Repairing fairing posts with Plastex kit for my '87 VFR700F2 - could use some help, please...

Off topic - but wondering what kind of coolant to use in my bike. I'm planning on doing a drain and refill. Didn't want to start a new thread.

TIA for your input!

 

In most bike's id run any quality antifreeze that's ok for aluminum (most). If I have a bike that has a known propensity to run hot (like some do, I run Engine Ice). In My Africa Twin I use the Honda HP coolant, just because its what Honda Calls for and its not that expensive.

 

Red Line Water Wetter. Relatively cheap and if it kept my race bike engine from over heating for 6 seasons, it's good enough for my street bike.

 

Thanks again, guys!

This one looks like it would work. Lot of positive ratings too....

Engine Ice TYDS008 High Performance Coolant - 0.5 Gallon

$22.99 from Amazon

Comes pre-diluted to correct strength.

Comments mention how important it is to flush the system with DISTILLED water first, so that's what I will do.

 

Hey everyone!

Quick update. I finally took some time out to try the Plastex kit and ended up making 3 replacement posts.

I know....they look ROUGH..lol! I still have to take my Dremel and do some fine tuning on them, especially the last one I made.

But so far I am impressed with how easy these were to make using the kit. They are very hard too, so I have no doubt they will hold up OK once installed.

As far as gluing them to my fairing - I have some Gorilla glue and wonder why I couldn't just use that (?)

Busy week so will probably be Thurs or Friday before I can get back to the project.

I will keep posting with progress.

Thanks again for all the input and support - it's really appreciated!

Oh - I also bought a new set of rubber grommets.

 

oooooooooooooooo rubber groms and spacers....hardware candy.

 

Quick update - was able to Dremel the posts as needed. Much better. Took the advice of using the Decom plastic welder, which worked great. Then did a dry fit and everything looked good. I added a dab of silicone grease on each post and then did the install. Worked out great! Now I have to work on the two lower Dzus fasteners - apparently the inserts are gone. I have a kit I bought for my Ninja and will use those for now.

I have a bunch more fairings to do repairs on and will proceed with them as time allows and will post updates here.

 

The two fasteners I have to fasten the bottom of the side fairing are NOT the right ones and the ones I got for my Ninja won't work - they are just regular bolts and I can't get the backing clip in there. I must have put the right ones somewhere else and will look tomorrow. With three of these bikes and a bunch of fairings I must have some somewhere. In the meantime after beating the Internet bush (including discovering these Dzus fasteners are NLA) I found a company selling a version I think will work. Will update the thread as appropriate, of course.

Estimated date of arrival July 20-21.

Aluminum Oval Head Quarter Turn Fasteners, .500 In. Grip, 10/Pack

Part #: 91007151

Qty: 1

$14.99

Total with tax and shipping is $28.92 for a 10 pack. I chose the aluminum for corrosion resistance. Didn't see any chrome.

 

I must be livin' right - look what I found. My little baggie of fasteners.......

 

Also dug out some of the fairings I had stashed away. The yellow ones are from my first Interceptor, which is still hibernating inside my garage.

Now that I have some knowledge to work with I can proceed with repairs of these as needed.








I guess this is what the factory poly carbonate post is supposed to look like, unlike the after market one in my initial post......



What's weird is one of the posts has a screw on top of it - and both fairings are like this so I guess this is how it came from the factory (?) Will have to consult schematic.



And.....I can't seem to find the third fairing for my yellow bike. The one like the blue one I fixed - with the taillight. Have to do some more digging, I guess.....

Here's the yellow bike in it's hey day:

 

OK I think I figured it out.

I actually do have the fairings for my yellow bike because that tail piece is different than the one I just repaired. Maybe the one I repaired - the aftermarket one - is meant to take the place of the two factory pieces even. No wonder I was confused.

The good news is after effecting the fairing repair, I was motivated to initiate getting my old yellow bike back on the road. It's been sitting for well over 10 years so will need some work indeed. I will probably start a separate thread for that, once I get that project going.

You can see how the fairing piece stops halfway to the fuel tank, unlike the one I just repaired which goes up all the way in one piece.

 

The one piece rear cowl is Cobalt Racing, aka "VFR Chuck". He made some of the nicest fiberglass pieces on the planet for the VFRs. I have a tail and a set of lowers. He was an absolute flake, and got really bad towards the end of his "career". He pissed a lot people off.

 

OK thanks - didn't know all this. When I parked my yellow bike, I dropped out of the VRF world. Actually I was never in it in the first place...ha ha.

So "VFR Chuck" is another fabricator?

EDIT - Just did a Google search and have some old threads to read, which will probably provide insight.....

 

WAS. He made spacer kits for CBR wheel swaps too and did some custom shock mods to regain ride height.

 

Oh nice - sounds like he was very good at fabrication but not good as a business person. Seen that happen all too often!

What about this company (Air Tech)?

https://www.airtech-streamlining.com/honda-fairings-seats-fenders-parts/VFR7501986-88.htm

 

Decent stuff. It is what I would consider "race" glass. Thinner with ok fitment, and you have to cut out pre-scribed holes for lights in most cases. At least they are still making shit though. I have a couple Airtech pieces.

 

Good to know - thanks! Now that I am learning to do fairing repairs I will go that route. I have the fairings - they just need a little cosmetic surgery!

 

I have some Airtech at home. It needs a lot of sanding to be nice, but he is still making all of the original molds. I have a set of RC30. I will need a VFR front and a seat cowl from him before the year is out. I am going to use my 7Hundy proj to figure out mounting for the RC30.

 

Good to know - thanks!

I pulled out my blue front ones today and looks like the right side is in pretty good shape - just a small amount of repair needed. The left side - oof - that one's gonna take a little more, somehow.

Setting the right side one in place - wow - reminded me how wicked these bikes look with their fairings in place.

 

https://www.airtech-streamlining.com/honda-fairings-seats-fenders-parts/VFR7501986-88.htm

Prices are usually at the bottom of each page.