Print Page - It never rains in SoCal

Title: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: FJmonkey on October 05, 2015, 09:14:23 PM

Last Sunday really squashed my plans to do some yard work in the front and get a few "honey-dos" off the list. Darn it! Its raining... Sorry love, I guess I will work in the garage today.

Time to start cleaning up the ABS on the 89' before parts break off and I have to rebuild plastic in stead of just welding it back on. Nothing big, just cracks and a broken piece that holds a grommet.

I did some grinding to V out the crack and clear back the paint. There are 3 cracks, the last one is opposite of the crack in the hole for the grommet.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_05_10_15_7_43_42_1.jpeg)

Since the parts are so small I chose to use the soldering iron method and melt the parts back in place with filler ABS rod. Then sanded smooth with the Dremal. Good as new now.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_05_10_15_7_43_45_2.jpeg)

Bigger welding projects are coming up. Lower fairing, upper faring, turn signal mount, etc....

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: CutterBill on October 06, 2015, 08:56:10 AM

Looks good! :good2:

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: fj johnnie on October 06, 2015, 07:48:57 PM

Good job Mark.

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: FJmonkey on October 06, 2015, 09:59:01 PM

Here is an update, time to fix fender tabs

I tack welded the back side before hogging out half way through the broken tab.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_06_10_15_8_52_39_3.jpeg)

A better angle of grinding out the crack... "Say No to Crack"
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_06_10_15_8_52_36_2.jpeg)

The welding filler doing its job.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_06_10_15_8_52_33_1.jpeg)

Not pretty but back to full strength.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_06_10_15_8_52_29_0.jpeg)

Maybe the lower fairing is next.

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: FJmonkey on October 09, 2015, 10:37:37 PM

As luck would have it, the more I looked the more I found. More cracked and half assed repairs on the upper faring.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_09_10_15_9_31_07_1.jpeg)

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_09_10_15_9_31_04_0.jpeg)

Both sides... Some kind of epoxy putty, falling apart. I ground away one side, noting but epoxy... :mad: :mad: :mad:

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: CutterBill on October 10, 2015, 09:10:55 AM

What are you using as a welder?
Bill

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: FJmonkey on October 10, 2015, 10:58:35 AM

Quote from: CutterBill on October 10, 2015, 09:10:55 AM
What are you using as a welder?
Bill

I use the Harbor Freight welder for most of the work and the soldering iron for thinner (delicate) parts.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_10_10_15_9_56_13.jpeg)

Title: Re: It never rains in SoCal - Time to ABS weld
Post by: FJmonkey on October 10, 2015, 09:29:03 PM

Grinding out the old epoxy putty was a dirty job. My garage is covered with the dust, but I found the ABS and shaped it to fit a filler piece. I also needed to find the proper hole location by fitting the mating piece.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_10_10_15_8_20_49.jpeg)

Drilled out the mating hole and matched it with some fasteners. Time to weld...

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_10_10_15_8_16_07_4.jpeg)

Both sides get the weld.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_10_10_15_8_15_58_0.jpeg)

A little grinding to make the U-nuts fit and all is good.

(http://fjowners.com/gallery/9/104_10_10_15_8_16_01_1.jpeg)

FJowners.com

General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: FJmonkey on October 05, 2015, 09:14:23 PM