Planet Minis

mexicanyella · 04-23-2009, 07:55 AM

...for a softtail Z50A? I've heard with some plastics you can repair them by melting a piece of scrap plastic--lego blocks work if you want to color-match it--in some acetone and sort of painting it in the crack. But that it only works on some plastics.

I don't know what kind of plastic the Z50A headlight bucket is, although my son sure has a bunch of black Lego blocks. He surely wouldn't miss one or two.

But if this doesn't work, has anyone found a particular epoxy product or something that works for this kind of thing?

The 26incher · 04-23-2009, 10:53 AM

If it's made from ABS you can use plumbing ABS glue...

StuntinFiddy · 04-23-2009, 11:02 AM

I have repaired many many many plastics of every type.. Its called plastic welding.. You get a plastic welder and they sell different type of rodes to melt in your crack.. first you drill out the crack bigger, then you get body tape and put that on the top side of the plastic.. clean the area very good till all dirt is gone.. start to melt the plast by the crack and start to feed the rode in the hole while melting it.. then once most of its filled in get a screen and put that over the crack and melt the screen into the plastic so it wont split open.. take the peice of tape on the other side off and you can sand it off so its smooth and repaint it if you want.. thats just some of the basics if you wanna know more let me know.. or send me your plastic and i can do it

gstegman · 04-23-2009, 11:19 AM

Plastic welding is easy to do and find but not the strongest or known for tiddy repairs. There is a chemical called methyl methacrylate monomer that is spot on for the job otherwise known as acrylic fingernails.

Yes thats right, go down to the drug store and get a fake fingernail kit that contains a powder and a liquid where you dip the brush in powder and liquid. Tape the crack from behind, sprinkle the magic powder on it, add a few drops of the liquid and you are in business. It will flow out smooth and be stronger than the original.

I once had a web business for this and have a bazillion pics and instructions of the process.

If you want to pay more for essentially the same stuff:

Repair Plastic Parts and Create Plastic Parts with PlastiFix

Sounds nuts but it works...

Z · 04-23-2009, 11:24 AM

Or you can purchase a brand new headlamp bucket for $32, save a trip to the drug store, and save the effort of polishing the proverbial turd.

I can understand why people want to save and repair the older parts, but in some cases, my time is worth more then the effort and repair costs involved.

Fingernail goo, Paint, labor-time

$32 for a brand new unit.

StuntinFiddy · 04-23-2009, 11:26 AM

i do plastic welding for cars bumpers.. it holds up well..

gstegman · 04-23-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z

Or you can purchase a brand new headlamp bucket for $32, save a trip to the drug store, and save the effort of polishing the proverbial turd.

I can understand why people want to save and repair the older parts, but in some cases, my time is worth more then the effort and repair costs involved.

Fingernail goo, Paint, labor-time

$32 for a brand new unit.

Are you trying to make sense and be rational while discussing grown men on spendy minibikes? I didn't think logic and reason had a place here.

StuntinFiddy · 04-23-2009, 11:37 AM

ha ha

Z · 04-23-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gstegman

Are you trying to make sense and be rational while discussing grown men on spendy minibikes? I didn't think logic and reason had a place here.

As most of you can attest, I'm probably the only person selling parts that will talk people out of buying unnecessary parts for their builds and have people focus on one bike at a time rather then having a whole garage full of bikes that don't run.

dirtbkr188 · 04-23-2009, 02:17 PM

...It must all those unusual weather anomalies passing over the Heartland, making Dan all sane and rational...

mexicanyella · 04-23-2009, 04:35 PM

Hey, whoah, hold on now. I didn't say anything about "sanding" or "painting" or, especially, "polishing" anything. I'm just wondering if I can rejoin this bucket so it's strong enough to count on as a mounting point for the light.

Seriously, thanks for the tips and advice, and it's nice to know that if I farg it up then plan B will only cost $32ish.

s_10onbagz · 04-23-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z

As most of you can attest, I'm probably the only person selling parts that will talk people out of buying unnecessary parts for their builds and have people focus on one bike at a time rather then having a whole garage full of bikes that don't run.

true fact, he told me not to buy nsr wheels for my z50....

ARDVARK · 04-24-2009, 10:13 AM

I repaired the bucket on my 74' with epoxy (LOWE'S $4.00). Its held up well and you can sand it down so that it can't be seen. Perfect.

RAZZO · 04-27-2009, 08:01 AM

[quote=Z;1273458]Or you can purchase a brand new headlamp bucket for $32, save a trip to the drug store, and save the effort of polishing the proverbial turd.

I can understand why people want to save and repair the older parts, but in some cases, my time is worth more then the effort and repair costs involved.

Amen brother!

04-23-2009, 07:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
mexicanyella El rey de los puntos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 984	Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... ...for a softtail Z50A? I've heard with some plastics you can repair them by melting a piece of scrap plastic--lego blocks work if you want to color-match it--in some acetone and sort of painting it in the crack. But that it only works on some plastics. I don't know what kind of plastic the Z50A headlight bucket is, although my son sure has a bunch of black Lego blocks. He surely wouldn't miss one or two. But if this doesn't work, has anyone found a particular epoxy product or something that works for this kind of thing?

04-23-2009, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
The 26incher 1st Gear Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Torrance, CA aka The Darkside Posts: 225	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... If it's made from ABS you can use plumbing ABS glue...

04-23-2009, 11:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
StuntinFiddy 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 639	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... I have repaired many many many plastics of every type.. Its called plastic welding.. You get a plastic welder and they sell different type of rodes to melt in your crack.. first you drill out the crack bigger, then you get body tape and put that on the top side of the plastic.. clean the area very good till all dirt is gone.. start to melt the plast by the crack and start to feed the rode in the hole while melting it.. then once most of its filled in get a screen and put that over the crack and melt the screen into the plastic so it wont split open.. take the peice of tape on the other side off and you can sand it off so its smooth and repaint it if you want.. thats just some of the basics if you wanna know more let me know.. or send me your plastic and i can do it

04-23-2009, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
gstegman "The Steg" Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Castro Valley, CA Posts: 983	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... Plastic welding is easy to do and find but not the strongest or known for tiddy repairs. There is a chemical called methyl methacrylate monomer that is spot on for the job otherwise known as acrylic fingernails. Yes thats right, go down to the drug store and get a fake fingernail kit that contains a powder and a liquid where you dip the brush in powder and liquid. Tape the crack from behind, sprinkle the magic powder on it, add a few drops of the liquid and you are in business. It will flow out smooth and be stronger than the original. I once had a web business for this and have a bazillion pics and instructions of the process. If you want to pay more for essentially the same stuff: Repair Plastic Parts and Create Plastic Parts with PlastiFix Sounds nuts but it works...

04-23-2009, 11:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Z 5th Gear Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: KANSAS Posts: 8,540	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... Or you can purchase a brand new headlamp bucket for $32, save a trip to the drug store, and save the effort of polishing the proverbial turd. I can understand why people want to save and repair the older parts, but in some cases, my time is worth more then the effort and repair costs involved. Fingernail goo, Paint, labor-time $32 for a brand new unit.

04-23-2009, 11:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
StuntinFiddy 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 639	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... i do plastic welding for cars bumpers.. it holds up well..

04-23-2009, 11:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
StuntinFiddy 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 639	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... ha ha

04-23-2009, 02:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
dirtbkr188 3rd Gear Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,972	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... ...It must all those unusual weather anomalies passing over the Heartland, making Dan all sane and rational...

04-23-2009, 04:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
mexicanyella El rey de los puntos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 984	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... Hey, whoah, hold on now. I didn't say anything about "sanding" or "painting" or, especially, "polishing" anything. I'm just wondering if I can rejoin this bucket so it's strong enough to count on as a mounting point for the light. Seriously, thanks for the tips and advice, and it's nice to know that if I farg it up then plan B will only cost $32ish.

04-24-2009, 10:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
ARDVARK PM Newbie Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Powhatan, Virginia Posts: 52	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... I repaired the bucket on my 74' with epoxy (LOWE'S $4.00). Its held up well and you can sand it down so that it can't be seen. Perfect.

04-27-2009, 08:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
RAZZO Old School Z50s Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NEW JERSEY PINELANDS Posts: 1,971 My Mood:	Re: Anyone ever done a successful crack repair on a headlight bucket... [quote=Z;1273458]Or you can purchase a brand new headlamp bucket for $32, save a trip to the drug store, and save the effort of polishing the proverbial turd. I can understand why people want to save and repair the older parts, but in some cases, my time is worth more then the effort and repair costs involved. Amen brother!

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