• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

repair of cracks in side panels

  • Thread starter Thread starter 81GS1000L
  • Start date Start date
8

81GS1000L

Guest
hi...
What is the best way to repair a few little cracks on my side panels...other than duct tape...lol. Not concerned with what the inside will look like, just want to fix them before they get worse.
thx
Rick
 
Several options are available:

1) You JB weld the back side and use some stiffener bars under the JB to help reinforce the back side

2) You can fiberglass it with some netting on the back side

3) You buy a new cover
 
I vote fibreglass resin with the cloth, I've used that repair for many plastic pieces and it works well, as well as being strong.
 
2 part plastic epoxy. Works great. I put my rear cowling back together after one of the tabs broke off and filled in several spots that had been worn down. After sanding it all down you would never be able to tell.

However you repair it, make sure you prep the surface area well. Clean the oils off from it, sand it if you're going to apply anything to it because you want to give any adhesives a good 'bite.' If you use any type of adhesives, make sure you do it outside because that 2-part epoxy is rank.
 
Replace side cover?

Replace side cover?

Anyone have a good source for side cover replacements? The last of the tabs has broken off of my left side cover (Red '82 GS1100EZ)... I like zip-ties just fine, but enough is enough.

Can these actually be bought at this point or do they have to come off another bike? And if so, how difficult is repainting?

Thanks
 
i used jb weld on my cracked side panel in a crack that was bout 3 inches long.i used a dremel tool to clean it out and give the jb weld something to bite too.after it dried i then sanded it and prepped it for paint.im very pleased with the results you cant even tell there was a crack .
 
Broken Tabs

Broken Tabs

What works great is to get some aluminum L bracket and cut short lengths the width of the tap. The one side of the L is the foot for a new tab and the other is filed down to the shape that will fit into the rubber grommet. Bond to the cover with plastic weld. No more breakage problems. :rolleyes:
 
For the inside portion of the sidecover I have had very good success with JB Weld with the addition of some cloth fibers for strength. In my case I used some of those cloth drier softener sheets..............you know, the ones that make your clothes smell real purty when they come out of the drier.
Apply a layer of epoxy to the inner portion of your cover, then cut to size a strip of softener sheet and lay over the epoxy. Add more epoxy over the softerner sheet to cover it. Let dry and you're good to go.
 
Crack fix on panels

Crack fix on panels

I to used J.B Weld on my front faring and tab. I sanded around the area and then used a toothpick directly on the crack then J.B Weld and some duct tape to hold it while it was drying.. worked great.
 
Side panels

Side panels

If you have a suzuki shop and they are willing to type on their computer for you you can still buy new ones for some suzuki models, I know 1983 gs1100e are still available and gs1000 1980, just had my dealer look for them today. If not call Fox's Suzuki in Roxboro NC he is a huge GS fan and will do what he can for you 336-599-3787. Richard or Todd Fox, they have always bent over backwards for me. He brought my gs1100e and just brought new side panels for it from suzuki. They will let you know what is or is not discontinued from suzuki. Good people.
 
dirtyfingers said:
How about epoxy AND fiberglass mat with resin!!!!!
Click to expand...
Yup, that is what I used on the inside surface. I used a small piece of fiberglass matting and the resin that came with it in the body kit and let it set up for 24 hours before I installed it. It came out great. Strong and you really have to look to see the crack from the outside. Cheap and easy. Just my .02 cents worth. ( or .25 cents worth, when adjusted for inflation)
 
plastic repair solution

plastic repair solution

best for plastic repair is calld 100EZ its made by lord fuzer its a professional grade 2 part glue and will harden in about 2 mins with sum heat on it
 
I read an article years ago and the repair went like this. Take a soldering gun and notch a "v" all the way down the crack. Then take a spare piece of the same plastic as the covers and use the soldering iron to melt it and fill the crack with new plastic. People swore by this repair and said it never broke again because it was as strong as new.

Paul
 
I like your fix with melting plastic into the crack....however, the properties of the plastic will change as you melt it unless you can control the temp and rate that it melts at to keep from burning it as it melts.....better off to just buy some fiberglass repair from Autozone and stay away from BONDO!!

My stockcars NEVER broke at the same place as the fiberglass repair.....they ALWAYS broke about an inch away from the repair.....the fiberglass held stronger than the original plastic!
 
nastyjones said:
I read an article years ago and the repair went like this. Take a soldering gun and notch a "v" all the way down the crack. Then take a spare piece of the same plastic as the covers and use the soldering iron to melt it and fill the crack with new plastic. People swore by this repair and said it never broke again because it was as strong as new.

Paul
Click to expand...

This is the basic principle of plastic welding. To do it properly you use a welding tip on a heatgun that looks like this -

welding.jpg


The plastic rod falls through the tube as it melts and ends up in the groove that you have created in the plastic. Or, as in this case, it falls into the gap between the two pieces of plastic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top