Hoping someone can help: I have Hi roof Transit van and want to fix a 3 metre length of sail track. I've been told that Sika Flex 11FC would do the job without any screws/rivets. I'm not sure if screws would hold in the fibreglass roof. I'm not much of a handy man, so don't particulary(?) want to remove inside lining of the van to bolt through.
Any tips please?
Kebbin said
08:51 PM Feb 27, 2018
You might be better off going with tri fold rivets also called load spreading rivets.
Drilling any holes into the fibreglass can cause leaks if not properly sealed. Sica Flex might be an option but it's messy, another option could be to use a very high bond (VHB) double sided outdoor tape like 3M VHB Tape 4941.
I've used this stuff myself in signwriting to hold metal sheeting to frames, it's great stuff, if you try to pull the sheets off with force it just bends in resistance. Removal requires cutting the foam bond which can be done with fishing line.
Do NOT be tempted to add a few rivets or screws otherwise when the sail track expands at a greater rate than the roof in hot weather, it will either buckle or tear out the rivets or screws. Position it using small pads of double sided foam tape 3 mm thick to control the glue thickness and to hold the sail track in position until the Sikaflex goes off.
Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:35:35 PM
daffyfrancis said
11:05 AM Feb 28, 2018
Hi,
I believe the aluminium ferry builders such as "Incat" successfully use Sika type products for a wide variety of fitting applications.
David
Peter_n_Margaret said
01:46 PM Feb 28, 2018
The body of our OKA (in our avatar) is built completely with Sikaflex 252 and Sikaflex 11FC.
There are no nuts, bolts, screws or rivets holding that body together, just Sikaflex and the body is now 13 years old.
Cheers,
Peter
Vulcanick51 said
04:16 PM Feb 28, 2018
Hi All, thanks all the replies. Thinking I might try mixture of the VHB Tape and Sika Flex.
Do you think that either / or would hold when wind is blowing the tarp around?
Thanks again..first time I've been on the site and I'm impressed.
Cheers
Nick
Vulcanick51 said
06:13 PM Feb 28, 2018
Wow! I find that amazing....I've heard plenty of stories about Sika adhesives but didn't realise that they were that strong.
Thanks for your post
Peter_n_Margaret said
06:17 PM Feb 28, 2018
Either VHB or Sikaflex, not a mixture.
Whichever you use, follow the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Surface preparation is absolutely critical.
Cheers,
Peter
Dick0 said
01:25 PM Mar 1, 2018
Check out Sikaflex 221 for fibreglass surface adhesion.
Ron-D said
03:58 PM Mar 1, 2018
Thinking about putting a shade cloth on the opposite side of the van to shade the fridge,the vans aluminium,so from what I can gather here , sickaflex adhesive would be all thats required no screws at all ,just double sided tape to hold it in position while the adhesive sets,
mullpadd said
02:04 PM Feb 3, 2019
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
3mm of Sikaflex 11FC on its own will be fine.
Do NOT be tempted to add a few rivets or screws otherwise when the sail track expands at a greater rate than the roof in hot weather, it will either buckle or tear out the rivets or screws. Position it using small pads of double sided foam tape 3 mm thick to control the glue thickness and to hold the sail track in position until the Sikaflex goes off.
Cheers, Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:35:35 PM
Hi Peter, I am unsure about the 3mm measurement. Are you saying that after fixing the sail track it should be sitting 3mm off the van panels. It does seem like a lot. You would have to load up the sikaflex a fair bit to have that 3mm after pressing in the track. Can you elaborate on why the 3mm? Cheers Tony
Hi All,
Hoping someone can help: I have Hi roof Transit van and want to fix a 3 metre length of sail track. I've been told that Sika Flex 11FC would do the job without any screws/rivets. I'm not sure if screws would hold in the fibreglass roof. I'm not much of a handy man, so don't particulary(?) want to remove inside lining of the van to bolt through.
Any tips please?
aerobolt.com.au/products/rivets/tri-fold-rivet
Drilling any holes into the fibreglass can cause leaks if not properly sealed. Sica Flex might be an option but it's messy, another option could be to use a very high bond (VHB) double sided outdoor tape like 3M VHB Tape 4941.
I've used this stuff myself in signwriting to hold metal sheeting to frames, it's great stuff, if you try to pull the sheets off with force it just bends in resistance. Removal requires cutting the foam bond which can be done with fishing line.
Some Info here: https://embossingtapesupplies.com.au/blog/cat/tape-solutions/post/buy-3M-red-double-sided-VHB-tape/
3mm of Sikaflex 11FC on its own will be fine.
Do NOT be tempted to add a few rivets or screws otherwise when the sail track expands at a greater rate than the roof in hot weather, it will either buckle or tear out the rivets or screws.
Position it using small pads of double sided foam tape 3 mm thick to control the glue thickness and to hold the sail track in position until the Sikaflex goes off.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Tuesday 27th of February 2018 10:35:35 PM
Hi,
I believe the aluminium ferry builders such as "Incat" successfully use Sika type products for a wide variety of fitting applications.
David
There are no nuts, bolts, screws or rivets holding that body together, just Sikaflex and the body is now 13 years old.
Cheers,
Peter
Do you think that either / or would hold when wind is blowing the tarp around?
Thanks again..first time I've been on the site and I'm impressed.
Cheers
Nick
Wow! I find that amazing....I've heard plenty of stories about Sika adhesives but didn't realise that they were that strong.
Thanks for your post
Whichever you use, follow the instructions TO THE LETTER.
Surface preparation is absolutely critical.
Cheers,
Peter
Check out Sikaflex 221 for fibreglass surface adhesion.
Thinking about putting a shade cloth on the opposite side of the van to shade the fridge,the vans aluminium,so from what I can gather here , sickaflex adhesive would be all thats required no screws at all ,just double sided tape to hold it in position while the adhesive sets,
Hi Peter, I am unsure about the 3mm measurement. Are you saying that after fixing the sail track it should be sitting 3mm off the van panels. It does seem like a lot. You would have to load up the sikaflex a fair bit to have that 3mm after pressing in the track. Can you elaborate on why the 3mm? Cheers Tony