Perspex headlight covers
Perspex headlight covers
Author
Discussion

Steve_D

Original Poster:

13,801 posts

287 months

Tuesday 30th December 2003
quotequote all
One of my Perspex covers has a 'bump' along the top edge which prevents it sitting down in the housing correctly. You can press down on it to flatten it but tape would not be strong enough to hold it whilst the mastic sets.
Can I heat it with a hot air gun and reshape it?
Steve

mkoch1

486 posts

288 months

Tuesday 30th December 2003
quotequote all
Steve_D said:
One of my Perspex covers has a 'bump' along the top edge which prevents it sitting down in the housing correctly. You can press down on it to flatten it but tape would not be strong enough to hold it whilst the mastic sets.
Can I heat it with a hot air gun and reshape it?
Steve


I don't see why not. You can reshape plexiglass by heating it. The headlight cover should be similar. I would contact the factory first, maybe they will exchange the cover for a new one.

mark

davefiddes

846 posts

289 months

Tuesday 30th December 2003
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I wouldn't do this. I discovered the hard way (never leave masking tape on for a week while you abandon a job to go to work ) that the polycarbonate bits on an Ultima are coated with a hard, shiny, brittle UV resistant coating. This wouldn't respond well to being heated with a hot air gun. I persuaded my covers to sit snuggly down with a cunning arrangement of bungees and foam padded bits of wood.

USCANAM

514 posts

288 months

Tuesday 30th December 2003
quotequote all
Is this enough tape??
http://home.comcast.net/~rosenracing5/wsb/html/view.cgi-photo.html--SiteID-736306.html
Actually, you could use this method, and as Dave did, put a few padded blocks over the area that has to be "forced" down a bit
Jack

GTRClive

4,193 posts

312 months

Wednesday 31st December 2003
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Little tip steve when putting the black primer on the cover put 1" not 1/2" all around the outside, as it covers up any mastic that flatens out when you push them flat. Also don't put mastic around the outside of the cover to make it flat with the body (similar to doing the screen) as it looks better leaving the outside edge with none.

bluesatin

3,115 posts

301 months

Wednesday 31st December 2003
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Clive

If you have black GRP it is best to do the headlight covers the same as the windscreen!

GTRClive

4,193 posts

312 months

Wednesday 31st December 2003
quotequote all
Still looks cleaner with out filling the outer edge.
Have bought some new covers for mine and am thinking of fixing nuts in the body and using countersunk Stainless screws. Also will fit fans to assist demisting while I have them off.
Gave Andy Can-Am the same advice, and his covers look alot more professional.
Just my thoughts....

Have fun, happy new year.... Clive