[Karl Wildey]

I have a diamondback from Ashbys that has developed a leak, in a really difficult place. The body is made from polypop, and have been told that if you place a hot knife on the crack, the polypop will move away (shrink) not melt and seal the crack. I have tried to seal it with a two part solution but no luck. The crack is in the bottom half of the machine, where the bottom vac motor is, the crack is from one of the vacs holding bolts.

Any ideas?

Any one got a spare diamondback body knocking aroung?

Whilst on the subject the machines body has a lifetime guarantee. This is one of the reasons I brought the machine from Ashby's cos of the lifetime guarantee. So when I rang Ashbys about my problem I was told, 'Yes it has a lifetime guarantee, "againist delaminating". Can you believe that, a guarantee againist delaminating, its injection moulded, so it can't delaminate if its life depended on it, cos it is not made from layers. So when is a guarantee not a guarantee....
And these companys wonder why we don't trust them 

[John Kelly]

Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge polyprop can not be suitably glued with any products such as 2 pack epoxy. The only method available is hot air welding. If the area concerned is accessable you could possibly try this, using a hot air gun and a suitable peice of polyprop to use as a welding rod. The area needs to be completely dry and I would drill small holes at each end of the crack to prevent it spreading. Hope this is of some help.

[Doug Holloway]

Karl,

It is going to be very difficult to weld PP.

You could melt it by applying a hot knife and smoothing it over but this would only form a skin on the surface.

I am not familiar with the Diamondback so do not know if this crack prevents you from using the machine or just looks bad.

I would ring Trading Standards on Monday and tell them what Ashby's have said.

The delamination thing obviously relates to  fibreglass bodies ,  and unless Ashby's guarantee states lifetime guarantee against delamination only , then you have a very strong case.

It should be possible to win a small claims court judgement against Ashby's who seem to extracting the urine.

Cheers,

Doug

[cheryl new]

Hi Karl,

Can Ashby's not suggest a method/product.  Surely they must have made repairs to pp themselves?

Other than that I was going to suggest some type of sealant and patch, but then I'm a girlie and haven't got a clue.  I even used a matchstick and glue to fix a picture hook hole in a wall prior to painting and before my husband handed me a packet of polyfilla! :

Cheryl

[Dave Parry]

Karl, you could try Johns method, if you cannot get a piece of polyprop to use as a welding rod, try to find a bit on the m/c that wont be missed, maybe in the motor section, possibly enlarge a vent hole or something in the bottom. But if you are going to pursue Ashbys, then I would do nothing that would invalidate the warrenty.

[therapist]

The machines are made in the USA by century 400

century400@century400.com or 001-800-752-1777

as the manufacturer, they should be able to assist

good luck

r m

[john rees]

try a body repair shop! my mate does something called plastic welding he uses it to repair things like motorcycle fairings when they've cracked after a crash!
        hope this helps
                                John

[Bryan H]

Ashbys managed to repair a crack in my 'Ninja' body several years ago with some form of hot welding.

It is round a front caster fixing, and has survived OK

Bryan

[Karl Wildey]

Ashby's did offer to repair the crack, of course for hard cash, plus I needed to send it to them and also pay for it return,as I live in Norfolk. A lot of extra money for something I thought was covered by the guarantee.

I am sure the guarantee states delamination only, but will take a second look.

[Len Gribble]

Karl

There bound to be someone in your neck of the woods who can help you fix it, isn’t Lotus near you! (that’s a joke)

Have you asked for a price on a new one?

Len

[Mark Roberts]

For a stop gap fix I would cut a 2or3 inch square piece of steel with a hole drilled in the middle. Put this on the inner/outer area of machine where crack is. The bolt holding the motor can then be put thro this hole and the casing hole. The metal plate should spread the load of the bolt. You could allways then secure this plate to casing. At least this way you wont do any further damage and can take it further with trading standards etc
Shame on you Ashby's !
I hope Stracker doesn't read this

Mark

[Cloverleaf]

Karl,

Find a local injection moulding company, a larger outfit may have an ultrasonic welding gun for plastic.
I would call in rather than phone up and explain the situation and ask to speak to the shop floor manager. I used to be an injection moulnding technician and we used to use these for repairing large mouldings rather than recycle them.
It is a hand held unit which has a flat ended bit of steel about 5 mm in diameter that vibrates at.......well many times a second thus instantly heats the plastic without causing a carbon deposit and is well suited to polyprop and should work a treat!
When you use a hot knife it will burn the plastic and will not melt together properly.
If you find a company that has one I would mention that you could clean foyer or office carpet for them for free and quote for the rest of the building.

If you get realy stuck I could ask the company where I used to work to sort it but might be a long haul for you.

John

[Ian Gourlay]

I smashed my waste outlet. on mine. Was hoping to fix it today with a waste pipe and plumbers weld.

Now I am not so sure. Maybee its Goodbye.

Regards

Ian

[malc]

what i`ve found about ashbys their guarantees are`nt worth the paper their written on all they want is your cash.

[eco freindly. peoples champion ron .sherlock]

i have just had an email from my freind in canada. he states all ninjas. diamondback etc are sold as rotomolded housing with lifetime warrantys, i use ninjas myself and wanted to clarify your issue. i assume that your best way forward would be to contact the licence issuers for selling the original licence to ashbys to sell there machines, they i think would not be happy if ashbys failed to live up to there obligations.

[patch]

I have been using a product today that will do it, plastic bumper filler no heat needed mix the two chemical paste's together let it set, Then apply your plastic primer then your spray paint ,I will do it for you & even get a colour match on your diamondback lol

[eco freindly. peoples champion ron .sherlock]

chris the licence holder asbys must come under the same rules as the proprietors of ninja etc they are made in america and assembled here. in america and canada it is a lifetime gaurentee

[strakercleaning]

Back from a nice weekend in Blackpool with 5 mates to a post about poor customer service from A...............
What a perfect end to as great weekend  :

[Doug Holloway]

Chris,

I thought you must have been locked up 

Cheers,

Doug

[Len Gribble]

I only got a bill of sale when I brought my ninja granted five years ago.

Karl

Is it treated like a tonker toy if so don’t bother with below!

Make another phone call and talk to Derek, Eds nice but only Talk to Derek.

The other options are Trading Standards no joy here just mention the Temple hill mob!

Sherlock has a point but they are over there and not here you are a small fish in a big pond

Len