F3's Plastic panel cracked - anyone else/any ideas how? Anyone who has removed this panel have any advice?

[Mrmikey]

Anyone ever have this happen before and any ideas how it happened? It's not a scratch, the plastics cracked all the way thru, it looks as if it'll be a real pia to replace the piece as it's under a bunch of other pieces. Anyone removed this have any advice?

 

[JKMSPYDER]

If it was mine I wouldn’t worry about it. Too much time, trouble, and expense to replace it.

 

[Mrmikey]

I wouldn’t worry about it. Too much time, trouble, and expense to replace it.

I'm thinking along the same lines but concerned that it may travel to the opposite side of the the filler cap. May see if I can find some sort of black reinforced repair tape to put over the crack.

 

[racoon]

Maybe a mixup a little bit of epoxy and spread it into the crack with the edge of a piece of paper and then wipe off the excess?

 

[Mrmikey]

Maybe a mixup a little bit of epoxy and spread it into the crack with the edge of a piece of paper and then wipe off the excess?

Never had much luck with epoxy on a thin piece, that's why I was thinking some kind of reinforcement tape on the top. I was considering taking it off and reinforcing the back with epoxy and a screen of some type. Then I figured if I went to that kind of work taking it off, I may as well go with a new piece.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Just another battle scar.

 

[racoon]

Never had much luck with epoxy on a thin piece, that's why I was thinking some kind of reinforcement tape on the top.

The epoxy isn't to repair the panel it's to glue the edges of the crack together.

 

[mecsw500]

Dilute some CPA glue and let it drain into the crack from a syringe and when it’s soaked in there hit it with some accelerator or a hair drier.

Once dry trim it flat with a razor blade and/or sand it flush. You are going to hide it anyway so you are going to need a flush joint.

Now purchase one of those faux carbon fiber coverings and cover up the panel. Or buy a sheet of the stuff and cut out a suitable shape with it doubled over to keep it symmetric.

Either a vinyl stick on or the other wrap type will work fine. A vinyl type will strengthen the CPA glue bond you made to stop the crack spreading.

Then the thing will look fancy, make your Spyder go faster, and make the problem go away unless you are OCD.

 

[VitoNam]

You might consider 3M Clear Paint Protection vinyl. Over the years, I've used it wear points on the paint of my 2818 F3 Limited and it works VERY well. Buy the smallest size, and you'll still have lots left over for other projects on or off your Spyder.