Broken Side Cover Tab

[maury]

One on the top tabs is breaking off my '76 GL1000
What's the best way to repair/reinforce this?
Thanks

[Fred Camper]

I used epoxy and some drywall fiberglass mesh under it on the back side. Most likely will need to repaint the cover.

[Sagebrush]

I've fixed broken cover tabs on an 1100 with ABS glue. Any hardware store carries it.

[Lucien Harpress]

ABS to glue. It will actually melt and weld the plastic, making a physical bond that's much stronger than an epoxy (which is more brittle).

For added strength, I got one of those cheap Chinese wire "plastic welders". You pop in a wiggly wire to the gun, it heats the wire up, and once it's hot enough you push it across the break, melting the wire into the plastic. Plastic cools and hardens, you clip off the excess wire, and you're done. Its basically like a little piece of rebar.

Combine both methods, and you have a joint as strong as new.

[Sagebrush]

You can use steel wool as a reinforcement as well.

[maury]

As always you guys are such great help!
Thanks

[Shadowjack]

I've used a coarse file on a piece of PVC to get filler material, then mixed it into PVC cement to build up bad areas. On ABS parts, use ABS pipe and ABS cement.

[pidjones]

ABS cement may not be available in your area (it isn't in mine). Amazon carries it, however. Standard plumbing cleaner works well to prep the side covers, which are ABS.

[Lucien Harpress]

There is one store around me that stocks ABS cement (Ace Hardware), everybody else has to order it. Lowe's does sell an "all purpose" cement, but I'd go with the dedicated ABS cement given the choice.

As they say, "universal" parts mean they don't fit anything.

[Fred Camper]

Here is another solution posted in Goldwing Tech


https://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78856

[maury]

I wound up using Gorilla Resin Epoxy.
Found a piece of plastic 1/8" thick shaped in a 90 degree angle.
First attached broken piece and let set. Then placed the 90 degree angle piece on the inside and used the epoxy to bond.
After setting 24 hours, took small burs to smooth and thin out a bit the bonded piece.
Worked great!!