What to do?

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:18 am

Hi everyone,
Okay, just follow me for a second here:
I got my wife a 2009 White Buddy last Summer and to snazz it up, I installed a front and rear rack for her to bundle up her work stuff so she could spend more time looking fashionable without a back pack.
She says she HATES the front rack now. Problem is the holes are in the front now, and I can't seem to locate a white front leg shield panel anywhere. (I've found every other color BUT white.)
I suggested possibly putting lights where the holes are for more visibility as solution, but I'm wondering if this kind of wiring is even possible.
I suppose I could order another color part and have it professionally matched to the original white, but that seems rather expensive.
Just wondering if anyone knows if my cheaper option is even doable.
Thanks in advance!

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:29 am

Lights should be a simple wiring job. You could use LEDs since they are going to be more for show than practicality and they draw very little power from the system

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:31 am

Thanks! So the lighting is relatively simple up front then? I will do a search on youtube or this forum and see if anyone has done some gonzo wiring.
Thanks again!

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:31 am

Lights should be a simple wiring job. You could use LEDs since they are going to be more for show than practicality and they draw very little power from the system

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:55 am

Have you called Scooterworks for a white front panel? You might not find one online, but they may have one elsewhere.

White is the rarest color, though, so…

BuddyRaton · Post by **BuddyRaton** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:55 am

ericalm wrote:Have you called Scooterworks for a white front panel? You might not find one online, but they may have one elsewhere.

White is the rarest color, though, so…

No....Vintage 06 cream is the rarest color of all!

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 3:02 pm

No, I didn't call Scooterworks. Their on-line catalog didn't have it so I just assumed. Guess it never hurts to try. Thanks, Eric!

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:04 pm

Update : Well, they have no white parts in stock, don't know when they would get the if special ordered. White is a VERY hard color to come by in terms of buddy parts. I could order the light blue cover for $69, but I'm thinking at least $100 or more to paint white.
Looks like I may need to go back to considering running lights for the holes.

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 6:52 pm

They do make spray paint especially for plastic. Krylon makes a good one. With the blue as an undercoat I am sure you could paint it before you put it on and it would only be about $10.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:01 pm

This would be even cheaper.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:12 pm

could you post a picture of the holes? Are they large enough that you need to replace the entire piece, or can they be filled/covered discreetly?

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:17 pm

If I could trust my skill level, I would try the white paint. You are right, bluebuddygirl, the powder blue would make coverage easier.
The holes are almost an inch in circumference, Edwub, so filling them in would be tough. Can you patch holes that big?
Dang, those Google Eyes are mighty genius, TVB. Reminds me of an SNL episode with Christopher Walken where he played a Gardner who could only overcome his fear of plants by attaching "googley eyes" too them!

If I get pyched out from painting it myself, or too lazy to learn wiring, the google eyes can be a fall back position.

illnoise · Post by **illnoise** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:22 pm

Yeah, maybe not google eyes, but surely somewhere you could find a rubber or plastic plug that would snap into the holes, much easier than replacing the whole thing.

Bb.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:21 pm

I am, like, a minority of one in this, but I happen to like two-tone scooters. If those holes were bugging me, I'd look around for a used panel in light blue and rock it just like that. If your wife decides she hates it, then you could paint it white. PRO TIP: If you paint it, wait until the wife is out of the house and run it through the dishwasher to get it clean as a whistle before painting. And if you get busted, you can just blame me..

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:00 pm

I think I would go for a couple of small LED's first. That would fill the holes and improve visibility. Much easier than painting a piece and less expensive than replacing, too.

I think the limiting factor will be that those holes line up with structural mounts for the front rack so there might not be enough room for lights and wires. There is a thread on here somewhere and a member had replaced the red side reflectors on the license plate bracket with LED's. If you could find some that are more surface mount but still low-profile, it might work out okay to just feed the wires through the bolt holes on the frame.

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:02 pm

illnoise wrote:Yeah, maybe not google eyes, but surely somewhere you could find a rubber or plastic plug that would snap into the holes, much easier than replacing the whole thing.

Bb.

This has been done! And it's SOMEWHERE on MB. I'm trying to find it.

Post by **ericalm** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:04 pm

Found this thread from 2008: topic8956.html

Links to this site for plugs: http://www.widgetco.com/hole-plugs

Vinyl/plastic plugs can probably be painted pretty easily.

jprestonian · Post by **jprestonian** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:19 pm

illnoise wrote:Yeah, maybe not google eyes, but surely somewhere you could find a rubber or plastic plug that would snap into the holes, much easier than replacing the whole thing.

Bb.

Silicone glue in some SCOOTER PINS. Yeah, baby.
.

hg3 · Post by **hg3** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:31 pm

This is such a GREAT group that respond to question or need for the Buddy - Makes for reading MD very enjoyable

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 12:09 am

Maybe something like this?

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardw ... 653909.htm

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:59 am

Wow! I suddenly feel my wallet getting thicker. Great suggestions, everyone, and the links are a big help! Suddenly I feel more empowered with choices:
1.) Re-paint a new piece
2.) Two Tone styling with panels
3.) Install running lights in the current holes
4.) Plugs (very simple and effective)
5.) Googley eyes!

You guys really and truly rock! Thank you, Ericalm, pdxrita, jprestonian, Tocsik, jrsjr, illnoise, Edwub, TVB, bluebuddygirl, BuddyRaton, and I liked your comment too, hg3!
Amerivespa, here I come!!!!! I hope to see you there!

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:15 am

If you have the original knock out pieces, you could glue a backer material from the back-side.

From reading the rest of the thread, I'd go with either the plugs or the googly eyes (Friggin awesome!).

As an alternate, the average bumper sticker would probably span the two holes and those are cheap as anything. Pick a message and don't look back.

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:20 am

http://www.hulu.com/watch/16417/saturda ... s-gardener

Worth having to put up with the stupid commercial! GOOGLY EYES!

Post by **ericalm** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 5:17 am

despurvoa wrote:Amerivespa, here I come!!!!! I hope to see you there!

Awesome. Best way to locate and meet many of us may be to check in here, our Roll Call thread: topic22283.html

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:20 pm

despurvoa wrote: Amerivespa, here I come!!!!! I hope to see you there!

Look for the guy sporting the new running lights.....

I think that's the best thought yet.

Reason #1 why I didn't mount a front rack, I was afraid I'd be in the same situation you're in, decide I don't like it, and have those holes to fill at some time.......
NOW that I think I want a rack, do you have yours for sale???

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:10 pm

Sometimes the simplest solution is best. (at least considering my limited mechanical and electrical knowledge. I used the link from pdxrita to order those hole covers from Menards. I think it looks kinda like buttons. Very cute. Anywho, it is no more distracting than those perforated tabs that were on the shield to begin with.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone! I think the electrical may still be a route to consider in the future, but for now, this will do.

Edwub · Post by **Edwub** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:28 pm

It does look cute, and at under $10, a lot nicer than buying and painting a whole new panel! Grats!

Looks like the box comes with 6 plugs. You could try to put some sort of actual design (painted button holes?) on the other two and try it out, a mini-mod.

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:43 pm

I know! Now I'm looking everywhere to find holes to fill!

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:49 pm

Nice!

The newer legshields don't have the perforated tabs. So if you really wanted a smooooooth look, you could get one and try painting it.

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:52 pm

I wonder if someone makes tiny little spikes (horns) you could mount in those holes. Little red horns would look good on a blackjack with it's red wheels.

amy · Post by **amy** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:42 pm

Why did she hate the front rack? Was it black like the rear rack?

pdxrita · Post by **pdxrita** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:43 pm

despurvoa wrote:Sometimes the simplest solution is best. (at least considering my limited mechanical and electrical knowledge. I used the link from pdxrita

Woot! Awesome - that looks great. I'm happy to use my Google powers for good.

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:04 pm

She didn't like the way it wrecked the contour lines. (at least that's the way I interpret her remarks.) I find the rack functional and unobtrusive, but I can see the case to be made for smooth, sloping graceful curves, which the front leg shield does have. (as opposed to with the rack)

despurvoa · Post by **despurvoa** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 11:09 pm

Thanks, PDXRITA! Your Google Powers were much appreciated!

ThreeSheets · Post by **ThreeSheets** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 1:55 pm

Looks great and is a cheap alternative!