getting scratches out of motorcycle windshield

13 years ago They withstand the impact of small debris without shattering, but can eventually become scratched. Work in circular motions over the entire surface. What I am trying to bring out here is that IFyou use the sandpaperroute (Irecommend a much finer grade, Ijust had 1100 at thetime) you MAYbe on a MUCH more involved road to making it clearthan you are willing to endure. Apply the toothpaste the same way you would apply cerium oxide or another buffing compound. Keep close to an electrical outlet, though, since you need one for the buffing pad. So bought old house with old stuff. I did not polish it. You are better off making more than you need or focusing on a single scratch at a time. You cannot reach them with a socket, so grab an open end or box-end wrench. Tundrawolf, Hi!Thanks! This acts as an extra layer of protection against dirt, and makes subsequent cleanings easier by preventing the goo from sticking to the surface of the windshield. Concentrate on polishing the areas of your motorcycle windshield where scratches are visible. Get the best motorbike news, rumors, deals and events each week. Take your time. Kits are available online or at most auto parts stores. 13 years ago Not too hard mind you.2. For the scratches left on the windshield, gently hand buff the area using a fine-grade buffing material, such as wool. All polishing of all materials is just making the scratches smaller, whether that be steel, diamond, wood or plastic. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 184,126 times. Lexan is used for it's strength to deflect debris off of the rider , Acrylic is too brittle and shatters on impact. There are various kinds of glass and plastic polish available at your local motorcycle shop. Motorcycle Cruiser: Motorcycle Windshield Care and Cleaning. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. It's a little hard to polish while it is still on the motorcycle.My windshield is held onto a bracket by 4 bolts, two on each side.Each bolt took a 12MM metric wrench. Making the initial estimation is tricky since there are no hard and fast rules about how much polish to use. To remove scratches Gomez recommends a plastic polish like Novus. Privacy Statement - After a hefty wash, the bike started looking pretty good, except for those annoying scratches, so I decided to tackle the problem. Dry the windshield with another soft terry cloth towel. Honestly, the sandpaper method is for plastic that is so far goneIhave invested much more than $30 in my time (The cost of thevisor) to make my visor usable, and Ihave no doubt you will bepolishing your windshield for a few weeks to get it so you can seethrough it again after the sandpaper. Your email address will not be published. They may tell you to replace your entire windshield. I am using "No. Use tools that run at 1300 rpm or higher. Cerium oxide is an irritant. on Step 4, 11 years ago First, rub the sandpaper against itself several times before use. Use a thick terry cloth towel with plenty of soap and warm water. You can see what the polishing does, and the waxing does for the main upper portion of the windshield. It will not polish well at all with even a slightly low battery. When you notice cracks in your windshield, speak to a glass repair professional. Last Updated: March 12, 2021 Never use a paper towel, since they have a rough surface that might scratch your windshield. I started MotorbikeWriter to bring the world all the daily motorcycle news, views, reviews and lifestyle happenings. But I do know that I can actually see the road better now, before when a wash and a wax didn't hardly do anything. Acrylic is much cheaper. There's no reason why you should have to drop more than $4 to get a clear, safe windshield. I simply wipe and wipe until dries. Get a. Surface dirt creates more scratches in the windshield. Take a look and make sure there are no places where you may have missed a spot.Alternatively, you do not want any big white blotches where it has been applied too thick, these are difficult to remove with the buffer (Just use your fingernail in a rag).I purposely did not apply any compound or use the buffer on the lower bib of the windshield. Deep scratches continue to grow until your windshield breaks. So, Itook some 1100 grit sandpaper and sanded the frontof it (Trust me when Isay, the visor was unusable anyway, Ithought what the heck). Another product to avoid on polycarbonate and acrylic windshields is Rain-X. For the edges, you will have to lift the windshield up and place it on your knee, perhaps, or find another method.Something I learned: Even though the carpet is soft, there is a lot of dust in it.Set the windshield on a clean soft towel regardless. "It explained the process very well and comprehensively.". just follow the directions it removes that yellow haze and removes fine scratches and polishes the surface. It also works well on helmet visors, he adds. (1) You can polish Lexan. Then use the Plastx by itself with a polishing cloth. 1995-2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. That will knock down the larger pieces of grit that would leave deeper scratches. That TWO of the screws are longer than the other. He weighs more than I do, to, at 224 lbs. Instead, he says, consider using National Cycles own Rain Zip coating, which does to plastic the same thing Rain-X does with glass, but without harming the underlying material. Clean your windshield. Let the soap mixture stand for a few minutes to make sure that it is soaked well in the windshield. I took the top drawer thingie, that the glasses go in,out of the dishwasher, so I had more height for the wind screens. I'll try the 1100 grit too. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Ducati to Reveal New Scrambler at 2022 EICMA, Hondas Lane-Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Lightning Motorcycles Files Designs for an Off-Road Motorcycle, Motorcycle Culture Across the Western World. Any thoughts anyone?Enjoy,Liz, Reply {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Remove-Scratches-from-a-Windshield-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Remove-Scratches-from-a-Windshield-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Remove-Scratches-from-a-Windshield-Step-1.jpg\/aid10598294-v4-728px-Remove-Scratches-from-a-Windshield-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, How to Operate Windshield Wipers: Turning Wipers On and Off, How to Manually Roll Up a Power Window and Get It Working Again. Archive - It will take longer and you will only drain the battery further. You can get it very fine, fine enough to polish glass at a min 2000 grade. A good tip that you should take note of is to avoid using paper towels to wipe the windshield of the motorcycle, as this material may cause small scratches on your motorcycle windshield. I think if you have the motivation and time, you can make just about anyplastic clear again. Windshield scratches are a nuisance, but you dont need to tolerate them. Once done, wipe off the area also with a soft, dry washcloth to clear up the dirt that may come out from the buffing. The cleaner takes off any trace amounts of polish remaining and helps protect the surface from debris. Please do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work.
Cordless tools dont generate enough power and may overheat. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Using a soft towel, gently apply the mixture to the windshield, making sure that the entire surface is covered. Ah ha!Let it dry first before polishing! National Cycle uses two materials for its shields. However, the dishwasher idea is fantastic, because you are almostguaranteed to getting the bugs off. It works to get rid of compound that has pooled or is applied too thick. Plus, the visor isn't Lexan, Icannot say how sanding Lexan andthen polishing it 50+ separate times will make the windshield come out. Get free access to the best motorcycle newsletter on the planet. Toothpaste not only brightens your smile, but can also make your vision a little clearer if you use it on your motorcycle windscreen. Plenty of both available. The front is what gets the dust, the bugs, and the film. Next, we want to add a good quality wax. How to Remove Scratches from a Windshield, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoxdAsdH3Bc&feature=youtu.be&t=33, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJkfrY2owb0&feature=youtu.be&t=56, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoxdAsdH3Bc&feature=youtu.be&t=83, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DDDD1yrBC8&feature=youtu.be&t=207, https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a3250/how-to-remove-light-scratches-from-your-windshield/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508701/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GybSUfQyam8&feature=youtu.be&t=56, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GybSUfQyam8&feature=youtu.be&t=70, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1B_puVXtxk&feature=youtu.be&t=187, Kratzer auf der Windschutzscheibe entfernen, (Remove Scratches from a Windshield), Menghilangkan Goresan di Kaca Depan Mobil. Motorcycle windshields protect drivers from flying rocks, insects and road debris as they travel. It eliminates the possibility of polish splashing into your eyes. Plus, it still doesn't look anywhere near as good as the main portion with the wax and the polish.Thanks for reading. What I do is sand with water first, getting a uniformly smooth surface. To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Afterwards, dry off the windshield with another clean, soft washcloth. Dont make the same mistake I have by using car polish to clean it. I tried various polishes to remove the scratches, starting with discrete areas as tests before assaulting the main area. There's no reason why you can't use warm water, either.Be sure you have a perfectly clean windshield before you begin polishing.There's no danger of scratching the windshield with the convex portion on the bathtub if there is a cushion of water there, and treat it with care. Also, if you look, there are windshields made of acrylic, and companies who specialize in restoring them. Theres no way to beat bad luck, but according to National Cycles Paul Gomez you can tilt the odds in your favor with regular care and cleaning. 11 years ago This article has been viewed 184,126 times. Cover the windshield with a dry, clean cloth or shirt made of cotton to protect it from dirt. I hope this helps. However, the battery lasted longer with this method. Expert Interview. After buffing, use a fresh and soft washcloth to apply the polish. Don't ask me how I know.You can go one of three routes, and I have tried all 3, and they all work.1. I was so happy with it, I tried it on a few other areas of body work and even the chrome muffler and found it worked perfectly. Reply You have to remember that my windshield was so bad I literally could not see through it a few feet ahead of me. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Dish soap abrades car paint, so using it on a windshield isnt safe. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Use a microfiber cloth to apply it to the windshield. on Step 9. Spread more paste over them. I love him de, http://meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G12310. I think it is important to say at this point, that the lower bib portion was washed, and waxed ONLY. Clean the glass first, then apply your polishing compound to the glass and buff it with a polishing pad. How can I fix a scratched windshield myself? Let the towel sit for a few minutes to soften the insects. 41 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast, Edelweiss Bike Travel Best of Greece Tour Review. Novus is low-abrasive, but the trick is to remove the scratch without going through the hardcoat. Crack repair is another iffy area. Use a cleaning cloth made of microfiber, terrycloth or cotton flannel, and make doubly sure its clean. Soap down your windshield to dissolve any dirt or dust. Open your garage door, for instance, to help disperse the powder. Hi Liz!Every time I use the above method it comes out looking a little better.Here's something you might find interesting:Irecently tried to polish a helmet visor (Scorpion).Ipolished it many times with the No.4 polish but it was mediocreat best. Watch out using any household detergents or any household glass cleaners as these contain ammonia and ammonia is deadly to acrylic and some other plastics. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide. Thanks! However, replacing a windshield can be costly. You don't want any scratches showing that are deeper than others. Share it with us! The vibrations of the windshield edges on the carpet will actually bring dust up and on the windshield. I used two coats of wax. After the windshield has been soaked for a few minutes, wipe and rinse off the accumulated dirt and suds that were created, using a clean, soft washcloth. Wipe off the excess paste when you're done. (NEVER tape a Lexan windshield, it removes the protective covering! would polish the windshield. The Queens Of The Road (For Women Bikers), Support for The Troops and their Families, Want To Buy Motorcycles/Parts/Accessories, Trades & Freebies (See Subforums for specific models). Use "Wax on Wax off, grasshopper" swirls, overlapping 50% each pass. The bike I ride has a top and bottom windscreen that both are lookingrather ragged. Thepolishing and all might happen over the winter though. View our Privacy Policy here. For tips on how to use cerium oxide powder to repair scratches, keep reading! Unfortunately windshields, both the aftermarket and the OE kind, are right out there in front of you where theyre vulnerable to dirt, rocks, bugs and other damage that can leave them battle-scarred after only a few riding seasons. You need a vehicle clearcoat polishing compound. Get the other battery, or let the original one charge. It comes in a liquid form you drip onto the buffing pad. What you see is what you get, the polished portions are clearer than the unpolished sections. Use the same kind of towel or cloth you used to apply the cleaner, but make sure its clean and unused since the last laundry day or you could just end up back where you started.

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