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Paint Bubbling

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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:03 PM
  #1  
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Default Paint Bubbling

Hello fellow forum members, on my 2012 Road King, the paint at the upper back of my saddle bags is pulling away from the bags. Sort of like a bubble. It is not a factory paint job and I bought the bike back in Colorado six years ago. This started about three years ago and hasn't gotten any worse lately but I'm afraid it will eventually open up and cause all sorts of peeling. Any suggestions on a way to prevent this from getting worse or reverse it? I have a feeling it will have to be re-painted but I'm hoping to avoid that if possible.

notice the change in the reflection near the top lip? that's where its pulling away

Thanks for any help in advance,
Keith
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:08 PM
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i knew a guy that put some super glue behind a spot like that,any carefully massaged the paint back down.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:14 PM
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Poor prep by the painter. You may be able to carefully slice it open, and try a super glue massage, but it may just continue traveling down the bag. If you do super glue it warm up the bag with a hairdryer before you cut it. Worse case you have to get the bag repainted which is the correct way to fix it, so you aren't really losing anything.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:15 PM
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Of course the "correct" way would be to refinish the bag ... However if there is an inconspicuous spot to cut/terminate ( or glue back down as Bob suggested ) the peeling I'd do that and cover it with ( maybe ) clear nail polish ??
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:23 PM
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Thanks for the replies. This was the same train of thought I was on. Just concerned it would make it worse but as we all know, that can happen anyway and I'll have to get it repainted.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:31 PM
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ha, saw this post and feared the worst...but its not what i thought it was. I bought a used MC once and the paint on the tank started to form a bubble right along the top side about a month after. After further investigation, found out that he had wrecked the bike, and cracked the tank. The bubble in the paint was from the gas vapors trying to escape. Imagine my surprise to peel the bubble back and see bondo under it. The title was clear because he had never turned it into insurance. The paint job was black, and gloss and had the right decal on it and was sold as "in great condition".so i fell for it. It was a ducati monster, i paid kelly blue book too. It also had a pretty good oil leak that was cleaned up before i showed up...and the frame was bent slightly because of the wreck. You could really feel it once you got up to 70mph, which of course i didnt do until after i bought it. I drove back to the guys apartment a month later (after i found the bubble) and of course he was gone....and his cell phone was disconnected. Good thing this isnt your case.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:37 PM
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They make some under the lid bag lights. It might be a good candidate to bolt some lights on both sides right there.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2018 | 04:41 PM
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I've fixed similar paint issues with a tiny medical syringe with some super glue. A small injection and then smooth it out with a moist rag or sponge. You have to work the air to the hole, and then it'll seal itself when it dries.
 
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