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Cheap stainless mesh!!! For rad guards etc..

2TROKE

2TROKE

Joined Dec 2011
531 Posts | 0+
Sandwich, Kent
Just been looking for some cheap mesh to cover my rads after researching it on here as rads & oil cooler look very vulnerable..........anyways did not want steel = rust.......and alloy eventally will corrode being mesh easily succumbs to oxidation so stainless it was

this stuff I thought was a steel (geddit) for an a2 594mmx420mm size sheet posted at £7.70 off fleabay here is the link for any 1 wanting to do the mod:thumbup
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless-Steel-Mesh-Insect-Reptile-Vent-Vivarium-/290572050454?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Reptiles_Spiders_Insects&var=&hash=item895fe438ed

If you ring them they will send a free sample.
Being a very close knit mesh this stuff being stainless will be tougher I reckon than alloy mesh that is usually larger guage.............this will also stop faster smaller flying stones from damaging your precious rads (just about any size stone really):biggrin my only concern until tried is the airflow rate but I reckon it should be fine I'll probs be the first to trial anyways!
 
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go to b&q mate they have different style sheets £20 each,loads of different styles as well i got the larger gold mesh just cut a mm slightly larger than the rad dimensions and it should slot in nice and tight with no need for fixing
 
No worries the whole point was I didn't really want alloy, as in my opinion its not strong enough, can't understand why you would actually want to do is protect the soft alloy on the rads with more soft alloy 1 hard stone hit will go right through it!! I'd rather slightly heavier stronger stainless...............
 
2stroke has hit the nail on the head really. A lot of people make em outta soft mesh from b&q and such and they won't stop anything harder than a bug. I found that loadsa people are getting rid of enviornmently unfriendly patio heaters and most of em have decent stainless grill which is worth unbolting and using for a fair number of things (cutting yer hands generally), but as said if yer gonna make, it make it worthwhile
 
i see your point but at speeds on the higher side i cant see that steel mesh saving your rads from a big stone,i think most people put the mesh on for cosmetic reasons because they tend to look a bit scabby over time:thumbup
 
:thumbup
bollockchops said:
i see your point but at speeds on the higher side i cant see that steel mesh saving your rads from a big stone,i think most people put the mesh on for cosmetic reasons because they tend to look a bit scabby over time:thumbutainless

Stainless is real tough (tougher than normal mild steel) and won't go scabby at all (not more then ur rads after oxidation with salted roads!!) have you ever tried drilling a 6mm hole though a bit of 1mm thick aluminium and then a 1mm bit of stainless???????
I'd say stainless is probs 3x at least tougher at the very least than aluminium and will have a superior high impact resistance its gonna save ur oil cooler/rads more effectively from a harder blow big or small stones easy!!!!!:biggrin:thumbup

Take this for a start point have you ever been hit in the eye by a bug while riding a bike fast...........it hurts like fu**!!!!!!!LOL..................
Now same scenario cover your mince pies with cotton gauze (same as alu mesh) hurts but not so much................
And now put on a pair of descent sunglasses ...................job done,...................:biggrin
Click to expand...
 
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2TROKE said:
:thumbup
bollockchops said:
i see your point but at speeds on the higher side i cant see that steel mesh saving your rads from a big stone,i think most people put the mesh on for cosmetic reasons because they tend to look a bit scabby over time:thumbutainless

Stainless is real tough (tougher than normal mild steel) and won't go scabby at all (not more then ur rads after oxidation with salted roads!!) have you ever tried drilling a 6mm hole though a bit of 1mm thick aluminium and then a 1mm bit of stainless???????
I'd say stainless is probs 3x at least tougher at the very least than aluminium and will have a superior high impact resistance its gonna save ur oil cooler/rads more effectively from a harder blow big or small stones easy!!!!!:biggrin:thumbup

Take this for a start point have you ever been hit in the eye by a bug while riding a bike fast...........it hurts like fu**!!!!!!!LOL..................
Now same scenario cover your mince pies with cotton gauze (same as alu mesh) hurts but not so much................
And now put on a pair of descent sunglasses ...................job done,...................:biggrin
Click to expand...

Mesh arrived today will post some pics upon fitting today or tomorrow for all to see a how to!!
Click to expand...
 
2TROKE said:
2TROKE said:
:thumbup

Mesh arrived today will post some pics upon fitting today or tomorrow for all to see a how to!!
Click to expand...

Hi all this has probably been documented a zillion times before but here goes with fitting some fine stainless mesh to protect the oil cooler and rads!!

Ok made a start on the oil cooler this evening First took off all the lower fairing clean all around the inside lip of the hole with either white spirit/meths or petrol or degreaser agent to get rid of the grime/***** to get good adhesion with the silicon sealer.......... i then cut the stainless mesh oversize for the holes around an inch oversize in every direction to allow for the all the dips and knocks 'n' crannies....................


Next get sommat long like socket extention that has a blunt end or sommat similar and press the mesh down around all dips and lips till it sorta gets shaped when you take it off..........


Would be advisable to wear some gloves cos this stuff is razor sharp on the edges and gets stuck in ur pinkies like metal swarf!!!

This is what it will look like form the front hopefully with not too many of those ripples as I try and get the mesh taught as the silicone dries!!


Ok this is is the final adjustments after pulling the mesh tight as I could over the gaps while trying to mantain the adhesion with the silicone......


Any silicone that has gone into the mesh I then blew out with the airline to maximise the surface airflow...........you do not want it restricted further in in any way shape or form!!!

will get a pic in a mo of the not so gr8 drying procedure with heavyish implements in place to aid contact and drying!!!!.........Be warned it does not look pretty from the inside but hey you won't see any of it once refitted........... the silicone will resist the heat from the temp of the rad many times over & dry semi permanent and give good adhesion of the mesh to plastic but being thick and gloopy is easy to smear around and take up many imperfections!!
... it will pay divedends once dry............

And here u go not pretty but once dry will solid as ........................................:thumbup
Click to expand...
 
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2TROKE said:
2TROKE said:
Hi all this has probably been documented a zillion times before but here goes with fitting some fine stainless mesh to protect the oil cooler and rads!!

Ok made a start on the oil cooler this evening First took off all the lower fairing clean all around the inside lip of the hole with either white spirit/meths or petrol or degreaser agent to get rid of the grime/***** to get good adhesion with the silicon sealer.......... i then cut the stainless mesh oversize for the holes around an inch oversize in every direction to allow for the all the dips and knocks 'n' crannies....................


Next get sommat long like socket extention that has a blunt end or sommat similar and press the mesh down around all dips and lips till it sorta gets shaped when you take it off..........


Would be advisable to wear some gloves cos this stuff is razor sharp on the edges and gets stuck in ur pinkies like metal swarf!!!

This is what it will look like form the front hopefully with not too many of those ripples as I try and get the mesh taught as the silicone dries!!


Ok this is is the final adjustments after pulling the mesh tight as I could over the gaps while trying to mantain the adhesion with the silicone......


Any silicone that has gone into the mesh I then blew out with the airline to maximise the surface airflow...........you do not want it restricted further in in any way shape or form!!!

will get a pic in a mo of the not so gr8 drying procedure with heavyish implements in place to aid contact and drying!!!!.........Be warned it does not look pretty from the inside but hey you won't see any of it once refitted........... the silicone will resist the heat from the temp of the rad many times over & dry semi permanent and give good adhesion of the mesh to plastic but being thick and gloopy is easy to smear around and take up many imperfections!!
... it will pay divedends once dry............

And here u go not pretty but once dry will solid as ........................................:thumbup
Click to expand...

Will document rad pretection/covering tomozz had enough today!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
 
Hello here is latest progress any thoughts or comments well received but a lot of umming & umming again this is what I came up with.........................
got my mesh (stainless food grade) and cut it at at least inch 1+1/2inch all the way around ..................
next I used these stainless zip ties (not affected by heat) and very stable to tie my pieces of mesh to top & bottom of the rads.............


Ok so got my mesh and placed over the rad then tie it off tight as poss top and bottom.......with the stainless mesh I have used it is pliable enough to get a good enough strain top to bottom.............at this stage should look like this......


Ok make sure the sides of the rads are cleaned off with thinners /petrol to get rid of any gease/dirt then get ur solicone gun out and slap a good bead down each side of the rads over the mesh.................


Then I went round extremely carefully (for sharp edges) pressing the mesh tight and into any bends/nooks then press tight as u can the mesh down the sides of each rad rubbing the silicone into the mesh and so adhering it to the sides of the rads hopefully sealing it down good enough to give you a good seal and tightness of the mesh over the rads!!:thumbup

Believe it or not I have actually pasted loads of silicone down the outsides and inside surfaces of the rads and pulled the mesh tight as I could ....try and crimp it over any nooks and crannies to aid stability.......her is the left hand rad



.........and now wait for it to to dry

I'll post pics of completed job tommoz when I get the panels back on..........started e**fin about with my suspension now so laterz
 
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:biggrinOK HERE IS FINISHED PHOTO OF THE FRONT LOWER FAIRING WITH STAINLESS MESH GUARD INSTALLED ....

Press the mesh all around to be as tight as poss this is a major factor and will help limit the damage from flying debris to ur oil cooler & rads!!!!!!!

Press the mesh to get the feel for any slackness if u can /persuade it out then use heavy/clamping tools to keep it there!!
 
Just finished putting it all back together and here are the results............I'm very pleased with the outcome looks good and most important is the protection factor









Hope this helps any1 wanting to do this mod:thumbup
 
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