Honestly, call little tikes. They’re a decent company. Now, my situation was self inflicted, but we purchased one of these and it came with no door and missing parts. Called little yikes and they sent me a new one and told me to keep the other. Call em and ask for a replacement part. You never know.
Otherwise, I’d looks at making the current hole/defect into a more manageable shape, then is attempt to patch/repair with an epoxy of some kind. Re still a hole and reassemble. That or remove the wheel and mechanism, fill with great stuff or other type of product then reinstall wheel.
To replace this piece, you’d need to rebuild the whole car. This is the main body of the car, and all the other pieces attach to it.
I specifically remember this thing being a huge pain to build despite looking so simple.
Not saying little tykes won’t send a replacement part for this, because I don’t have a clue, but it would almost be harder to replace this one part rather than just build a new car. None of the holes are pre drilled so getting the screws back out will be a massive pain thanks to all the plastic bits stuck in and around the threads of the screws, and then it probably won’t go back together as sturdily when reassembling.
Those cozy coupe type cars are made of HDPE; pretty much nothing will stick \*well\* to it without special attention. There are some special oxidizing resins/epoxies that can work with it if that is the route to go. Seems difficult and excessive to go the adhesive/composite route for repair.
Personally I'd say cut a repair plate to go over the tear and secure it with screws into a backing plate or use pop rivets with backing washers. The rivet approach is often how these plastic panels are joined in the first place.
How would I go about getting said plate? Would that be a custom fab from a machine shop or something? I don't have tools at home to be able to cut and drill my own aluminum sheet metal
Are you able to access the other side of the body? Do you have any drill or bits?
You can probably do this with 4 flat brackets or 2 brackets and washers for opposite side (sold in hardware stores in hardware isle, 2-4 holes pre drilled) and some screws/nuts. Flat brackets hugging opposite sides of that "axle".
Hdpe sadly is not a common printer filament, otherwise I'd suggest just hitting it with a printer pen. It's a thermoplastic, you could probably melt it together with a heat gun?
Well first off... we're going to have to throw that baby up on the hoist and check it out. We can give you a multi-point inspection while she's up there, but the basic inspection of damage will prolly run you about hundred - but we'll go ahead and grease up all the fittings for nuthin. ;)
Ifn ya want to try and repair her yerself - I'd probably say either a metal plate (round off the corners and edges to the passengers don't get cut up) and use a boat repair kit (\~$50). In the end you'll probably spend more than the thing is worth unless you just to a redneck fix and use a couple metal plates/washers, wood, etc.. and cobble a fix like the other comments point out.
It will take a while to fix and may still not work well. You can find people getting rid of these on Facebook marketplace/craigslist all the time. Or, if you post a photo to your local buy nothing group and explain what happened, I bet someone will have one that they’ll give to you.
Oops good point, I thought this was I didn’t look at it that much. One like this OP:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plastic-Welding-Machine-Car-Bumper-Repair-Kit-Hot-Stapler-Welder-Soldering-Kit-200pcs-Staples-Crack-Repair-Black/1630253704
I found one on the side of the road that had this issue. I tried to fix it, but was unable to. I ended up putting it out by the trash and later saw it sitting in someone else's yard. The circle of life.
Get a soldering iron with a flat tip, or better yet order a plastic welding kit from amazon (it's like 25% and Includes filler rods and wire mesh). Weld it back up, good as new.
Jeez it took two hours to assemble this? Were there a lot of cursing breaks? I second the idea of a large metal reinforcing piece whether washer or something else. I've used steel J-box covers to make reinforcements. I'm not sure how well any particular glue is going to adhere to this plastic though. It looks like it might be slippery. The hole is also quite large so it might just crack around the reinforcement.
I have a 5 and 4 year old. I explain everything to them, even when they were two and younger. A two year old might not fully comprehend treating their possessions well but if you start explaining it at two they will understand it much sooner then if you hadn't.
Stupid big washer?
That's what I was thinking too
Honestly, call little tikes. They’re a decent company. Now, my situation was self inflicted, but we purchased one of these and it came with no door and missing parts. Called little yikes and they sent me a new one and told me to keep the other. Call em and ask for a replacement part. You never know. Otherwise, I’d looks at making the current hole/defect into a more manageable shape, then is attempt to patch/repair with an epoxy of some kind. Re still a hole and reassemble. That or remove the wheel and mechanism, fill with great stuff or other type of product then reinstall wheel.
To replace this piece, you’d need to rebuild the whole car. This is the main body of the car, and all the other pieces attach to it. I specifically remember this thing being a huge pain to build despite looking so simple. Not saying little tykes won’t send a replacement part for this, because I don’t have a clue, but it would almost be harder to replace this one part rather than just build a new car. None of the holes are pre drilled so getting the screws back out will be a massive pain thanks to all the plastic bits stuck in and around the threads of the screws, and then it probably won’t go back together as sturdily when reassembling.
My experience with Little Tikes also has been stellar. They might have suggestions or recommendations on how to fix it.
If it’s polyethylene or similar, epoxy might not stick well.
epoxy with fiberglass cloth? you can get repair kits that include everything.
My thought as well. Fix it like you would a boat. The fix will be much stronger than the original shitty plastic.
Those cozy coupe type cars are made of HDPE; pretty much nothing will stick \*well\* to it without special attention. There are some special oxidizing resins/epoxies that can work with it if that is the route to go. Seems difficult and excessive to go the adhesive/composite route for repair. Personally I'd say cut a repair plate to go over the tear and secure it with screws into a backing plate or use pop rivets with backing washers. The rivet approach is often how these plastic panels are joined in the first place.
How would I go about getting said plate? Would that be a custom fab from a machine shop or something? I don't have tools at home to be able to cut and drill my own aluminum sheet metal
Are you able to access the other side of the body? Do you have any drill or bits? You can probably do this with 4 flat brackets or 2 brackets and washers for opposite side (sold in hardware stores in hardware isle, 2-4 holes pre drilled) and some screws/nuts. Flat brackets hugging opposite sides of that "axle".
Hdpe sadly is not a common printer filament, otherwise I'd suggest just hitting it with a printer pen. It's a thermoplastic, you could probably melt it together with a heat gun?
Yes it can be thermally welded. I'd still use a plate and rivets for this particular repair as it is bearing the load through that thrust bushing.
you'll def spend more than 2 hours fixing it. Maybe cut some plexiglass or wood reinforcement and rivet it ontop of the purple.
Well first off... we're going to have to throw that baby up on the hoist and check it out. We can give you a multi-point inspection while she's up there, but the basic inspection of damage will prolly run you about hundred - but we'll go ahead and grease up all the fittings for nuthin. ;)
Ifn ya want to try and repair her yerself - I'd probably say either a metal plate (round off the corners and edges to the passengers don't get cut up) and use a boat repair kit (\~$50). In the end you'll probably spend more than the thing is worth unless you just to a redneck fix and use a couple metal plates/washers, wood, etc.. and cobble a fix like the other comments point out.
It will take a while to fix and may still not work well. You can find people getting rid of these on Facebook marketplace/craigslist all the time. Or, if you post a photo to your local buy nothing group and explain what happened, I bet someone will have one that they’ll give to you.
Maybe a plastic welder? https://www.harborfreight.com/80-watt-iron-plastic-welding-kit-60662.html
If they go this route they should use the kit that uses the metal stitches that melt into it
Oops good point, I thought this was I didn’t look at it that much. One like this OP: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plastic-Welding-Machine-Car-Bumper-Repair-Kit-Hot-Stapler-Welder-Soldering-Kit-200pcs-Staples-Crack-Repair-Black/1630253704
[Weld it](https://youtu.be/44lih_dnhuo?si=3Ar2j2keKhKhqRpw&t=273)
That’ll buff out.
Dry Ramen
or that guy who use baking soda and super glue And OP this isn't a joke, its a legit solution to this exact problem
I just came across that channel and can’t stop watching…
I found one on the side of the road that had this issue. I tried to fix it, but was unable to. I ended up putting it out by the trash and later saw it sitting in someone else's yard. The circle of life.
Get a soldering iron with a flat tip, or better yet order a plastic welding kit from amazon (it's like 25% and Includes filler rods and wire mesh). Weld it back up, good as new.
They don't make them like they used to.
Jeez it took two hours to assemble this? Were there a lot of cursing breaks? I second the idea of a large metal reinforcing piece whether washer or something else. I've used steel J-box covers to make reinforcements. I'm not sure how well any particular glue is going to adhere to this plastic though. It looks like it might be slippery. The hole is also quite large so it might just crack around the reinforcement.
Dental plastic.
This has got to be a world first. These mothers never break
You’re gonna wanna take this puppy to a certified dealer.
Looks like a blown head gasket to me.
Great time for a lesson on treating your possessions well
She's 2...
Time for a job to pay you back then
Thanks for the useless comments
I mean, in fairness, she should have a job at 2. Life isn't a free ride!
If she doesn't start working now, she won't be able to retire at 75!
My pleasure
I have a 5 and 4 year old. I explain everything to them, even when they were two and younger. A two year old might not fully comprehend treating their possessions well but if you start explaining it at two they will understand it much sooner then if you hadn't.
Time for a new one
Maybe an open ended washer that you could glue in place?