BLOG DOWNLOADS 2009 FIXING SPLIT KICKERS AND LEGGUARDS

Fixing split kickers and legguards

Recently I’ve received some questions from people having problems with bonded foam separating in kickers and leg guards. First off, if your leg guards or kickers are under one year from time of purchase they should be under warranty. If that fits your situation, you should take the matter up with the agent who sold you your gear. If the pads are older than a year, than try this…

For kickers:

Most splits I see with kickers are around the strap slots between the inner and outer face of the kicker. I know there are a couple of different glues that have been used successfully to bond the surfaces together. I’ve used Shoe Goo, Sports Goop and Gorilla Glue (brand name adhesives in the US) and know that OBO recommends using a hot glue gun. You can check at a hardware or home repair store for similar types of glue where you are. Clean the section you want to clean as much as possible by running hot water in the affected areas and then allow to completely dry. My experience has been that glue alone won’t hold. I use heavy duty landscape zip ties to reinforce then split areas. I’ll apply the glue (try to avoid getting glue in the strap slots) and then use an awl to punch a hole through the inner and out face of the kikcer as close to the strap slot as possible. Run the zip tie through the kicker so the notch where the tie is secured is on the inner face of the kicker. Pull the zip tie securely (the ties are self-tightening) and then cut the excess tail. You might have to use a couple of zip ties if you have a big split. Allow 24 hours for the glue to cure and keep the kicker straps loose until the glue is set.

For Leg Guards:

You’ll need to bond the face of the leg guard to the channel that your leg fits (the outer to the inner). You can either use a hot glue gun or an adhesive. Whether you use Shoe Goo or a hot glue gun, apply adhesive liberally between the sections of foam (try to avoid getting glue in the slots where the straps run. Once the glue is applied you’ll want to reinforce the glued area with zip ties. Punch two holes through the face and channel of the leg guard about an inch apart and run the tie through the pad and pull tight. You’ll probably need more than one zip tie to securely fasten the glued area.

Good luck,

Jon

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