'07 Suzuki Eiger Headlight attachments broken

[ddwyerfire]

I had a small sapling / tree get between my brush guard and the fender flexing the fender so it broke the headlight attachment point from the fender. Any suggestion on how to repair? What kind of plastic is the fender made from for gluing? I need help in fixing this problem correctly.

[outlander560]

what kind of atv is it brand make model and year?

[DirtDemon]

Yes, please post the year make and model of the atv. Harbor Freight tools carries plastic welders for pretty cheap, it would work much better than trying to glue it back on. I would recommend one of the units that use compressed air, they get better penetration than a hot iron alone. There are better types out there but they are much more expensive.

Harbor Freight Tools

Edited September 6, 2009 by DirtDemon

[ddwyerfire]

2007 eiger

[ddwyerfire]

What you recommended is exactly what I was thinking. How am I going to find out the type of plastic they use on the fenders? Do you have any experience on these type of fenders? Not specifically welding the attachments back on for the headlights but anything one the plastic fenders / body parts. I feel this would be the best fix but I want as much information as I can get before I start any repair. I hate doing things twice.

[DirtDemon]

Most ATV fenders are made out of polyethylene or PE. It is an oily plastic and fuses easily with heat, so they should weld well. There are usually three different types of PE, high, medium, and low density. I would think that atv fenders are probably low density, but they might be medium. Either way, you can weld them together, we fuse high density to medium density all the time at work, you just have to put the heat on the hd side for a bit longer than the md side. Plastic welding with a hot air machine is done like gas or TIG welding where you have your heat source in one hand and your filler material in the other. The idea is to heat the surface of the work area to a molten state without pushing a hole all the way through the material, then you add the filler material to the heated puddle and melt, or "wash" it in with the heat source. Like any type of welding, practice makes perfect. I would try welding on a similar material to practice before you take it to your quad.

[ddwyerfire]

Thanks for the info. I was checking other sites and you confirmed what they all said. Except you explained it better. Going to Harbor Freight Tuesday to get the plastic welder. I also tore off the plastic skid plate at the Hatfield McCoy trails in July and the welder will be the only way to properly fix it.

[DirtDemon]

Anytime man, good luck with your repairs and don't hesitate to come back if you need anything or just want to share some thoughts.

[druzuki]

i personally like the frankenstein look its easy and cheap pop rivet a peice of sheet metal behind it and go rideing if you if your worried about looks plastic weld it

[Ajmboy]

Most ATV fenders are made out of polyethylene or PE. It is an oily plastic and fuses easily with heat, so they should weld well. There are usually three different types of PE, high, medium, and low density. I would think that atv fenders are probably low density, but they might be medium. Either way, you can weld them together, we fuse high density to medium density all the time at work, you just have to put the heat on the hd side for a bit longer than the md side. Plastic welding with a hot air machine is done like gas or TIG welding where you have your heat source in one hand and your filler material in the other. The idea is to heat the surface of the work area to a molten state without pushing a hole all the way through the material, then you add the filler material to the heated puddle and melt, or "wash" it in with the heat source. Like any type of welding, practice makes perfect. I would try welding on a similar material to practice before you take it to your quad.

Great explanation DD!

[DirtDemon]

Thanks, it just so happens that I work with PE gas pipe every day at work, so I am familiar with its properties.