Clear Coat Restoration (??)
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 1,427
From: pensacola fl
So after having following the steps that eaglefan1 outlined, it's apparent that the stock seat rubbed through the clear coat, BUT......with those steps followed it's only noticeable to someone looking very closely.
In fact, those steps produced such favorable results I did almost the whole bike. What a difference! Front fender to go tomorrow or over the weekend, and I'm going to call it good.
As far as sanding and clear coating the tank....I think that will happen sometime in the future, but for now it's pretty dang good. Goodnuff!
In fact, those steps produced such favorable results I did almost the whole bike. What a difference! Front fender to go tomorrow or over the weekend, and I'm going to call it good.
As far as sanding and clear coating the tank....I think that will happen sometime in the future, but for now it's pretty dang good. Goodnuff!
I know some guys don't really care what their bikes look like and that is perfectly fine to me, their bike. However I can not stand for my truck or bike to be dirty or not having that fresh cleaned look.
To maintain that finish proper washing techniques must be used.
If you are going to use a traditional wash, 2 buckets are a must with a grit guard in your rinse bucket
Anything microfiber towel that touches the paint must be of high quality. Terry towels or cloth diapers, leave those for their intended purposes.
If you have a electric leaf blower, use that to dry the bike. The less you touch it the better.
A quality LSP is your last step. I use sealants and coatings 99% of the time. Wax is a dust magnet and in Florida that isn't good.
A lot of this might seem over the top but its all about preserving the factory clear coat. Get it right, protect it, maintain it.
I bought my road glide, 2009, 2 years ago. I polished it out and coated it with 22PLE. Haven't had to do any polishing since.
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Thanks, eaglefan.
Still would like to know what LSP is. I waxed last night, and it's dusty, very dusty, on the central coast of California. If wax is a magnet, then my black bike has been a super conductor magnet for over four years.
Lastly, can I apply LSP over wax? If so, twill be done today!
Still would like to know what LSP is. I waxed last night, and it's dusty, very dusty, on the central coast of California. If wax is a magnet, then my black bike has been a super conductor magnet for over four years.
Lastly, can I apply LSP over wax? If so, twill be done today!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 1,427
From: pensacola fl
Last Step Product = Wax, sealant, coating.
I have a $200 jar of wax I bought because a customer wanted a beauty wax on his 7 series BMW. I also used it on a Atomic Orange road glide. I used it only because they requested wax. I like sealants much better, last longer, easier to work with, and don't attract dust nearly as bad.
Sealant wise, this is what I have and use. Not saying they are the best but what I personally like. Blackfire Wet Diamond, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Selant, 4 Star paint sealant. If you want a product that you wipe on and walk away (WOWA) Ultima Paint Guard Plus is great.
A 16oz bottle of any of the listed products would last you years if you were only using on your vehicles. A little goes a long long way.
Anything else I can help you with just let me know
I have a $200 jar of wax I bought because a customer wanted a beauty wax on his 7 series BMW. I also used it on a Atomic Orange road glide. I used it only because they requested wax. I like sealants much better, last longer, easier to work with, and don't attract dust nearly as bad.
Sealant wise, this is what I have and use. Not saying they are the best but what I personally like. Blackfire Wet Diamond, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Selant, 4 Star paint sealant. If you want a product that you wipe on and walk away (WOWA) Ultima Paint Guard Plus is great.
A 16oz bottle of any of the listed products would last you years if you were only using on your vehicles. A little goes a long long way.
Anything else I can help you with just let me know
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Last Step Product = Wax, sealant, coating.
I have a $200 jar of wax I bought because a customer wanted a beauty wax on his 7 series BMW. I also used it on a Atomic Orange road glide. I used it only because they requested wax. I like sealants much better, last longer, easier to work with, and don't attract dust nearly as bad.
Sealant wise, this is what I have and use. Not saying they are the best but what I personally like. Blackfire Wet Diamond, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Selant, 4 Star paint sealant. If you want a product that you wipe on and walk away (WOWA) Ultima Paint Guard Plus is great.
A 16oz bottle of any of the listed products would last you years if you were only using on your vehicles. A little goes a long long way.
Anything else I can help you with just let me know
I have a $200 jar of wax I bought because a customer wanted a beauty wax on his 7 series BMW. I also used it on a Atomic Orange road glide. I used it only because they requested wax. I like sealants much better, last longer, easier to work with, and don't attract dust nearly as bad.
Sealant wise, this is what I have and use. Not saying they are the best but what I personally like. Blackfire Wet Diamond, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Selant, 4 Star paint sealant. If you want a product that you wipe on and walk away (WOWA) Ultima Paint Guard Plus is great.
A 16oz bottle of any of the listed products would last you years if you were only using on your vehicles. A little goes a long long way.
Anything else I can help you with just let me know
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 138
Likes: 15
From: Anderson, SC
Just do it yourself
3M compound (white) and 3M polish (blue). Use the white foam pad for the compound and the black foam pad for the polish. Practice on the small area you're talking about, and when you see how easy it is, you can do your whole rig come spring time.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 3,441
Likes: 1,427
From: pensacola fl
3M products are filled with a ton of fillers and their compounds are like "Rocks in a bottle". The bottle I bought to try was designed for rotary polishers, not DA.
There is so many compounds out there now its crazy. I have 8 different brands of compounds and 15 different types/levels of polishes. No 2 vehicles are guaranteed to react the same way, even if its the same year, model, color. This is why its important to have many types.
For example, Menzerna works great on "Hard" paint, German, GM paint. Not so well on Jap paint.
FOR ME, and with the bikes I have done HD polish works the best
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 138
Likes: 15
From: Anderson, SC
I will post the following with all do respect:
3M products are filled with a ton of fillers and their compounds are like "Rocks in a bottle". The bottle I bought to try was designed for rotary polishers, not DA.
There is so many compounds out there now its crazy. I have 8 different brands of compounds and 15 different types/levels of polishes. No 2 vehicles are guaranteed to react the same way, even if its the same year, model, color. This is why its important to have many types.
For example, Menzerna works great on "Hard" paint, German, GM paint. Not so well on Jap paint.
FOR ME, and with the bikes I have done HD polish works the best
3M products are filled with a ton of fillers and their compounds are like "Rocks in a bottle". The bottle I bought to try was designed for rotary polishers, not DA.
There is so many compounds out there now its crazy. I have 8 different brands of compounds and 15 different types/levels of polishes. No 2 vehicles are guaranteed to react the same way, even if its the same year, model, color. This is why its important to have many types.
For example, Menzerna works great on "Hard" paint, German, GM paint. Not so well on Jap paint.
FOR ME, and with the bikes I have done HD polish works the best
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
MACH,
Those are not not a rotary per say. Just for reference, think of a 8 inch grinder. They spin in a circle only, can operate at high speeds and can handle large diameter pads. Where as a DA operates in a dual action motion. Hence DA
Flex, Dewalt, Makita, and many others make them..
http://www.autogeek.net/dewalt-dwp849x-polisher.html
Those are not not a rotary per say. Just for reference, think of a 8 inch grinder. They spin in a circle only, can operate at high speeds and can handle large diameter pads. Where as a DA operates in a dual action motion. Hence DA
Flex, Dewalt, Makita, and many others make them..
http://www.autogeek.net/dewalt-dwp849x-polisher.html