West System on handlepole bracket?

[kawyjunki]

I'm in the process of shortening my handlepole. I am ready to reinstall the base on to the pole. I was wondering if I could just use some of my west system 105 resin epoxy to reglue these pieces together. Just did a search but did not really find anything about that, other than a few have used JB weld and just an epoxy glue. I assume this would work but would like a few answers before I go and use this on it.

Thanks to all.

 

[sflsurfrider]

epoxy glue and STAINLESS STEEL rivets.

 

[SuperJETT]

J-B Weld and aluminum rivets to hold it in place while the J-B sets up works for me since 2002. Be sure to grind down to bare metal and fiberglass so you're bonding to the structure, not the paint/gelcoat.

 

[Fro Diesel]

i used a panel bond glue that a buddy puts door skins on with at the body shop. Seems to be holding up just fine.

 

[BruceSki]

some people say bolt it instead of rivits.

just make sure you dont damage the bracket when chiseling out the unwanted fiberglass... have patience.

i didnt with mine and made a few hairline cracks in the base bracket...
my pole didnt last half a season before it cracked.
i used 5200 and rivits.

 

[sflsurfrider]

J-B Weld and aluminum rivets to hold it in place while the J-B sets up works for me since 2002. Be sure to grind down to bare metal and fiberglass so you're bonding to the structure, not the paint/gelcoat.

ive seen aluminum rivets shear on the first ride.

 

[stanton]

west systems epoxy with some filler will work great.

 

[SuperJETT]

ive seen aluminum rivets shear on the first ride.

The rivets don't hold it, the J-B does. They are just to hold everything in position while it sets up.

Like I said, over 6 years with both the top and bottom done this way and not a problem for me.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Mighty putty ,it holds anything to anything!

 

[tipafew]

I used West system with bolts the first time, but didn't grind down the surfaces well enough and it didn't hold. Second time I just used aluminum rivets and west systems(with filler) and it has held great! I have punished it pretty bad too.

 

[Flash-FX]

I'm in the process of shortening my handlepole. I am ready to reinstall the base on to the pole. I was wondering if I could just use some of my west system 105 resin epoxy to reglue these pieces together. Just did a search but did not really find anything about that, other than a few have used JB weld and just an epoxy glue. I assume this would work but would like a few answers before I go and use this on it.

Thanks to all.

Shorten the pole from the top. When you shorten it from the bottom, the curve on the top messes with the hood.
West system epoxy works fine, just thicken it with filler (404 or aluminum powder) and use a little cabosil to keep it from running off. Try to use all SS rivets with SS mandrels, some cheaper rivets come with steel ones that rust (the mandrel looks like a nail,that breaks off when they pop).

 

[BruceSki]

Shorten the pole from the top. When you shorten it from the bottom, the curve on the top messes with the hood.
West system epoxy works fine, just thicken it with filler (404 or aluminum powder) and use a little cabosil to keep it from running off. Try to use all SS rivets with SS mandrels, some cheaper rivets come with steel ones that rust (the mandrel looks like a nail,that breaks off when they pop).

you should patent your strengthening plate on the stock pole flash.
looks like it works really well.

 

[beachedflunkey]

Yeah I agree, shorten it at the top and get rid of that ridiculous bend. Don't use aluminum rivets, I snapped them in the first ride when I used them. I've never personally seen one with stainless rivets break but it's always possible... I used expoxy with some filler.

 

[stanton]

if the rivets break you didnt glue it in good enough

 

[KR]

JB Weld, mighty putty, aluminum putty, they are probably the worst alternatives. I used them and none of them would hold up. I even have a build thread that I posted up a while back. Anyways, the puttys feel really strong. Once they dry its hard to imagine them breaking. Well, within about 5 minutes of riding all the puttys I used just cracked. Use stainless steel rivets or make bigger holes and use stainless steel bolts and then use epoxy resin for extra strength. From my experience, I would totally steer away from using putty. They are good for many things, but not for handlepoles.

 

[kawyjunki]

Looking into some epoxy glue we have at work, same thing along the lines of what turbo626 mentioned. We use it to glue alot of are composites roof skins on to cars we build . I never thought about his stuff before and it was right under my nose the whole time. Basically its the same concept as the handlepole, (fiberglass/composite material glued to metal.) I will do a pull test I believe first before I commit though.

 

[Flash-FX]

In a perfect world, all that would be needed is the "glue" to hold things together. But corrosion, our friend steps in and messes things up. that's when the rivets aid in the backup to prevent the ends from totally falling apart. Salt water accelerates the whole process for us. The "bandaid" motoman25 was referring to is in the pix below. On that (gotta ride tomorrow) pole, the top section rotted away so much from corrosion, I had to weld on a patch.

I used MarineTex and aluminum rivets on this early "test dummy mod". West Systems or any good epoxy w/filler would have been better choice. Don't use 5200, it will come loose real quick. Make sure you grind/sandblast all existing corrosion in the socket away for a good bond.

That pole has since been retired.

 

[BruceSki]

wasnt that pole in operation in daytona? or was it another