Lower cowling broken tab

[XV1100SE]

As seems to be fairly common... the tab on my lower left cowling that holds the nut for the bolt that comes from the rear of the cowling has broken off. I have the two pieces that came off and am looking at repairing it.

 

Talked to the dealer yesterday and he said Yamaha Canada wouldn't warranty it. I mentioned about U.S. members having it replaced and he said Yamaha Canada isn't as generous.

 

From an old thread :

 

I wont take any credit for this cause I found this info on the web....

...You can get ABS glue at Lowe's. It is a thick black plastic that holds in place well and cures without heat being applied to it. Look in the plumbing section with the plastic pipe glue. It is called Oates Black ABS Cement and it is in a blue can. No mixing or heat is required!

 

....Another way to make a permanent repair to ABS plastic is you can buy what is called a “dowel” of ABS plastic (black in color), from most any industrial plastics store. You can use this plastic ABS dowel to repair cracks and small holes. You will scrape / shave a section of the dowel (like peeling a carrot) to get shavings. Place the shavings in a disposable glass jar. Then you mix the shavings into some methyline chloride. The ABS shavings will dissolve into the liquid. You can thicken the mixture by adding more shavings. It takes about 5-10 minutes for all the shaving to dissolve. Mix the contents well. ...

 

I checked with Home Depot and Lowes in Canada and got really funny looks when I asked for ABS cement in black. All they carry is yellow.

 

On the mehyline cloride ... did a search and breathing the fumes can cause problems with the nervous system.... hence I'm nervous to use it and wouldn't know where to find it.

 

Since the repair is on the inside of the cowling and only visible when you take it apart, I'll go with the yellow ABS cement. Black instead of yellow would have been nice but will try to keep the repair nice and clean without a lot of excess glue.

[XV1100SE]

Model paint is for ABS.... can it be used for tab repair or would specific "ABS Cement" be best?

[Atoolnut]

Had the same broken tab..used yellow abs glue from hardware store ..worked,..two parts spread glue on each then wiggle them together ..just like gluing drain pipe

[XV1100SE]

I used ABS cement on the tab and letting it sit over night. Do the fumes from the ABS cement "eat" the nearby ABS ? I had put the cowl on the floor to set (with forward side up) and when I checked to see how well it was setting noticed some roughness on the cowling in the area near where I had applied the glue.

 

I've since turned the cowling so that the inside is up.

[star4772]

I used ABS cement on the tab and letting it sit over night. Do the fumes from the ABS cement "eat" the nearby ABS ? I had put the cowl on the floor to set (with forward side up) and when I checked to see how well it was setting noticed some roughness on the cowling in the area near where I had applied the glue.

 

I've since turned the cowling so that the inside is up.[/QUOT

 

If you have an ACE hardware they carry it. I just got some last week and fixed mine did the same thing, it is now good as new.

 

Joe

[The Tooch]

As seems to be fairly common... the tab on my lower left cowling that holds the nut for the bolt that comes from the rear of the cowling has broken off. I have the two pieces that came off and am looking at repairing it.

 

Your right about that Don, I went to pull the lower on the left side to clean the filter a couple of weeks ago. I could tell something wasn't right when I went to loosen the bolt and it wasn't tight and the cowling was rattling. The plastic was broken and look like the PO had attempted to glue it back together, the plastic had that chemical melted edge to it. I guess his adhesive didn't hold very well cause it was broken again. I wasn't sure what to use on it, so I tried some crazy glue. Thought it might be worth a shot. Never thought to ask here.

 

Well it seemed to work, even lasted for a 8 1/2 hour trip up the trans Canada & back again. Then I was cleaning the bike after that trip and leaned to hard against the cowl and it snapped again.

 

Well at least now I'll know to give the ABS compound a try. Thanks.

[Huggy]

I like to use Plastifix, I had a lots of broken tabs and cracks to repair on the 86 VR and half of the broken tabs where gone. And with the Plastifix I can use fiberglass cloth to reinforce the broken tabs. and the worst cracks.

 

[The Tooch]

I like to use Plastifix, I had a lots of broken tabs and cracks to repair on the 86 VR and half of the broken tabs where gone. And with the Plastifix I can use fiberglass cloth to reinforce the broken tabs. and the worst cracks.

 

 

So will I find this at say Canadian Tire or is it more an automotive body-shop specialty kind of thing? Thanks.

[XV1100SE]

Princess Auto has something similar but requires a heat gun to activate it. I think Plastix has to be ordered online.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Solder-Paste/Auto-Plastic-Weld-Repair-Paste/8127029.p

[Huggy]

I got it in Brantford at Aircraft Spruce Canada. Its located at the Brantford airport. This stuff is not cheap but if you have a lot of broken tabs and screw holes in the plastics that have broken always then this stuff is what you need. Here is there web site. http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/canada.html

 

[The Tooch]

Thanks Don

 

Let me know how that ABS yellow stuff holds-up. I've got a can of that in the basement somewhere and if your's is good.......I think I'll give it

[M61A1MECH]

Don

 

One thing that I found that is important for the tabs not breaking again is to be sure the foam rubber bmpers are in place and in good condition. The lowers are supposed to pull up on these foam rubber cushions, when my lower left fairing was replaced under warrenty because it cracked, they did not get the foam rubber strips, so when thn pulled the fairing up tight it over stressed the the tab and eventually it broke, I went in an repaired the tab, replaced the rubber covered draw nut that goes in the tab and added some foam weather striping in place of the factory stuff that was missing. That was many months and miles ago and no problems.

[Huggy]

Princess Auto has something similar but requires a heat gun to activate it. I think Plastix has to be ordered online.

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Solder-Paste/Auto-Plastic-Weld-Repair-Paste/8127029.p

 

 

I just went to Aircraft Spruce in Brantford and picked it up.

 

[The Tooch]

Don

 

One thing that I found that is important for the tabs not breaking again is to be sure the foam rubber bmpers are in place and in good condition. The lowers are supposed to pull up on these foam rubber cushions, when my lower left fairing was replaced under warrenty because it cracked, they did not get the foam rubber strips, so when thn pulled the fairing up tight it over stressed the the tab and eventually it broke, I went in an repaired the tab, replaced the rubber covered draw nut that goes in the tab and added some foam weather striping in place of the factory stuff that was missing. That was many months and miles ago and no problems.

 

This is interesting!......I can't remember seeing any foam strips on either of the cowlings when I had them off before. I'll have to look for them when I do the repair on the left side, make sure there is something there.

 

Thanks.

[XV1100SE]

My cowlings do have the foam strip (one on each side) plus a white coloured pad towards the top.

 

Just checked the glue... seems to be holding pretty tight.

[beastwood]

I found black ABS glue in the sprinkler (irrigation) parts section of Lowe's store. It is called Weld-On 773 ABS, made by IPS corporation, Gardena, California. It worked well on the cowling repair, although it took a day and a half to cure. Once done curing it was fine.

[XV1100SE]

That was my mistake... looked in the plumbing department to fix a motorcycle. DUH !

[Atoolnut]

I don't remember foam strips when mine was apart...where are these strips located ?

[XV1100SE]

There is one strip across each cowling and lines up with where the rear cowling contacts the front. It is above the screw from the back.

 

Hope this helps... if not I'll take mine off again and send a picture.

[Atoolnut]

Good thanks Don