Rock Guard Cracked on bottom

[jap1935]

I followed Bill's excellent steps 04/23/18 for two of my front rock guard cracks but I have a problem with the two attaching screws that attach the two side brkts to the upper front section. Just bought a used 2007 TM 2720 SL and the previous owner? drilled four new attaching holes but the attaching screws didn't secure the brackets, leaving a loose attachment. They? also left the old attaching holes without sealing them! What is the best way to try to attach the two lower brackets? How thick is the upper front section? I now have eight holes(four each side) for attaching the two side brackets and the screws that were used didn't secure the loose brackets!
Thanks for any suggestions, Jim jap1935

[Bailey'sMom]

Originally Posted by Michael-Rhonda

I am facing the same situation. Has anyone tried FiberFix patch? A review says that "FiberFix uses resin as an adhesive. Once you dip it in water, it becomes as strong as steel. That is the significant advantage over tape. When it hardens, there is nothing that can go through it." (https://fiberfixreview.review). FiberFix website is: "https://www.fiberfix.com/about-us". I saw FiberFix at Home Depot. Thanks. Michael

For the right application FiberFix is awesome. I broke the left side awning pole during a storm several years ago. I temporarily fixed it by sticking wood into both pieces and taping together but it was not a permanent fix and was kind of wobbly. When I got home I decided to try the FiberFix which I had seen on Shark Tank. I sawed off about 1/2” on each portion of the broken pole to get a clean edge, then inserted a piece of wood about six inches into one cut end of the pole, the fit slid the other pole onto the wood that was sticking out, then used FiberFix to wrap the broken section together. That is strong as can be now and won’t break again....at least not portion that I fixed.

Anyway FiberFix is intended as a wrapping around things like shovel handles and poles etc, not as a flat bandage. Need to wrap 360degrees, round and round. It then dries tight and strong as can be.

[DanSTL]

Has anyone successfully used moldeable plastic pellets or sheets to repair the rock guard? I’ve got 3M 5200 adhesive and I was going to use it to stop cracks, but now thinking of using moldeable plastic and Rivets instead especially if anyone’s had success.

I also have one rivet at the top right that I’ll have to remove and reinstall, as it secures the hinge onto rock guard and corner one is badly cracked .

[Bill]

I can't speak to the moldable plastic, but as noted in several posts above, your first step ought to be to drill a small hole through the rock guard right at the end of the crack. This will stop the crack from propagating further. The hole can be any convenient size from, say 1/8 inch to 1/16th inch.

Bill

[DanSTL]

Holes drilled and waiting for moldable pellets and pop rivet gun.

Question regarding the broken rivet which I attempted to drill out. The rivet fell out but the rivet cap won’t come out and wondering if pictured hollow shaft is supposed to fall out too or is this part of the cover? I don’t think the cap stays but seems it’s welded to the hollow shaft , first time working with rivets. Thanks

[Kidkraz]

I've had that happened to me, I find that I didn't go to a larger drill to cut the cap head off. I've had to either try to file the head of the cap off, or abuse it enough with pliers to get it to come off/out. It's frustrating when it happens.

[Bill]

If you can get to the back, you can punch it out. I would use a blunted nail.

Bill

[DanSTL]

Update:moldeable pellets failed…they are a lot of fun and likely will be useful for other projects but no luck on the guard as they don’t bond well to it. I’ve replaced missing grommet, drilled holes to stop cracks and cut brass sheet into strips and will rivet guard together at cracks. first going to apply 3M 5200 to cracks and then the brass strips with rivets .

[ShrimpBurrito]

I've always thought a good approach to repairing that crack is to soak some fiberglass cloth in some epoxy and lay it over the crack on the inside of the rock guard. But I've not had an opportunity to try it.

Dave

[DanSTL]

Thanks, I’ve decided to try West GFlex 2 part epoxy with fiberglass cloth instead of 5200