FIXING Red SA-50 Front Fairing Cover

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Wheelman-111
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FIXING Red SA-50 Front Fairing Cover

Post by Wheelman-111 »

Greetings:

Wheel-Boy cut it a bit close with a slow-moving pick-up and dinged mine. Can't find any - even Repros - online so far. Needs to be American Red, and pretty much perfect, will pay accordingly. If anyone knows of reproduction or NOS gathering dust, I'm all ears!
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SA50CoverDing.jpg
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Wheelman-111
Most of my money is spent on scooterparts. The rest is just wasted.
"ISO": '03 Vespa ET4 Malossi187 74MPH
Flash 9: 2001 Elite SR Contesta 72 ZX Tran, 9:1 Gears, Stock Airbox/Carb/Pipe 58.8 MPH
Punkin: 2010 Vespa/Malossi S78, 61MPH
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Wheelman-111
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Re: Wanted: Red SA-50 Front Fairing Cover

Post by Wheelman-111 »

Greetings:

Still in the market for a cowl. But can't leave Wheel-Boy riding a scooter with an unsightly cracked front cowl, now, can I?

Let the Repairs Begin!!
First, forget about polyester resin and epoxy. Honda's ABS plastic is notorious for not sticking to these fine products. All-purpose cement is the way to go:
FHR1.jpg
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I found the side mounting tab broken off and sitting in the front fender well upon removal of the front cover. All-purpose cement will glue it back, but I don't quite trust the bond. More on that later...
FHR2.jpg
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First had to glue on the mounting tab...
FHR3.jpg
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My particular crack didn't want to align... resorted to clamping:
FHR4.jpg
FHR4.jpg (65.68 KiB) Viewed 7711 times
Get some glass or carbon fiber mat. Wet down the Backside of the damage with All-Purpose and press the fabric down onto the surface... ROLL, don't RUB the cement on with the applicator from the can. Otherwise the glass weave falls apart and you have yourself a hairy mess.
fhr5.jpg
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Built up in layers, the glass will stabilize the crack. Used a wrap-around for the mounting tab as foreshadowed above...
FHR6.jpg
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This is all I could get in today. Reinforced the glued-on tab, applying All-Purpose cement with a Q-Tip to saturate the tight spaces. Let harden at least overnight and figure out what to fill the gap with?
FHR7.jpg
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Wheelman-111
Most of my money is spent on scooterparts. The rest is just wasted.
"ISO": '03 Vespa ET4 Malossi187 74MPH
Flash 9: 2001 Elite SR Contesta 72 ZX Tran, 9:1 Gears, Stock Airbox/Carb/Pipe 58.8 MPH
Punkin: 2010 Vespa/Malossi S78, 61MPH
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Wheelman-111
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Re: Wanted: Red SA-50 Front Fairing Cover

Post by Wheelman-111 »

Greetings:

Continuing the repair, to address the missing chunk of plastic. (A search of the collision site failed to locate it...) I had only a (Vespa Red) "fingernail polish" can to work with. No Painting Talent or place to spray, so I knew this wouldn't look new. Just a bit um... better.
FHR8.jpg
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Minimal prep work with painter's tape and a razor knife. Fiberglass strung across the gap wetted with MP Cement yesterday was pretty stiff. Next comes the Dreaded Bondo...
FHR9.jpg
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For once I took my time, Stroke with the rasp, blow dust off and check, next stroke. The whole process took 20 minutes, and I didn't scratch any new places into the cowl.
FHR10.jpg
FHR10.jpg (91.73 KiB) Viewed 7699 times
Finally clumsy Wheelman application of Vespa Red paint...
FHR11.jpg
FHR11.jpg (80.18 KiB) Viewed 7699 times
Wheelman-111
Most of my money is spent on scooterparts. The rest is just wasted.
"ISO": '03 Vespa ET4 Malossi187 74MPH
Flash 9: 2001 Elite SR Contesta 72 ZX Tran, 9:1 Gears, Stock Airbox/Carb/Pipe 58.8 MPH
Punkin: 2010 Vespa/Malossi S78, 61MPH
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Wheelman-111
Moderator
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Posts: 11319
Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:09 pm
Location: Deepinnaharta, Texas

Re: Wanted: Red SA-50 Front Fairing Cover

Post by Wheelman-111 »

Greetings:

Paint too soft to polish for a few days, but Wheel-Boy's ride is done for now.
He felt really bad, and will have a reminder to ride more cautiously in the future.
Still would replace in a heartbeat if I could find a new one...
fhr12.jpg
fhr12.jpg (186.55 KiB) Viewed 7699 times
Wheelman-111
Most of my money is spent on scooterparts. The rest is just wasted.
"ISO": '03 Vespa ET4 Malossi187 74MPH
Flash 9: 2001 Elite SR Contesta 72 ZX Tran, 9:1 Gears, Stock Airbox/Carb/Pipe 58.8 MPH
Punkin: 2010 Vespa/Malossi S78, 61MPH
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