Help: Roof raising mechanism ? and fibreglass repair.

GW · Post by GW » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:37 pm

Hi

I'm quite a newbie to Bongo ownership.

I had the roof up today with the ceiling raised for headroom. when lowering the roof I made the mistake of forgetting to shut the ceiling back down first. the roof closed onto it got stuck and then didn't want to raise, once I had freed the ceiling and closed it the roof was siting lopsided. the drivers side mechanism opperates fine, but the 2 cables that move the sliding roof raising mechanism on the passenger side have snapped. the motor is fine. there is also some damage to the side of the fibreglass roof where it bent and cracked from the passenger side mechanism not moving while the other side was lowering when i first tride to get the roof down.being in the wrong place

The only way i could get the roof down was to manually pull the mechanism along the runners a little bit a t a time while lowering the other side with the motor, had to use a thin pole up inbetwwen the freetop and roof to get it along the last part and it is now only locked down on the drivers side.

Has anyone else had to replace these cables?
Anybody know where i could get the parts?
Oh, and how safe will it be driving with only one side of the freetop locked down? Think I'll probably tie it down til it's fixed.
Anybody had repairs done to the fibreglass part of their freetop

Any advice greatfully recieved.

Ta.

Gary.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:07 pm

V sorry to hear that Gary. Have a few cold beers tonight to put it behind you. Bound to be someone who comes along with suggestions and help in a bit, but afraid its out of my territory. On the bright side, it doesnt make the vehicle undriveable and I'm sure you'll figure out a way to secure the roof down until properly fixed (which it will be in the fullness - the warm bright evenings are coming).

Good luck

Mike

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:46 pm

Unfortunately, the Bongomaster (Ian) is at the Dent meet this weekend, but there is a "partfinder" service in the Member's Area - this should enable Ian to track down the parts for you.
Any motor accessory shop will sell small fibreglass repair kits - stick the matting on the inside of the roof and, if needed, use filler on the outside.
Probably best to tie roof down if you are going to be doing any distance or speed.

GW · Post by GW » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:15 pm

'Partfinder' sounds promising.
I have a friend who's a mechanic that's offered to come round and have a look at it in the week.
Thanks for the advice.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:35 pm

Be careful abot using a fibreglass resin as the Bongo roof is (I think) ABS plastic, not fiberglass. You could get a strange reaction and/or poor adhesion. Wait and see if you get a useful comment/advice from one of the BF experts.

I've used some nice glues in model aeroplane building over the years. One I was especially impressed wit hyears back was a 2-part called Stabilit Express. It may be 'old hat' now, 30 years later but have a look on the web just in case. Not cheap, only suitable if you are doing a small quantity (unless you can source it in larger packs). I found this about it on a model boats site on t'internet:

STABILIT EXPRESS
There are only three main glues that will hold ABS together
1) Stabilit Express,
2) Superglue &
3) HART.
Don't bother using anything else unless you want the whole thing to become a kit again the first it hits anything. 'Hart' glue does hold ABS but easily melts and distort ABS. Superglue is good but you have to get the parts in the right place first time unless you use a thick or slow-set super-glue. Stabilit is best as it comes in the form of an epoxy and gives you about 20 minutes working time before it sets. The setting time can be extended if you use less powder but don't use to little as it won't have it's full strength when set. If you can, grow a few extra hands to help you mix, manoeuvre and hold everything in place during the gluing process especially the deck joint. Just before Stabilit sets, excess glue can be cleaned off with methylated spirits. Rough the surfaces to be glued with sandpaper first to ensure a good bond.

Due to the high price of Stabilit glue , I tend to use thick super-glue for nearly everything apart from high stress areas such as prop tube exit and around the transom.

Good luck dude

Mike

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:46 pm

I've never checked what the roof is made of, but Mike is right about not using fibreglass on plastic.

GW · Post by GW » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:49 pm

Ah, thanks for that, Fibreglass was just a guess.

The damage to the top's possibly not all that bad, might be able to get away with just using a strong repair tape (something like helecopter tape) inside and some sort of filler on the outside.

maxheadroom · Post by **maxheadroom** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:52 pm

G W
try this on the roof repair, looks quite good stuff

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages ... _-_48g.ar4

timhum · Post by **timhum** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:56 pm

My roof had a small hole in it. when I bought it. I used the usual stuff from Halfords and the repair took no problem. The only issue then was matching the paint which was not so good. I have always meant to have the roof sprayed to match the car colour but never got around to it.
Tim

madmile · Post by **madmile** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:01 am

I will admit to not having carried out repairs on a roof but I have seen a few that have been really badly cracked and the structure very much looks like fibreglass. If iyt was abs it would give a very straigt egdes cut, but there has been evidence of fibres and a very random crack pattern.
There must be someone who can clarify this 100%.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:22 am

Gary, you don't say where abouts you are located, but I would suggest you try a few of the suppliers listed on BF that sell 2nd hand parts, like BellHill Garage (nr Bath) or BongoBits (Plymouth) - may be a lot easier/cheaper to get replacement parts.

GW · Post by GW » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:45 am

cheers Simon, I'm the other end of the country. East lothian (nr. Edinburgh).
I'd planned on giving Calders in Midlothian a call, they're not open til Monday.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:46 am

Sorry to hear about that GW... All the bloody bells and warning bleeps on a bongo,but no safeguard to stop that from happening!

Hope ya get sorted ok.. Bell hill are really very good, It may be worth giving them a bell anyway, ask for tom ( i think) What they dont know about bongo's isn't worth knowing

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:00 am

Hi
I have to agree with Mike…Stabilit Express is just about the strongest glue you’ll ever come across, and it will even bond wood to A.B.S. It used to be exported from Germany by Graupner, and maybe you can still find it in the Ripmax model catalogue. I last bought some 5 or 6 years ago , but the instructions are now only in German. If the roof is cracked, you may have to bond a little strip of glassfibre tape to the back with the Stabilit Express. Such a combination will definitely hold, whereas polyester resin or standard epoxy will not. If you need to fill the outer part of the roof , then plastic bumper repair kits are available at motorist shops, and, I believe, made by Davids of Isopon fame. I’ve used a kit on the Bongo bumper , and you can’t see the repair. You may also try a company called C.R.S. supplies , (that name is from memory), who are based in the West country, and they may be able to advise you . They are suppliers of resins , glassfibre, carbon fibre, etc. I am afraid that I have their catalogue still packed in a box somewhere , but give me a few days, and I’ll look for you. Meanwhile, might I suggest a temporary bodge with “gaffer tape” to stop any water ingress. ‘Fraid I can’t suggest any help with the mechanics.
Cheers
Helen

helen&tony · Post by **helen&tony** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:47 pm

Hi
Further to my reply, the company is C.F.S. Supplies. If they don’t do anything suitable, they probably can point you in the right direction. Their postal service is superb.
http://www.cfsnet.co.uk/
Cheers
Helen