Need some info on Plastic/fiberglass hoods.

JD Seller

Well-known Member
I have several JD lawn mowers that the hoods may have cracks or broken pieces in out of the way places where a repair would not really hurt the appearance. What can a fellow use on these hoods. I know we call them fiberglass but I think they really are just plastic.

Also what can you use to shine/polish these same type of hoods??? Regular wax/car polish does little or nothing to these hoods. I have some that are in good shape but are faded/dull looking.
 
Visit an automotive paint store and get some of the flexible 2 part epoxy. They have several types and you need the gun also but it's good stuff.
 
its smc plastic (sheet molded compound) here is a link to a 3m repair product. you need the applicator gun and the disposable mixing tips. if you buy the product, your local auto body shop can apply it for you with their gun and tips. to buy the gun is about100 dollars.
poke here
 
I will address the fade problem. They degrade just like your headlight lenses and also the pigment used in the plastic also degrades. In order to shine it up one would need to sand/remove at least the top 6 to 8 mils of plastic to get down to virgin plastic/pigment. Lots of work getting there and even more work buffing it back up. Further ahead to just paint it.
 
Thanks for the epoxy information. How long with it last in the tube/gun. I would not mind the $100 for a gun if you can store it between uses. I would use it every few weeks or so.
 
How the plastic hood holds up has a lot to do with how you take care of it. I have a 20 year old Garden tractor with a plastic hood that looks like new. The tractor is kept under roof when not in use. Tractor is dusty in picture.
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heres a picture of a couple of our guns. the plastic mixing tips are a one time use. the product gets mixed as it flows thru the tip. when done using, leave the tip on and the product dries and seals. it will last pretty much a year . to use it again, simply remove the old tip and toss it, install a new mix tip and good to go again. there is a wide array of 2 part products available for the gun. the panel bonding adhesive is great for gluing metal together. sheet metal will tear before the adhesive gives way.

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Thank you Glennster!! I will look at a local auto paint store and see if they have them. I am running into a lot more of this plastic. I could see a gun paying for itself shortly by saving some hoods/fenders that are really not damaged that bad.
 
To reinforce the back side of a crack, use mesh screening and embed the adhesive with a bondo spreader. It adds a lot of extra strength.
 

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