Ok, time to move this Beet mudguard project on a bit... not fully... just a bit lol
Last week I visited a mate (LB on this very forum) and while I was at his place he gave me an old broken LC mudguard he didnt need so i could cut the top section out to use to repair this Beet guard. He messaged and suggested this is what I needed to use when he saw the hole in the BEET guard.
He is right of course, they were both made to house an 18inch wheel with tyre so have much the same curve and the plastic is thick enough for the job in hand. It was a great thought.
Twas super kind of him and its easy to see that it had led a life or two (seven?) previously!
Not too bad this side...
![](https://i.imgur.com/d9eMYRd.jpeg)
This side is interesting... this side is destroyed and look how someone bizarrely cut the bracket/hoop out! Madness...
![](https://i.imgur.com/8hqNDFz.jpeg)
There were a few other bodged repairs on the ends as well and it would have been a hard job to restore it, so at least doing this its going to a good use.
Ok... First job was clean the dirt off inside and out and then to sand the paint off the top and the inside. We want clean plastic to make good joins. Paint, dirt and filler are the enemies of a good job when plastic welding.
![](https://i.imgur.com/NufD586.jpeg)
One nice thing is the original 4L0 parts have a stylised direction arrow moulded into the part, I thought Id keep that in my 'updated' Beet unit so made sure to snip it in the right place.
![](https://i.imgur.com/ZeV4bGn.jpeg)
Like all good cutting... mark up the slice needed... why is it i fancy cake or pizza, maybe both, now that ive written this?
![](https://i.imgur.com/vPxXwkd.jpeg)
Remove with Dremel(-ish tool*)...
* - more on that in a bit...
![](https://i.imgur.com/WTsdQFs.jpeg)
You'll see that I did mark it up for the existing elliptical hole but later decided not to use that shape. Its too pointy and might crack again at the ends in use if for some reason the welding wasnt right, plus the wear on the underside was better cut out a little more to provide more solid plastic area for the join.
I did have to heat and lightly bend this repair panel 'flatter' front to back as the Beet guard is minimally less 'round' (ie flatter) than the OEM... in fact its flatter in all directions than the OEM as the top on the OEM is very rounded.
Then I tacked the repair into place on the underside making sure the top side is flush to save effort later.
![](https://i.imgur.com/1dBW40d.jpeg)
The view from the top...
![](https://i.imgur.com/c7Pthdv.jpeg)
Ive just got to weld the rest in later... which i hate. Horrid fumes... but worth it to have this solid again.
I could of course have stuck this repair panel in place and have had great success with Wurth's Replast products over the years, but I didnt have any at home and wanted to get on so just went for it. Planning... would. be. useful. hmm...
And the tool i mentioned? About £15quid (incl batt and USB charger) 12v unit from Aldi the other week. Comes with the usual range of rubbish non dremel bits n bobs, but fits all the OEM Dremel tools and stuff. Its actually great for when you just need a tool outside and dont have a battery Dremel. The battery lasted ok for cutting this out and then reducing the size a few times and then die grinding the edges as well. It was pretty much done by then tho. It does have a silly small on/off switch but other n that its pretty useful for the money.
![](https://i.imgur.com/fswus90.jpeg)
I only ever use the Dremel tools in my Dremels (other than drill bits) as they are generally decent quality and clever in their design, I buy loads of them when im in the USA as they are much cheaper there than here
![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
![](https://i.imgur.com/h1etsOf.jpeg)
I may yet get a keyless chuck for this as I have them on my other Dremels and see the chinese have made knock offs of those for crazy cheap money now. Interesting... We'll see... I actually didnt mind using the collets on this one, but i know that will wear thin as Im so used to the keyless chuck in the others and love the idea you can fit any size shank you want in the tool.