How would you patch it?

[csguru]

I have 6" holes on the inside of both saddlebags from speakers the former owner mounted there.

I'm pulling those out and i'm looking for any ideas on how to patch the holes. Originally I was going to use fiberglass until I realized the bags are plastic so now I'm thinking just get a piece of lexan cut to size and sealed with silicone.

What would you do?

Thanx

Are the holes in a really flat surface?

You could just lay it on that surface, on maybe waxed paper, weight it down heavily so it soesn't move, and fill the holes up with epoxy, like you're pouring it into a shallow mold. If the edge is a little rough, and not greasy or dirty, it would probably stick pretty well.

The thing to do would be to do a compatibility test first. Shave a bit of plastic out of the hole and stick some epoxy on it, and see if it screws up the plastic. Some plastics don't like each other.

[cactusjack]

Aren't the bags made of ABS plastic? Isn't there a way to make a "filler" from ABS shavings and ABS cement?

[macmac]

I like the lexan Idea.. You might test the epoxie as mentioned and mask off the outter ring so it ends up neat and clean, and glue in 'light's' Some light is bound to get in from behind and it might be cool.

These bikes do have 'prop shafts' according to the book, so I see no reason portholes can't be on a water craft, do you?

[ringadingh]

Perhaps if you cut out a plug to the hole, made out of a similar material you could glue it in with JB Weld. That stuff holds to a lot of materials quite well.

[k9sarky]

You could patch the hole just to get watertight the simplest way then maybe use saddlebag chaps to cover up the repair. I would highly recommend phcustoms.com. Delinda will fix you up.

[josh]

I would say the lexan plug sounds good but make sure to make one a bit bigger to put over that one inside the bag, that way if you ever fill your bags up really full, you don't have to worry about pushing your plug out from the inside.

Just a lil bit of extra back up.

[samkjr]

Where are these holes? an how big? got pics? Thats crappy to do a big permanent mod like that and then not let them convey with purchase? did he knock off the price a good bit?

[formikec]

Saddlebag Chaps

[csguru]

More detail...

Visualize opening one of your saddlebags and seeing the back of a 6" round speaker.

The speaker is facing the inside of the bike (towards wheel) and has the grill snapped on from the outside.

So basically I have a hole big enough to slide a 2 liter bottle thru and then some.


It would never do it but it's a interesting way to mount them.

[v0lusia]

Hmmmm sounds like it might not be that bad becuase it is in a flat spot that is not too visable....

I would take some blue painters tape and get it as tight as possible over the hole (from the outside). The wider the better, over lap the tape. Then lay the saddle bag down on the tape. Then I would use some of that epoxy type ABS repair tube stuff, two tubes and a plunger that mixes on the way out of the tubes. Auto Supply shops may have it in bigger containers than Auto parts stores, I've even seen it in Walmart. Read the packaging, make sure it is OK for ABS. Also you may want to test it as mentioned above. Apply the Epoxy stuff from the inside, try to get it as flat as possible. Sand and repaint.

[macmac]

My take on this topic is the holes are on the backside wall of the bags, where no one can see well, so chaps are not going to be the answer.

or as i see it from what I read the speakers faced the rear wheel, which is pretty odd in and of itself if you ask me.

Josh i think the idea to re-enforce the way you said is excellent. That would make getting this repair water tight cake too.

[formikec]

Yep, he didn't describe where they were until after the chaps recommendation. I would have imagined (common sense) that if anyone was going to be "smart enough" (sarcasm) to cut holes for speakers in the bags, the speakers would face towards the driver or passenger (hence they would be able to be covered with chaps). Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like the guy was using his "smarts" when he did this to a nice bike.

[macmac]

formikec, I probably entered the conversation after you, and so read it before you.... Yeah I agree the placement was poor at best for 'speakers', go figure?

[spirello]

PLEASE SEND SOME PICTS OF THE HOLES I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT>>.