Understanding how to repair a motorcycle saddlebag can be a huge advantage for any motorcyclist. Below is some helpful information on how to repair your motorcycle’s saddlebag.
It can be difficult to repair a motorcycle saddlebag on your own, but once you know how to do it, you’ll want to do all the repairs yourself instead of buying a new saddlebag every time you get a hole or crack.
Repair of ABS saddlebags for motorcycles:
You’ve probably heard of ABS plastic pipe glue or seen it at your local hardware store. This can be one of the most useful glues, as it is a thick, plastic-like material that does not require any heating to dry.
When repairing cracks, this pipe glue seems to be able to hold up to just about anything. For an even better seal, place a piece of tape on the inside of the crack so you can force the glue into the crack.
Since the saddlebags are made of ABS plastic, it can seem difficult to get a permanent bond, as this type of plastic has a substance that makes it a bit slippery. You can also purchase an ABS plastic plug. Chip the tang like you would cheese and mix things up with methylene chloride substances, like Weld on 3. As you do this, you’ll see the ABS begin to dissolve thickening the mixture. If you feel the mix is not thick enough, just add more ABS chips. Be patient, though it may take five to ten minutes for the chips to dissolve completely.
Avoid touching this substance with bare skin, so find a chopstick or any stick you can use to mix the entire contents. Now for the area you are repairing use 220 grit sandpaper and rough it up a bit. This will allow the ABS mixture to stick to the surface instead of sliding off.
Most do the repair from the inside of the bag and have a piece of paper on the other side that will prevent leaks. It will take some time for the repair to cure, but once it does, touch up the edges as necessary with a fine sandpaper.
If you want a repair that really fuses with the old material, this will really help. By using the same material to repair the cracked area, you can minimize the chance of anyone noticing the crack as it will disappear.
One final note when deciding to do an ABS saddlebag repair, make sure you do it in a well-ventilated area as the chemicals in the substances can be harmful to breathe. Taking the time to do an ABS motorcycle saddlebag repair can be a bit time consuming, but if it’s something you feel confident in, go for it. It’s not as hard as it sounds and it’s not hard to clean, just take your time and you’ll get the job done right the first time.