Harley Davidson Forums

Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Removing painted on letters and decals

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 09:47 AM
Share
  #1  
austinopa's Avatar
austinopa
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
Default Removing painted on letters and decals
I just got an 2005 Ultra. The former owner had his girls name painted on the back and some interlocking circles done on the bags. Tried acetone, but no luck in getting them off. Don't want to do a re-paint. Has anyone had luck sanding without damageing the clearcoat?
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 09:51 AM
Share
  #2  
FLYING's Avatar
FLYING
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 802
Likes: 3
From: Wisconsin
Default
Yes ! This has worked for me in the past using a 600 grit wet or dry paper (wet),then
using rubbing compound with a high speed buffing wheel to buff out the scratches from the sanding. I just had to be patient and go slowly as not to sand or buff to far.
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 02:32 PM
Share
  #3  
bagga's Avatar
bagga
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,673
Likes: 606
From:
Default
my brother in law use to own a trucking co. he would buy a used tractor once in awhile. he would remove the painted on lettering on the doors with easy off oven cleaner. i saw him do it.
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 02:44 PM
Share
  #4  
harley-jones's Avatar
harley-jones
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,442
Likes: 8
From: south
Default
If it was mine I would swing by a Body Shop and get a professional opinion.

You could real easily mess up your paint job and then you are looking at some big $$$.
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 02:49 PM
Share
  #5  
CroK's Avatar
CroK
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,719
Likes: 1
Default
Just tell everyone that's the girl who laid you last night!
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 03:45 PM
Share
  #6  
ajb2222's Avatar
ajb2222
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Waukesha, WI
Default
I took a name off the back of my kawasaki voyager. You can still read it plane as day since the paint under the name did not fade like the rest of the bike. I don't remember what I used.
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 03:47 PM
Share
  #7  
themensh's Avatar
themensh
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
Default
Originally Posted by austinopa
I just got an 2005 Ultra. The former owner had his girls name painted on the back and some interlocking circles done on the bags. Tried acetone, but no luck in getting them off. Don't want to do a re-paint. Has anyone had luck sanding without damageing the clearcoat?
Easy-OFF oven spray. Spray on the painting, wipe off. Then wax the surface.
Do not get the easy-off on any thing extra (like other custom painted pin striping).
Stickers? Remove the stick when it is warm....go over the left over glue with wd-40.

chuck the mensh
 
Reply
0

Trending Topics

Old Jan 21, 2010 | 05:27 PM
Share
  #8  
Mike's Avatar
Mike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,786
Likes: 40
From: Centralia, Wa
Default
Never heard of easy off on painted surfaces. I use it on my heat shields when I manage to get a boot heel on them.

Use a hair dryer to soften the glue under stickers and vinyls. Then WD-40 or goo-gone to clean up the residue. Finish up with some polishing compound and wax.
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 06:10 PM
Share
  #9  
kurtlange's Avatar
kurtlange
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: west of the big lake
Default
i'd go w/ 1500-2500 grit wet/dry and a fine buff afterwards.
 
Reply
0
Old Jan 21, 2010 | 07:39 PM
Share
  #10  
austinopa's Avatar
austinopa
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Central Texas
Default
I have a old fender think I'll try the easy off on it for a test. Then go with the sanding second, if the cleaner damages the paint. Thanks for the advice
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:41 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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