IS pods cracked from the stress of the Baker Airwings!

[Hoosiervalk]

Hey I just got finished checking out the archives and looks like I'm not the only one with cracked pods. I took mine down to the local body shop and he repaired the cracks with the plastic weld from the inside. ( I can only hope for the best ) I am considering using the mesh and liquid weld as well. my question is has anyone followed up with some kind of a brace or someway to reinforce the pods and the airwings?

[Joe Hummer]

Yeah...mine cracked...around the top bolt holes and the lower pod mounting point.  When i found it, I thought the problem was because the wing would buffet around in the wind...vibrating it up and down...so i took measures to stop that.  I found a small j hook, drilled a hole in my pod, and attached the hook to hold down the wing.  I am using a piece of plastic tubing to protect the paint from the wing support. 



When I had my bike repainted this winter, I took the pods apart and glued a pipe clamp (opened up...flattened out...trimmed to match the length of the top of the pod) and glued it in place with plastic epoxy.  I cleaned that up and took it to the painter.  I attempted a similar repair to the lower pod mounting point but it didn't stay together after I installed it again.  I am not that worried about it. 

Joe

[Momz]

I removed my Air Wings because of that cracking issue.

I purchased a sheet of ABS plastic and some Oatley ABS pipe cement from Home Depot. I roughed up the inside of the pods and cut pieces of the ABS sheet as reinforcements. Coated the inner pods and the reinforcement pieces, then put them together for a permanent repair.

Walt "Kingbee" had some dark smoke lower fairings made and offered them to our members at a very reasonable price. They work better than I'd expected.

Although the Air Wings did reduce rain and cold air blasts, I thought looked hokey on my I/S.

[John Schmidt]

I just put some large chrome star washers under the two top mounting bolts. As for cracking near the bottom, if it's the outer one it's probably because you're tightening it down too much. That will crack it for sure when added to the buffeting. I have the Bakers on my pods and they have never cracked....anywhere.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I took a 1/8 welding rod and beat the flux off of it and made a loop in one end cut it to proper length and a L shaped bend in the other end. Took the top mounting bolt of the pod out and with a rubber washer bolted the rod on so it holds the front of the airwing bracket down firmly. I put 1/8 shrink tape on the rod so it is flat black and will not rust. Can't even see the rod if you didn't know it was there.

[PhredValk]

I've decided not to install the Bakers (I'd bought them, then this cracking thing came up) When this came up some years ago I put some thought into it. I think that replacing the large bore hex screws holding the pods together with the thin screws in the Baker kit is part of the problem. I was going to fill in the large bore screw holes with JB weld and drill holes to match the screws in the Baker kit. Maybe find some steel sleeves to fit as well.

This could help support the wings on the top of the pods. Further stiffening of the inside of the top of the pods could be done with steel window screening and JB Weld or fiberglass. As could wide washers on top and a steel or aluminum plate, say 1/2" by the width of the screw holes + 1/2" per side on the inside of the pods.
Fred.

[Hoosiervalk]

Yesterday I went down to the local hardware and picked up 4 chrome and 4 rubber 1 1/4" washers to try between the pods and airwings? and Mr Bubbles I have been looking at that top pod bolt to anchor to.

[eric in md]

Yeah...mine cracked...around the top bolt holes and the lower pod mounting point.  When i found it, I thought the problem was because the wing would buffet around in the wind...vibrating it up and down...so i took measures to stop that.  I found a small j hook, drilled a hole in my pod, and attached the hook to hold down the wing.  I am using a piece of plastic tubing to protect the paint from the wing support. 



When I had my bike repainted this winter, I took the pods apart and glued a pipe clamp (opened up...flattened out...trimmed to match the length of the top of the pod) and glued it in place with plastic epoxy.  I cleaned that up and took it to the painter.  I attempted a similar repair to the lower pod mounting point but it didn't stay together after I installed it again.  I am not that worried about it. 

Joe

i put a black quick tie around mine works great

[Karen]

Had the same thing happen on my 99 IS trike, but it probably didn't help that I put the stainless steel dragon cut-out panels on top of the plastic pieces, increasing the weight exponentially. Replaced the right pod pieces, and put large stainless and rubber washers top and bottom to no avail, the pod still cracked. Tried JB Weld, finally got some thin aluminum stock, cut it and bent it to fit above and below the plastic mounting area. Been good so far this year, and doesn't look too bad, sort of a sandwich brace. I'll see how it fares when I take them apart for the winter cleaning.