DIY Fairing repairs ?

**Ruckos87** · 21-05-2015, 10:38 AM

Got to finally fix up my fairings, I've got a fibreglass kit from bunnings, should do the trick. But Can anyone see an issue will th reinforcing the fixing holes with some small prices of sheet metal, to stop them pulling out? Is there a better way? Plastic? Will the fibreglass adhere to metal???

Cheers Luke

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**Stu23** · 21-05-2015, 11:04 AM

you could cut some of your fibreglass into squares and glass them in to reinforce the area I personally would not add metal to the mount area. Or find some kevlar squares to glass in

**Turbo** · 21-05-2015, 11:10 AM

I've had the holes issue before. I found a generous helping of glass then a re-drill was plenty strong enough to hold.

**Stu23** · 21-05-2015, 11:12 AM

agreed

**Ruckos87** · 21-05-2015, 11:17 AM

Awesome I'll get onto it.
it's only been 8weeks waiting...

Cheers

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**Stu23** · 21-05-2015, 11:19 AM

buy some surgical gloves and wear a mask if your doing it for a while

saves sticky fingers and fumes

**Turbo** · 21-05-2015, 11:21 AM

You can shape it to a level/flat tab using some old plastic tupperware or something.
That'll peel off relatively easy after the resin has gone off.

**Ruckos87** · 21-05-2015, 11:31 AM

I was going to glass the inside then try to paint the outside, assuming il need to sand back the areas inside?

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**Turbo** · 21-05-2015, 11:40 AM

You'll deff need to get rid of any flakey/dusty stuff first, yes.
Glass the inside sounds like a good approach. You might need a wee bit of bog on the outside to cover any minor cracks tho.

**Ruckos87** · 21-05-2015, 11:44 AM

Cool. I think I'll tape the out side, until the glass goes off then bog and rattle can.
Spewing they looked so good prior lol

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**Carl-52** · 21-05-2015, 01:53 PM

The best way to go is tape the bodywork in position from the outside. Following that, give the inside a quick clean and rough sand to help adhesion of the resin. cut as many layers of fibreglass as you want (i usually do 3 inside and 1 or 2 on the outside for mounting holes) and i only lay glass on the inside for other cracks that are away from mount points. Once dry, use a little bit of bodyfiller on the outside to fill the cracks and smooth the surface. copious amounts of sanding later and you're good for paint

If you can, find fibreglass woven mat, not the chopped strand fibre glass, it is waaaaaay stronger and less messy.

**Carl-52** · 21-05-2015, 01:56 PM

if you are really set on using metal, you could possibly sandwich some 1mm aluminium sheet between at least 2 layers of fibreglass each side. From prior experience though, fibreglass is good enough by itself if you build up the thickness.

**Ruckos87** · 21-05-2015, 02:18 PM

Ta. I think I'll just do a few layers of glass, and not bother with the metal. Looks like its s job for tomorrow now.

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**Carl-52** · 21-05-2015, 02:23 PM

naaaaahhh, get the prep done so you can just waltz in tomorrow and glass

**Leezx10r** · 21-05-2015, 07:22 PM

I have had this a few times lol
Cut away loose stuff
Cardboard outside to stop fibreglass wondering
Glass inside
Glass again
Glass again
Cardboard off
Sand
Bog
Sand

Then the paint stuff, am sure you will get them looking sweet

**Nelso** · 21-05-2015, 08:44 PM

My way is the best way. Just give it to your wife to fibreglass and prepare for painting. More often than not, she paints them as well.

**zoidberg** · 22-05-2015, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Nelso

My way is the best way. Just give it to your wife to fibreglass and prepare for painting. More often than not, she paints them as well.

Sounds like a solid plan you have there mate.

**Leezx10r** · 22-05-2015, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Nelso

My way is the best way. Just give it to your wife to fibreglass and prepare for painting. More often than not, she paints them as well.

I like this idea!

**Ruckos87** · 22-05-2015, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Nelso

My way is the best way. Just give it to your wife to fibreglass and prepare for painting. More often than not, she paints them as well.

Address ???

F#%king rain I haven't even got a start yet.

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**Ruckos87** · 25-05-2015, 12:09 PM

Finally getting onto it

Prep was pretty easy with the Dremal tool

Went with duck tape on the outside, to act as "formwork" so to speak

All in all went on ok

The tab at the seat fixing was a prick, I'll have to let it dry and trim it up a bit, worst case I'll cut it off and give it another go.

So now I'll let it dry, and see how I went ... Then bog, sand and paint, hopefully

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**Turbo** · 25-05-2015, 12:18 PM

That's a top job! duct tape was a great idea. Hopefully that tab'll harden up and you can drill her out.

**Marshy** · 26-05-2015, 08:25 AM

Great work mate! Looks tops.

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**Ruckos87** · 26-05-2015, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by Marshy

Great work mate! Looks tops.

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Cheers mate, how's the leg ? I've got 1/2 a kit left if you need me to duck down and glass up a cast

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**Little Mick** · 26-05-2015, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by Plumb

Cheers mate, how's the leg ? I've got 1/2 a kit left if you need me to duck down and glass up a cast

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Only if you can provide Ti inserts

**Marshy** · 26-05-2015, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Little Mick

Only if you can provide Ti inserts

Ti inserts already in place

Although I have doubts about the new paint scheme.....

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**Ruckos87** · 26-05-2015, 10:19 AM

Jesus... Tell me that antiseptic not the colour of your leg/ foot

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**Little Mick** · 26-05-2015, 10:20 AM

Gone back to Honda marshy

**Stu23** · 26-05-2015, 10:23 AM

Hehehehe at least your toe nails were tidy

always be prepared lolol

**Little Mick** · 26-05-2015, 10:23 AM

Even clean underwear wouldn't have helped

**Stu23** · 26-05-2015, 10:29 AM

better than pulling off your old fav racing grundies ?? bahahaha err sorry nurse but these are my lucky ones !

**dan** · 26-05-2015, 01:08 PM

Going to take some notes from this thread got some patchwork of my own to do now :(

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**Little Mick** · 26-05-2015, 01:38 PM

How bad did it fair out dan?

**dan** · 26-05-2015, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Little Mick

How bad did it fair out dan?

Realistically not that bad. Broke the last couple of mount holes off. Kept the piece so hopefully can slap it back together. I have another belly pan so will probably fit that up and fix the broken one when I can [be bothered] haha

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**Carl-52** · 26-05-2015, 07:48 PM

hahaha you can easily re attach it dan, i fixed marshy's t1 incident fairings

just make sure while its still wet you fasten it to the other bodywork to get the shape and bends right.

**chubb** · 01-06-2015, 10:56 AM

Shouldn't really use diggers. They aren't flexible fibreglass and furthermore they are chopped glass. Something like West System brand would be much better as they are flexible when dry and weaved glass mat would be also better in that regard.

**Ruckos87** · 01-06-2015, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by chubb

Shouldn't really use diggers. They aren't flexible fibreglass and furthermore they are chopped glass. Something like West System brand would be much better as they are flexible when dry and weaved glass mat would be also better in that regard.

Done already... Starting to bog today, hopefully will hold till the next off.

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**Marshy** · 01-06-2015, 12:34 PM

I buy separate woven mat, which I then use with Diggers kits (and throw away the chopped strands that go everywhere like the plague). Didn't know it wasn't a flexible resin, so thanks chubb. Will try something else next time... although I only ever fibreglass about once a decade. Horrible job! It's easier just to buy new fairings

**Ruckos87** · 01-06-2015, 02:06 PM

Primer down, should have re bogged and sanded but CBF. Properly would have been cheeper ( man hrs) to buy new ones lol, but as long as there usable I've kind of had fun mucking around with them.

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**chubb** · 01-06-2015, 05:24 PM

There are essentially two different types of resin, Epoxy and Polyester. Epoxy is more expensive but the quality and properties of epoxy is much better. You do get what you pay for and you want it to be flexible else when it hits the ground the chances of it shattering are higher with polyester.

Here is a quick breakdown of the 2

Better adhesion, strength and more so flexible which is what you want in fibreglass! Yes it is not as fast curing as a polyester type resin but it also doesn't shrink over time. You will generally find them at boating stores and specialty shops rather than the likes of Bunnings etc.

**Marshy** · 01-06-2015, 07:36 PM

Good info!! Thanks mate

**Ruckos87** · 01-06-2015, 07:56 PM

Cheers Chubb, the pot life of the epoxy would have helped. I'll find some on the next repair job.

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**Ruckos87** · 15-07-2015, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by chubb

There are essentially two different types of resin, Epoxy and Polyester. Epoxy is more expensive but the quality and properties of epoxy is much better. You do get what you pay for and you want it to be flexible else when it hits the ground the chances of it shattering are higher with polyester.

Here is a quick breakdown of the 2

Better adhesion, strength and more so flexible which is what you want in fibreglass! Yes it is not as fast curing as a polyester type resin but it also doesn't shrink over time. You will generally find them at boating stores and specialty shops rather than the likes of Bunnings etc.

Installing my repaired fairings this morning, relalised straightaway that a more flexible fibreglass would have been the go. Still going on ok but getting a few hair line cracks. Im just going to tape overt them just to be sure.
Live and learn

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