sharing a secret

Post by **jddecalguy** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:28 am

the 80 and newer deeres use a pastic type hood and these hoods cannot be fix with fiberglass resin and hold together. i have fix in the hundreds of these type of hoods(use to do insurance repair for 5 dealers in northern MN polaris, arctic cat, yamaha, skidoo) to fix these hoods properly i use problem plastic repair (a product made by SEM) first clean out loose pieces, then ruff up area with 40 grit sand paper the rougher the better. second mix up and lay in the ppr while workable lay in pieces of fiber glass mat and cover with a layer of the ppr, let harden. third on the top side of the hood sand damaged area with 80 grit sand paper and clean area. put a thin smooth layer of the ppr on the topside to fill in crack. sand smooth and paint. note only use ppr to repair damage, it has flex to it and is the strongest repair. don't use bond or body filler it will get hard and brittle, crack and fall out. to those of you that want to repair a plastic hood this is the best and strongest way that i have found to do it. i have repaired hoods that have been in the field for 10 plus years and are still holding without cracking. just thought someone might be able to use this info.

chris
(jddecalguy)

Jingles · Post by **Jingles** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:46 pm

Can this ppr stuff be used to repair minor cracks in fiberglass hoods as well? Also, just to confirm, would the paint on a 78/79 spitfire be polyuerthane? Previously I just assumed it was enamel. Also, was the same paint used for the hood as for the tunnel?
Thanks for the help. Jingles.

JDScrap · Post by **JDScrap** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:02 am

excellent information. I am sure, like me, almost everybody has a hood with a crack in it.

Mean Green · Post by **Mean Green** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:05 am

That's a good question for you Rich, was the tunnel painted with the same paint as the hoods? Also I have a 1981 Liquifire with very low miles that the belly plastic under the surround appears to have never been painted. Stock?, or were the panels replaced and never painted. I also believe this sled to be a "Deluxe" as it has a Trail seat with strap, high windshield and mirrors. Factory? or dealer installed. As mentioned, it is very low miles and untampered with. Thanks for letting me pick yer brain Rich, I really appreciate all the information that you share!!
Tracy

Horicon Joe · Post by **Horicon Joe** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:56 am

Tracy ...... I'll take a shot at some of your questions.
I believe the platic tubs you are talking about were only
painted on the 80 models like the tunnel was. In 81 they left
the tunnel bare and the plastic as well.
The "Deluxe" options you are talking about would all have been installed
by the dealer or the owner.

Joe

Post by **jddecalguy** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:31 pm

i have used this product to also repair fiberglass hoods, but the big thing is that it is like a two part epoxy and comes in smaller tubes at a cost of $32.49 per kit. i would say to still use fiberglass resin and matting to repair fiberglass hoods just do to cost. example on the sunfire it had a 6 inch crack and a couple of 4 inch cracks and a few small spots and it took 2 kits to repair this hood.

in the paint process i use a urethane based primer 4 coats sand with 320 grit to take down the bumps if any and than top coat with ppg urethane base coat and top coat that with 4 to 6 coats of high solid clear coat. let it dry for 48 hours wet sand it with 1500 grit and than buff with maguires buffing compound and than 3 coats of maguire's paste wax. this process will give the hood a 6 inch deep shine!

chris
(jddecalguy)