How to fix crack in plastic fender

ByronBob · Aug 2, 2005

I work in injection molding and know plenty about plastic.

You almost can't fix it. Save your money and time and either live with it or buy a new fender.

HomeBrew2 · Aug 2, 2005

Just a thought ... after you stop the crack with a hole as described before, you might try some Gorilla Glue from the underside. I know nothing about plastics except this stuff has worked for me. I broke off my left side mirror on my car at the 3 plastic (internal) studs and glued it back on ... 6 months ago ...
Cheers!

TMcD_in_MI · Aug 2, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( We will be seeing more of these types of posts though as the plastic coated tractors age a bit. )</font>

My 4310 fender is also cracking, but a lot lower down. I saw it a couple of weeks ago when I was taking parts off to get at the loader joystick for lubrication. On the plus side, the fenders have no dents. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Tom

BadDog · Aug 2, 2005

I had a big crack in mine after winding up a chain harrow around the rear wheel (ouch!). Tried fixing it... held together about a day with cycloarcanate (super glue)... a week or so with JBWeld, a couple of weeks with duct tape... and the fender was looking worse and worse on my nice new tractor.

Finally gave in and spend the $800 to replace it with a new one. MUCH happier now, not looking at the ugly cracked fender and reminding myself of my past error every time I get in the thing.

slowrev · Aug 2, 2005

Metal can always be repaired and repainted. Plastic has a definate lifespan and deteroriates. But we have to live with plastic, because that is what we get.

Ben

SnowRidge · Aug 2, 2005

One of the reasons I didn't buy a Mahindra was cracked plastic fenders on a used model sitting on the dealers lot. It had very, very low hours -- no more than ten, I'm sure. There was a crack at each bend in both rear fenders.

slowrev · Aug 2, 2005

I wonder if selling metal replacement fenders and hoods for tractors with plastic coverings would be a viable business in a few years ?
Ben

Farwell · Aug 2, 2005

Slowrev,
I will buy stock in the first company that does it. I never had much luck with repairing anything plastic other than Fiber Glass.
Farwell

slowrev · Aug 2, 2005

Farwell,
Yes fiberglass is no problem to repair. I have not had any luck either with repairing plastic body parts either. Gluing a plastic switch housing together or something like that is not a problem, but the flexible plastic.......And at 800.00 a pop for a fender......
But that is what almost everyone is putting on at least the small to mid sized tractors. I suppose it is a good way to increase profits on parts sales /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ben

Boomerang1 · Aug 3, 2005

Yes you can fix plastic. You have to know what kind it is so you can by the correct repair material. I have worked in the autobody repair industry since the mid 1970's. I have succsessfully repaired all kinds of plastic parts on all types of vehicles. I have done tests where I bonded pieces of plastic to old plastic parts such as fenders. I hooked the parts to our frame machine and pulled until the part broke and the bond held. 3M also makes adhesives for plastic to metal and metal to metal. I have bonded metal to metal and pulled until the metal tears and the bond held. I can fix a crack or tear in a plastic part so well that you could not find the repair. Plastic can be repaired.