Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Reinforcing Plastic Motorcycle Seat Pan with Composites

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic11674.aspx

By Cornelius - 6/5/2014 2:46:44 PM

My motorcycle seat pan bows when sat upon and I am going to reupholster it and want the plastic pant to be as stiff as possible.  Originally I thought of using the pan as a mold, adding a release agent, and using vinyl ester with a few layers of biaxial, for strength and a final 2 layers of carbon fiber 12k plain weave for finish.

If that makes sense, would it also make sense to skip the release agent and just bond biaxial directly to the plastics with the vinyl ester and add 1 layer of 12k plain weave to the top for looks?  Is there a problem using the existing plastic base in the new design?  After all I just wanted to reinforce what is already there.

Any other ideas would be appreciated, I want to avoid the bowing of the plastic pan at all costs.

Thanks
By ajb100 - 6/5/2014 7:20:45 PM

Losing some weight would stop the seat bowing! Tongue

Are you going to see the too side?

Adding material to make it thicker would work but you don't need the strength at the side but in the middle. I think is go with riveting on a couple of L sections underneath to spread the load and stop it deflecting. Then you'd only have the rivet head on top which would be covered easily by a thin layer of foam, not that you'd feel them much through the romper suit anyway. Or use countersunk rivets