Plastic Fantastic

[MrConcdid]

I would like to give back to this site when I can, as you know I am not a mechanic, this is a stress reliever from my 9 to 5 (funeral home)
anyways, This is one of many options from Frankenstein stitches to sheet metal and pop rivets, it seem the rising cost of fenders "Plastics" pushed me to try my hand at plastic welding a few years ago, needless to say I am a better metal welder than plastic. It's a strong repair and a lot better than half a fender.
my recent 200m needed some help.

MrC.

1. I found a old busted fender in my boneyard than just happen to match.
2. cleaned up the jagged edges of the good fender and used it for a template
3. cut my patch panel as it were.

[MrConcdid]

Now weld and reinforce with metal screen from the backside
I use a harbor freight heat gun and soldering iron.
Its not perfect, its not pretty, but its not a big old hole in the fender either.
When you have a gap use a bit of the old fender cut up into small strips feed it into the soldering iron as a flux or filler

MrC.

[DAM shop]

Nice job. Something like that works great for a rider. I’ve tried my hand at small plastic repairs and t it’s no fun but like I said if you have a rider with a hole or flapping fender that works.

[350for350]

I see nothing wrong with that. You're not looking for a museum piece and if you were, you wouldn't even consider plastic welding.

[ATC King]

Good post. Exactly the reason not to throw away busted plastics. They can be used to patch more complete ones.


Before GM stopped producing Saturn cars, I knew some guys who made good money repairing the plastic body parts on them. They actually owned a defunct steel mill and set up the Saturn repair shop there. It was a strange place to be in, a high building with overhead trolley systems and cables everywhere, but on the floor, a bunch of plastic body parts in various stages of repair.

[MrConcdid]

Thanks guys, I am glad you all like it.
You all know I flip these bikes, I do my best to make them safe and soundly running again. Personally, I feel fenders are a safety issue as much as brakes and foot pegs.
that thin plastic is all that is between you and that spinning, black, rubber, skin remover.

Plus, appearance is almost as important as performance when you are selling something.
If I had another 200m fender, I would have put it on, I just cant see spending 12% of the bikes worth for one fender.
I am not finished with it, I hope to smooth it out more and a good sanding should bring the color back some as well.

Side note, This is a good opportunity to do a camo wrap or even paint the plastic.
I have use camo wrap a few time on 4x4 quads after repairs or if one fender is a different color.
wrap the whole bike and everything matches, you can wrap a bike for about $100, way cheaper
than a cost of a fender.
Over all I think it was a success

I hope this helps someone or at least makes people think outside the box a little.
MrC.

[MrConcdid]

Here is the finished product, I have about 3 hours in it. no cost, just labor.
Turned out nice. Should flip pretty quick.
MrC.