General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Just ruined a $4k custom paint job...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 02:49 PM
  #11  
Oldskewl's Avatar
Oldskewl
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,185
Likes: 7,961
From: In my head
Default

Bad prep job plain and simple.

I've never washed my bike by hand, always a pressure washer and nothing like this has ever happened. Either they didn't sand the primer prior to applying the finish coat or it was dirty.

If they argue, take them to court.
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 02:52 PM
  #12  
ChickinOnaChain's Avatar
ChickinOnaChain
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
Default

Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted in the first place.
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 02:54 PM
  #13  
05flhtbob's Avatar
05flhtbob
Stellar HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,129
Likes: 10,751
From: livingston co,mi
Default

it must have not been prepped right. the clear has to be applied within a certain amount of time or it will not bond with the base
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:01 PM
  #14  
lemonade_07flstc's Avatar
lemonade_07flstc
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 10,944
Likes: 276
From: Central IL
Default

I don't use a pressure washer but it still should not have peeled. Worked around a body shop a little in my younger days and I would have to agree that sounds like a poor prep job to me. We would wash cars with a light pressure washer once they had been wet sanded and buffed and never once peeled the paint. Now if you had 3,000 psi+ and were real close on "green" paint you might have a problem.
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:02 PM
  #15  
Whoknew72's Avatar
Whoknew72
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

Turn down the PSI on the pressure washer. Holy hell, that should not have happened IMO.
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:05 PM
  #16  
cdestuck's Avatar
cdestuck
Supporter
Veteran: Marine Corps
15 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,723
Likes: 233
From: Altoona, Pa.
Supporter
Default

Next time you feel like pressure washing your bike, stick the nozzle in your mouth and pull the trigger
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:15 PM
  #17  
kryingame's Avatar
kryingame
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 90
From: Charlotte
Default








I gotta see this...
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:19 PM
  #18  
mmcbeat's Avatar
mmcbeat
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 10
From: Oklahoma
Default

A power washer will easily strip paint. I was trying to cleanup a breeze spot under my outdoor grill and a power washer made a indenting ib the cement.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:20 PM
  #19  
Hippie49's Avatar
Hippie49
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,018
Likes: 231
From: Kentucky, USA
Default

I know it's a bit late now but in the future you can try some Fukken Wax.This is some of the best stuff I have ever used to remove bugs; whether they are on the paint or the windshield.
Really does a great job.

I would also think that your paint should not have done that unless you were using some extreme pressure. Sounds like the painter may have cut a corner or two somewhere in the process.
 
Old Sep 29, 2014 | 03:24 PM
  #20  
austinslider's Avatar
austinslider
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 11
From: Colorado
Default

I know my painter offers a lifetime warranty on the paint he slings. Hopefully, there's something he can do for you, relatively cheap!
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:28 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE