Cleaning windshield...
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Rockville, VA
Cleaning windshield...
Well when I bought my bike it came with quit a few upgrades. One of witch being the windshield. Last owner told me that after riding with the shield I will never want to ride with out it.
I took it off of the bike and onto craigs list. Immediately found a buyer and I took it inside to clean up....Weeeelll, bad idea. I took a dish washing sponge yellow with thinner green top, and starting scrubbing with the yellow side. it had a few spots that were tuffer to remove so I used the green side. I had it submerged in soapy water so I thought i was getting it clean. I raise it up and I screwed it all up. The green side scratched the surface in three or four spots i scrubbed harder.
UNBELIEVABLE! How depresing. I wish I hadnt tried to clean it
Well the guy was already close to my house so No point in telling him to turn around.
When he got here I pointed it out and told him what happened. He appreciated my honesty but wanted to see if I could fix it before he takes it.
What should be used to clean and dry the shield??? I am also going to take it to harley and see what kinds of polishes they have and how I should apply it. i cannot believe how sensitive this plexiglass it (or how tuff the sponge is)
I figured it takes abuse from small rocks all day why not a sponge? Puh, I was wrong. It was flawless before I messed with it.
Ill try to post pics of the scratches later:
before
I took it off of the bike and onto craigs list. Immediately found a buyer and I took it inside to clean up....Weeeelll, bad idea. I took a dish washing sponge yellow with thinner green top, and starting scrubbing with the yellow side. it had a few spots that were tuffer to remove so I used the green side. I had it submerged in soapy water so I thought i was getting it clean. I raise it up and I screwed it all up. The green side scratched the surface in three or four spots i scrubbed harder.
UNBELIEVABLE! How depresing. I wish I hadnt tried to clean it
Well the guy was already close to my house so No point in telling him to turn around. When he got here I pointed it out and told him what happened. He appreciated my honesty but wanted to see if I could fix it before he takes it.
What should be used to clean and dry the shield??? I am also going to take it to harley and see what kinds of polishes they have and how I should apply it. i cannot believe how sensitive this plexiglass it (or how tuff the sponge is)
I figured it takes abuse from small rocks all day why not a sponge? Puh, I was wrong. It was flawless before I messed with it.
Ill try to post pics of the scratches later:
before
Last edited by ahhwataday; Sep 22, 2011 at 11:10 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 27
From: San Diego, CA
Look in your yellow pages and see if there is a business in town that sells plexiglass sheeting and other plexiglass stuff. They should be able to provide you with something to polish it out if anybody can. They place we have here is called RidOut Plastics, maybe one also in your area.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
I've tried all kinds of products to take scratches out of plexiglas with no results.
I have a windshield now, and I spray it down with windex & let it sit for a minute or so, then take a damp micro-fiber cloth and rub it down and even have to get rough with it sometimes to get all the bugs off and never caused a scratch using this method. I've said it before, but micro-fiber is your friend when washing, waxing, polishing and cleaning...won't use anything else on my bike, or my truck for that matter.
I have a windshield now, and I spray it down with windex & let it sit for a minute or so, then take a damp micro-fiber cloth and rub it down and even have to get rough with it sometimes to get all the bugs off and never caused a scratch using this method. I've said it before, but micro-fiber is your friend when washing, waxing, polishing and cleaning...won't use anything else on my bike, or my truck for that matter.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Rockville, VA
Look in your yellow pages and see if there is a business in town that sells plexiglass sheeting and other plexiglass stuff. They should be able to provide you with something to polish it out if anybody can. They place we have here is called RidOut Plastics, maybe one also in your area.
Perhaps you were born knowing everything and have never learned anything and especially never learned the hard way
Ill pick up a few. The only one I had had dirt in it so I didnt wanna scratch it lol. The sponge is used on glass, ceramics, plastic dishes and cups, what would it hurt right? hahaha, Live and learn
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Just an FYI:
One of our sponsors, Cee Bailey's, offers windshield restoration service for $50.00.
CAUTION: polishing can be done on acrylic (Plexiglas) windshields. If your windshield is polycarbonate (Lexan), it likely has a protective coating on it which polishing will destroy.
"Please be advised that the majority of most original equipment manufactures shields are made out of polycarbonate AKA Lexan. Shields manufactured out of Polycarbonate are usually clearly stamped on the lower portion of the shield. They are identified by PC, GE, Lexan, or Polycarbonate. If any of these engraved stamps are present we can not attempt restoration."
One of our sponsors, Cee Bailey's, offers windshield restoration service for $50.00.
CAUTION: polishing can be done on acrylic (Plexiglas) windshields. If your windshield is polycarbonate (Lexan), it likely has a protective coating on it which polishing will destroy.
"Please be advised that the majority of most original equipment manufactures shields are made out of polycarbonate AKA Lexan. Shields manufactured out of Polycarbonate are usually clearly stamped on the lower portion of the shield. They are identified by PC, GE, Lexan, or Polycarbonate. If any of these engraved stamps are present we can not attempt restoration."
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
There are companies that sell replacement plastic. Here's one of the more popular:
http://www.memphisshades.com/harley-...arley-davidson
You're right. We all learn by doing. Good on you for trying.
Good luck.
http://www.memphisshades.com/harley-...arley-davidson
You're right. We all learn by doing. Good on you for trying.
Good luck.