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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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NCSenior
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11 North Carolina
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2011-12-25          181749

I'd like to know the precise polymer used for the fenders on a 10-yr old 6x4 gator. The left fender on my Gator has a stress crack where a bolt attaches the fender and I'd like to repair it. Is it ABS plastic (acrylonitrile, butadiene,styrene polymer) or something else? The repair technique and material depends on the polymer type.

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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earthwks
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 58
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2011-12-26          181754

I have a slight background in plastics but even so I highly doubt anyone here has a clue what plastic they used. In fact you would have to see the blueprint/engineering drawing to find out exactly. I have heard that Harbor Freight sells a plastic welder kit. I gotta think it comes with different filler rods. Trial and error may be the way to go using different rods. ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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NCSenior
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11 North Carolina
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2011-12-26          181755

Thanks for your reply. I've asked JD for the information too, but I'm not sure if or when I'll get a reply. I've been sucessful using an industrial cyanoacrylate with thin mesh glass cloth and filler on another vehicle with ABS. The filler rods you mentioned are great on thermoplastic polymers if not too much stress is involved at the repair site (at least in my experience). ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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earthwks
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 58
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2011-12-26          181757

I'm sure JD would rather sell you a new fender than tell you secret manufacturing info. Jis' sayin'. I've been wrong before...but. ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2011-12-27          181774

Quote:
Originally Posted by earthwks | view 181757
I'm sure JD would rather sell you a new fender than tell you secret manufacturing info. Jis' sayin'. I've been wrong before...but.


Jeff, they are knowing for their selling, not telling is my impression.
....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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NCSenior
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11 North Carolina
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2011-12-27          181776

Well, I did get a reply from JD. As expected, they said to contact my local JD dealer since I had a technical question. I'll give it a try, but I'm not too optimistic I'll get an answer. ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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spyder
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 78 East of Taihape, New Zealand
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2011-12-28          181791

One of my nephews has a plastic moulding business. I got him to have a look at the cracked bonnet on my Gator and he says the material is HDPE (High density polyethylene) - it can be welded but not glued (or even successfully painted for that matter). ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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NCSenior
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11 North Carolina
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2011-12-28          181795

Thanks for the info re HDPE. The JD dealer has promised to find out the exact polymer from John Deere. I'll be interested to see if he comes back with HDPE. ....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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NCSenior
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 11 North Carolina
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2012-01-03          181869

It is possible to get an answer from John Deere. Here is the reply:

The fenders on those are TPO material. (Thermoplastic PolyOlefin) According to the plastics guys the TPO's are all pretty much the same so if you find a repair method for one it should work for another. There are some tips for painting TPO on the web. It doesn't hold paint well unless it is prepared properly. Do a bit of reading and it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

You may have gotten this already, but I hope this helps

Chris Johnson

Operations Manager

James River Equipment

Office- 434-822-6110

Cell- 804-869-3005


....

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John Deere Gator Fender Plastic Type

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earthwks
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 58
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2012-01-03          181870

Well my bad. Miracles do happen. JD's customer line is much better than NH's I'll tell ya. ....

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