Tutorial - Fixing splitted Roll Hoops
 

Hi everyone,
I've posted this on a thread but I thought it could be worthit if I create a special thread regarding the restoration of splitted roll hoops.
I've fixed mines using the same method as they do in the Honda factory, by welding them using a 12v current.
It is really simple, a battery charger will do, all the steps explained in the tutorial:

I hope this will help you.
Orelion.

Wow, this is awesome! Bravo to you my friend!

Some thoughts:

If there is old silicone that someone tried previously, first get most of it off with a bristle brush (old toothbrush, etc), then use caulk remover. You can get this at any hardware store. It breaks down silicone so it can easily be wiped away. Typically a spray bottle. Limit how much gets on exterior rollbar plastic surfaces.

I believe its actually the battery doing most of the welding work here, not the charger. Whats required to heat the wire is a lot of current, and most chargers deliberately keep current low, so as to safely charge a battery slowly. So I think you could repeat this effort with just the battery, and no need for charger.

However recharging the battery when you're done would be a good idea! Welding is going to pull a lot of juice out of battery, that you're going to want to put back. Probably even a good idea to recharge between one headrest and the other.

Also, regarding the trick you did to get charger to activate by connecting a 12v battery in parallel, its actually the battery voltage that signals charger to charge, not the batteries resistance. The purpose of this feature is so charger doesn't try to supply power when the chargers leads accidentally touch each other. It will sense the voltage, even very low voltage, and then start charging.

Sometimes when a battery is very dead, its voltage is too low to trigger the charger. In such cases, you just need to temporarily apply some DC voltage in parallel to battery. You can even use a small 9v household battery for this. In my toolbox I have a 9v battery connector, that I attached some wire and some alligator clips to, that I use if I have a battery that the charger won't recognize.

Fantastic job! :thumbup:

I read "welding" and was expecting you to use one of those aftermarket plastic welding kits. Just to clarify, there is a cable already in the roll hoop to facilitate the welding, you simply have to complete the 12v circuit with leads?

Correct! That is the way they weld those two parts in the factory.
All roll hoops covers come with inner cables inserted as showed in my tutorial.
Plug to electricity and "voila"

Thanks for your coment!

Not entering in the technical details of a car charger here, you clearly know more than me.
The reason the battery charger is connected, so it is constantly pumping energy in while I am pumping it out during welding.
The point here is that a 12v source will be more than enough...

DO NOT OVER HEAT, other wise the wire will cut thru any plastic.

Great find and tutorial! :thumbup:

Thanks Sir!!

Over 1.400 views, I am sure a lot of Roll Hoops were fixed using my method when there was absolutely no information on the Internet.
At least share your experience on this thread if you've done it!

Please, it will help others to decide to do it.

Mines are still holding great after more than 2 years.

just used this method and it worked. FWIW, I used a DC current source and the plastic started to melt when I reached about 15-16amps.