FTP light tab repairs ?

[maint]

My FTP screw tabs have broken off again. All the road construction around here is killing them. I used Q bond last time and had some success, but looking at them it must be a common occurrence. I've searched and have seen references about Polyvance to create new tabs and plumbers tape (which seems to be metal strip for hanging). The new FTP I bought a while back has also cracked a tab and as the prices of new seems to have doubled, I'm going to try repairing again. Someone here must have repaired the tabs and had it last long term? Can you tell us how you did it?

[Timm]

My Q-Bond repair lasted quite a while, but after a while the FTP plastic fails a bit further back and it just falls apart again. I've re-done it once more and then gave in and bought two new ones! The original repair was detailed here:

https://www.meeknet.co.uk/e31/E31_FT...ug_Repairs.htm

[maint]

That is what happened to my repair. The Q-bond held but the tabs broke off further along the brittle plastic. At $600 Canadian each I can't keep replacing them. I'm hoping for another option as the rest of the light is still good. I bought a new one about 2 years ago ( & before the price went way up) and one tab of that one has already been Q-bonded. I replaced that one because when the tabs broke it also broke the cylindrical retainers at the other end. Maybe I'll try a metal retainer sandwiching the plastic near where the beam adjusters are, but then I'll need another way to fasten the grills.

[henryc]

maint - Maybe reach out to Wuffer - he may have a good suggestion. I know he has fixed many of these FTP's in the past.

/Henry

[rogbmw]

Hold the press! I just was contacted, and a new OUTSTANDING solution for broken tabs is almost done by an E31 owner, and should be ready soon! The repair is now in the road testing stages, and he hopes to have it ready for release in the Summer E31 NEWS newsletter.

[maint]

Finally caught up on all my projects and had time to try this again. I guess the road testing didn't go as hoped so I came up with my own tabs. Made them from body sheet metal I had left around and they grip the plastic grill piece hard enough that I need a pliers to remove it. They seem to work but the proof will be in how they work on the road.
Sorry pics are sideways, can't figure out how to change them.

[rogbmw]

Finally caught up on all my projects and had time to try this again. I guess the road testing didn't go as hoped so I came up with my own tabs. Made them from body sheet metal I had left around and they grip the plastic grill piece hard enough that I need a pliers to remove it. They seem to work but the proof will be in how they work on the road.
Sorry pics are sideways, can't figure out how to change them.

Out of all the available solutions, I think this one is the best, and should never break!

[Ferns8]

I made the same type of holder last year. So far so good. You should have a few made. I am sure many on this community would like a set.

[clockwork]

Finally caught up on all my projects and had time to try this again. I guess the road testing didn't go as hoped so I came up with my own tabs. Made them from body sheet metal I had left around and they grip the plastic grill piece hard enough that I need a pliers to remove it. They seem to work but the proof will be in how they work on the road.
Sorry pics are sideways, can't figure out how to change them.

those are actually quite attractive too. too bad you didn't make a bunch, to sell
Also, did you make the tabs opening a bit wider than factory so the plastic clips from the slotted grill doesnt have as much pressure on the clips as they press over the FTP tabs?
great work. I just used the perforated strapping that plumbers use to hold tubing to ceilings/walls...

[maint]

"did you make the tabs opening a bit wider than factory so the plastic clips from the slotted grill doesn't have as much pressure on the clips as they press over the FTP tabs?"

I bent the metal slightly up and slide the grill in sideways to avoid pushing/pulling too hard on the grill clips. I made a couple of versions and when making the opening for the tabs wider it went from 'too tight' to 'too loose' very quick.
I attached a drawing of the ones I made but they were very easy to make. Used a vise, tin snip, drill and file. I see I didn't put in the hole sizes but measure them off your FTP. It was made from 20 or 22 gauge metal left over from a body repair.

[clockwork]

Thanks kindly for the drawing.


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[CD05001CIA]

Aw man.... We hafta make'um ourselves. Ok.
Great idea. Know it when I see it.
Screenshot_20200422-104530_Chrome.jpg

Ok. Get out some sheet metal, some aviation sheers and a nibble-ing tool.