Fussy cosmetic types may be able to assist?

[pete roper]

OK, so I'm giving my Griso a bit of a tart-up. It's nine years old now and is a bit scruffy really. One thing that is odd is the coating (I assume it's some sort of coating?!) on the Perspex of the screen seems to have come off in places making it look all leprous and scabby. The pics below show, not very well, what I'm talking about but has anybody got any bright ideas on how to restore its original lustre?





Thanks.

Pete

[oldbike54]

 Pete , try some Goo Gone to remove the coating . Then either recoat it , or polish it with some toothpaste . One of our members here has an old Kawasaki Police Special windshield that was doing the same thing , the film was disintegrating , simply had to be peeled off . The glue is really sticky .

 Dusty

[Socalrob]

OK, so I'm giving my Griso a bit of a tart-up. It's nine years old now and is a bit scruffy really. One thing that is odd is the coating (I assume it's some sort of coating?!) on the Perspex of the screen seems to have come off in places making it look all leprous and scabby. The pics below show, not very well, what I'm talking about but has anybody got any bright ideas on how to restore its original lustre?





Thanks.

Pete

In the words of Mick Jagger, "Paint it Black"

Or polish it up as suggested above.  One of those headlight polishing kits might work.

[cloudbase]

I'd get in touch with Tex.  He's known to be absolutely obsessed with keeping his bikes in showroom new condition.

[Rusnak_322]

That would drive me nuts. I would try the  headlight kit first, if that didn't work, I would wet sand with 2,000 grit and then polish with a few steps of cutting compound and polishing compounds.

[oldbike54]

  Yeah , The Turnip keeps 'em original alright  Georganne has to slip aawy to wash her bike , the thought of doing that sends Ken into something resembling a fit 

 Dusty

[Groover]

I've used Novus 3 Step polish to polish-up some old Lucite vintage furniture pieces. I'm thinking it would work well for that too.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/novus-7100-plastic-cleaner-polisher-and-scratch-remover-kit/448PN7100.html

Edit: Says not recommended for coated plastics (#3), but in your case that is probably what you want based on what Oldbike suggested since in your case you want to coating off at this point. Sounds like the Goo Gone might be quicker for that initial step?

[oldbike54]

That would drive me nuts. I would try the  headlight kit first, if that didn't work, I would wet sand with 2,000 grit and then polish with a few steps of cutting compound and polishing compounds.

 Trust me , you can polish on that film coating until your fingers bleed , it won't help .

 Dusty

[Gliderjohn]

Don't know if this helps but ran across this on another site.

I just removed the coating from a polycarbonate face shield, it's the same thing your screen is made from. I sanded it off, going up to 2500 grit, then #83 with a cutting pad, then #3 with a finishing pad (both rotary). It looks flawless. No idea how the durability is affected after losing the coating, but in your case that decision has been made for you. Get to work, it's not like you're going to make it worse.
Read more at http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forumsshowthread.php?5146-Motorcycle-Windshield-peeling&s=43d2497fdab451a0c07208b4a3a3d67c#KEruREYCuDvT3pKR.99

GliderJohn

[oldbike54]

 Guy must not know about Goo Gone John .

 Dusty

[acogoff]

    Never seen anything quite like that, at least on plexiglass. On the Aeroplanes, If they are all oil covered I use straight mineral spirits followed right away with soapy water and a quick hose off with water and never had any damage to the plastic, but that looks like a whole different type of critter.

[Socalrob]

I'd be careful with GooGone.  It might melt the plastic.

[oldbike54]

I'd be careful with GooGone.  It might melt the plastic.

 Not if it is perspex . Have used it more than once with no problem .

 Dusty

[beetle]

Pretty sure the screen is Lexan.

[oldbike54]

Pretty sure the screen is Lexan.

 It almost certainly is , you gotta remember Pete is a Pom  Don't believe plexiglass has been used for years for this purpose , Lexan being better suited .

 Dusty

[lucian]

Hi Pete , just had the same problem with the screen on my cali. some sort of coating that got scratched when I ran it into my truck mirror. Went to local auto parts store and got a 3M polishing kit for plastic auto head lamp covers. Comes with a pad you chuck in a drill and progressively finer grit paper's and a finishing compound. One kit should do your whole screen . I was able to feather the damaged areas to the undamaged ones without any problem as I only had a couple of minor spots. Worked a treat , just make sure you thoroughly remove the scratches from successive grits as you go. The kit was only about $20 U.S.

   Or you could dig up one of those jars out back and pony up for a new screen.

[Wayne Orwig]

There is a thin hard coating. It is coming off in spots and the soft plastic underneath is what is going bad in those spots. Maybe you used a cleaner or towel that had solvents or as abrasive enough to damage the coating. Or maybe just UV did it.
You will likely never get it right. The best thing is to replace it.

One thing that you can do is to get rather abrasive with it , maybe 600 grit or even a bit more, and get all of the hard coating off. then work up to a really fine grit, then fine polishes. Many plastic headlight polishing kits will have what is needed. After all of this work, it may look great, but it will always look poor quickly since it no longer has the hard layer.

Makes you wonder about this stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALAF9exXpfo

[Chuck in Indiana]

<qualifications> 
I used to polish plastic for a living as an engineering modelmaker for the tail and headlight maker at GM. I've made *many* model tail and headlights from a sheet of plastic.
Like Wayne says.. 600 or coarser for the first cut. I normally started with 400. That'll take off any coating. Then use progressively finer paper up to about 1000. All wet, of course. After that, it can be buffed with rouge for plastic and a wheel.
As an aside. Lexan (polycarbonate) can never be polished to "optical" clarity. It'll be close enough, though. Plexiglass can.

[beetle]

If there's enough obsequious prostration he can have mine. It's covered in bug guts, but otherwise in good condition. I have a spare one as well. In immaculate unused condition. 

[Guzzi Gal]

This is going to sound odd, but do a Google search on 'refinishing acrylic fish tank'.  Most will refer to removing scratches, but as you have some surface issues, this may apply.

[Chuck in Indiana]

If there's enough obsequious prostration he can have mine. It's covered in bug guts, but otherwise in good condition. I have a spare one as well. In immaculate unused condition. 

All that I mentioned in an above post actually requires *labor.* Lots of it. As Wayne also said, buy a new one.  Unless, of course with your most excellent command of the King's English, you can wheedle the manufacturer into a warranty claim.

[Craig in Alabama]

Hi Folks,

I had the same issue on the sport screen I got for my V11. I soaked it in the bathtub overnight in hot water with dish washing liquid in it. I didn't have any idea what this would do, but it couldn't hurt, right? The next morning, almost all of the coating was peeled off the screen. Another bath might have completed the job, but it was good enough so I put it back on the bike. It's easy, cheap, and it might work for your bike too!

Cheers!
Craig

[beetle]

Unless, of course with your most excellent command of the King's English

Ahem. You mean:  Her Majesty, The Queen's English.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Ahem. You mean:  Her Majesty, The Queen's English.

D'oh! We Provincials tend to forget Who's who at times..

[Markcarovilli]

Pete - this has worked for me.....

1. Wash well with soapy water.
2. Take a bucket of water and put in a few drops of dish soap.
3. Take a piece of 400 or 600 grit wet and dry sandpaper and wet-sand the affected surface
to a uniform haze of scratches.
4. Then wet-sand with 1500 grit. Now, take a machine buffer on low speed with a foam
polishing pad and buff the surface with 3M™ Perfect-It™ Rubbing Compound (PN
06085/06086) until you attain a fairly good clarity.
5. Wipe clean with water, dry, and check clarity. If the clarity is not clear as plate glass,
then proceed to #6.
6. Buff again with a finer compound like 3M Perfect-It III #05933. Then clean and check
again for clarity.
7. Still not clear enough? Still see some scratches? do the process again but start with 1000
grt and work back up.


Mark

[Vince in Milwaukee]

I have the same issue with the wind screen I purchased on my R1100RT a couple of years ago.  No wonder I couldn't get the darn thing "clean"!  Lots of good ideas if I decide to give it another go. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Pete - this has worked for me.....

1. Wash well with soapy water.
2. Take a bucket of water and put in a few drops of dish soap.
3. Take a piece of 400 or 600 grit wet and dry sandpaper and wet-sand the affected surface
to a uniform haze of scratches.
4. Then wet-sand with 1500 grit. Now, take a machine buffer on low speed with a foam
polishing pad and buff the surface with 3M� Perfect-It� Rubbing Compound (PN
06085/06086) until you attain a fairly good clarity.
5. Wipe clean with water, dry, and check clarity. If the clarity is not clear as plate glass,
then proceed to #6.
6. Buff again with a finer compound like 3M Perfect-It III #05933. Then clean and check
again for clarity.
7. Still not clear enough? Still see some scratches? do the process again but start with 1000
grt and work back up.


Mark

Basically, this is right, but if you don't keep using finer and finer grits (400, 600, 800, 1000, etc.) up into the final polish, you will end up with "shiny scratches."  It's a big jump from 600 to 1500.
It all depends on when you are willing to say, "That's good."
(probably, most people would be happy with a polished 600 finish)

[Huzo]

Pete , try some Goo Gone to remove the coating . Then either recoat it , or polish it with some toothpaste . One of our members here has an old Kawasaki Police Special windshield that was doing the same thing , the film was disintegrating , simply had to be peeled off . The glue is really sticky .

 Dusty

I have a friend in the U.K. who had the same issue exactly.
I suggested he use soap and toothpaste, and he didn't know what either one was !

[oldbike54]

 

 Dusty

[pete roper]

Thanks guys. I'll probably go with the headlight polishing kit first and accept Mark's offer of his as a back up. Suitable toadying and obsequiousness will be in evidence.

Pete