidity??

Good luck in your endevers

Stephen

**Ixion** · 21st July 2005, 17:09

I find I get good results with the hot melt stuff (the sort that comes in sticks and you apply it with a gun)

**F5 Dave** · 21st July 2005, 17:40

Yeeer! Still there are several grades of hot glue. The majority of domestic ones are dreadful. Selleys All Clear is a great glue for doing things like attaching flush mount indicators to the inside of fairings etc. Sticks like glue, even though it isn't & flexes. Good for helpnig keep wheel weights on etc.