Reflector Fiasco
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Reflector Fiasco
So after months of reading about removing the reflectors, I finally got to it. I used the fishing line to take the reflector off, no problem. Then used Goof-Off to get the adhesive off, but when the smoke cleared my fork looked like junk. I think the clear coat came off as well so now I have all these blotches in that area. I like the way it looks with no reflector but now i think I am gonna have to put it back on just to cover it, unless there is a way to buff out the front forks so that is at least not so noticeable. Bummed! Any ideas?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,958
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From: West Tennessee
RE: Reflector Fiasco
Got any pictures? The fork sliders are clear powdercoated, the finish 'should' not have come off. If it's just scuffed up, you 'should' be able to buff it out.
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RE: Reflector Fiasco
Thats the close up above. Its as bad as it looks. I think Goof off is too strong or something. The bad part is that i had a heat gun right next to me and if i would have just heated it and pulled it off it probably wouldnt have made a mark. Ill keep trying to polish it but it looks like it is what it is! Im not touching the other side till I figure this out and I am not going near the fenders! 
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
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RE: Reflector Fiasco
I used lots of heat from a hair drier and cleaned off the remaining sticky stuff with WD-40. Nothing like what I see in your photo. It appears to me you have have a few choices about ways to fix it. You can sand the lower down with some fine sand paper and re-clear.....or you can sand with even finer sand paper and polish both lowers....or you can have them powder coated....or you can re-install the reflectors. If it was me, I would try using more heat on the other side and see what the results were and then go from there. I do warn about using a heat gun as they tend to get VERY hot and can have adverse effects as well. Hair drier is much more forgiving. It just takes longer. I don't think goo-off was the culprit. I think there might have been a defect in the clear.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,438
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From: Chesterfield, VA
RE: Reflector Fiasco
Maybe something like Scratch-X will buff it out. I got good results using it on some light scratches in the clear-coat on my Vivid Black.
If not, look in the recent post Mud started about Fifty Dollar or less mods. In there, Tommay has a link to his instructions on removing the clear-coat and polishing his sliders to a chrome-like appearance. Looks great.
If not, look in the recent post Mud started about Fifty Dollar or less mods. In there, Tommay has a link to his instructions on removing the clear-coat and polishing his sliders to a chrome-like appearance. Looks great.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,586
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From: Clinton, Ohio
RE: Reflector Fiasco
Can you feel it with your fingernail, and feel if it has for sure gone through the clear coat? A buddy of mine did the same thing, but used metal polish and it came out great. He didn't cut through the clear coat.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
RE: Reflector Fiasco
Sorry to say those don't look like blotches, they look like scratches/gouges. Which doesn't leave you much in the way of a quick fix.
Going to need to sand, buff, and re-coat somehow.
Going to need to sand, buff, and re-coat somehow.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,443
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From: Sasser, GA
RE: Reflector Fiasco
Did you use something hard to scrape off the tape/glue? I used Goo Gone which I assume is about the same thing, and I had no problems on my sliders or rear fender. Like flynavy said, your damage looks like you may have gouged the surface.