Windshield Saga..

[wantakaw59]

My 2000 Nomads' windshield had some sort of "chipping" going on. It was mostly, if not entirely on the "inside" of the shield. It was severe enough that I could easily "feel" the "chipping" when I'd run my fingertip over the shield. To "see" the problem, you had to get a certain side view of it. The clarity was OK, but I fought that same problem on my last bike, and decided it was "unacceptable". I was either gunna "fix" this shield, or throw it in the trash and buy another one!! Keep in mind, my only 2 compulsivenesses in life are ciggs, and being somewhat fussy about the bike!! I've been somewhat suprised NOT to see more postings about this problem?? Unless I have been the unlucky owner of 2 bikes in a row that has had the previous owner put on a "magical" solution like Rain X on it?? I noted one previous post about this subject that stated "there may be a UV protection on the shield". I am thinking that is what it could be??
Because the thickness of said "coating" seemed to be rather THICK, and I wanted most of this job to be done before Saturday College Football came on,, , I carefully used a new razor blade to SCRAPE off the peeling "film". It came off like laquer paint, in tiny, powdery dust. It is NOT wax, waaaay too thick for wax!! The inside of the shield came out GREAT, with hardly any scratches from the razor blade, but I did get a BUNCH of medium scratches on the outside. I then hit the outside with the red "scuff pad" vertically (against the deep scratches horizontally), then "crosscut" it with a grey scuff pad. Then hand rubbed with a pollishing compound. NOT GOOD NUFF!!
Ran to the parts store and spent $20 (1/4 of cost of NEW shield) on Mequire Plastic X ($10 in itself) and some different compounds. I had a lil Black and Decker buffer that was too slow, so I cut a backplate from some hard plastic lying around and turned my angle grinder into a buffer!! Using the roughest compound, I finally started seeing results. Also, hitting the shield with some wet 2000 grit 3-M paper seemed to help bring the shine back up also. I finally have the scratches I put in it gone!! Now it's just a matter of stepping up with finer compounds to get the swirl marks out and get clarity even better!! It's not a matter of money here, it's now a war of wills!! I knew from the start of this "project" I'd be better off just buying a new shield. Being an "old" body shop guy, I've always felt I could make anything shine if used the right sandpaper and compounds. If anyone is interested in the final outcome (which may come in a few years??), I'll post it.
In hind sight..(which everyone knows is 20/20), I would have been fine if skipped the razor blade and simply sanded the coating off!! I know everyone thinks was insane to use the blade, but believe it or not, I didn't get ANY marks on the inside of the shield with the blade!! Oh, and so far the fancy Plastic X has shown the LEAST signs of helping the shine!!

[ringadingh]

It seems that your on the right path in restoring your windsheild. I think I ruined mine by using RainX a couple times. Now it has small fizzures in the plastic that have appeared over a period of time, unless its just UV rays finally taking their toll over the years. Either way I'll never use RainX on a bike again.

[Top Cat]

Sometimes the determination of the members on here amazes me.
I would have bought a new shield and spent my time riding

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I once used Rain X on a car I owned at the time. That was the only time I used that $hit. Never again, and definitely not on a motorcycle windshield.

One guy on here praised PlastiX and said it cleared up a windshield that he could hardly see out of. By the way, Wal-Mart carries PlastiX for $5.44.

Gene

[wantakaw59]

Originally Posted by Top Cat (TC)

Sometimes the determination of the members on here amazes me.
I would have bought a new shield and spent my time riding

"Determination" is the politically correct term for it TC.. "Borderline Insanity" is my wifeys' term!! As far as "put out da bucks and RIDE instead" goes,,, I must be gettin older, cause riding in temps under 45 just doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to!! :( Maybe twas a subconscious decision to start this "project" afore the season was "officially" ended??

"Fizzures" Ring?? ??? Isn't that a geological term?? I'm thinkin small "crack" in momma earths' crust?? Hmmm. The inside of the shield had "chipping in some sort of medium thick coating" deal going on in the middle/center section of shield. Not at all sure if said "coating" is factory or some kind of "Rain X" deal. The outside of the shield had a corner section with what we used to call "checking/craizing" in the body biz when referring to crackled paint. The scraping/sanding/buffing cured both problems. Now to get the "clarity" back!!! :-/
As far as the Wally Mart deal goes Gene... I KNEW I shoulda posted something BEFORE starting this "project"!! That is almost 1/2 what I paid at car parts store!!! :(" title="" border="0"/>
Stopped at local watering hole to do some needed "socializing" last night after work, so no time spent on "the good fight". I must confess, I "sort of" can't wait to get back out to the garage tonight and do some buffing. I may have to chain wifey in the garage though, since she was "whining" about getting a few onces of compound in her eyes the other night... waaa waaa.... :'( Women can be soooo girly!!
Hopefully, SOOON thousands of motorcycle owners will be sending me checks for $10 each to get the "secret formula" of how to successfully sand out all imperfections in plastic M.C. windshields, and buff it back to clarity?? Oh to retire at 50!! Keep me in your prayers guys...jim

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by wantakaw59

"Determination" is the politically correct term for it TC.. "Borderline Insanity" is my wifeys' term!! As far as "put out da bucks and RIDE instead" goes,,, I must be gettin older, cause riding in temps under 45 just doesn't appeal to me as much as it used to!! :( Maybe twas a subconscious decision to start this "project" afore the season was "officially" ended??

"Fizzures" Ring?? ??? Isn't that a geological term?? I'm thinkin small "crack" in momma earths' crust?? Hmmm. The inside of the shield had "chipping in some sort of medium thick coating" deal going on in the middle/center section of shield. Not at all sure if said "coating" is factory or some kind of "Rain X" deal. The outside of the shield had a corner section with what we used to call "checking/craizing" in the body biz when referring to crackled paint. The scraping/sanding/buffing cured both problems. Now to get the "clarity" back!!! :-/
As far as the Wally Mart deal goes Gene... I KNEW I shoulda posted something BEFORE starting this "project"!! That is almost 1/2 what I paid at car parts store!!! :(" title="" border="0"/>
Stopped at local watering hole to do some needed "socializing" last night after work, so no time spent on "the good fight". I must confess, I "sort of" can't wait to get back out to the garage tonight and do some buffing. I may have to chain wifey in the garage though, since she was "whining" about getting a few onces of compound in her eyes the other night... waaa waaa.... :'( Women can be soooo girly!!
Hopefully, SOOON thousands of motorcycle owners will be sending me checks for $10 each to get the "secret formula" of how to successfully sand out all imperfections in plastic M.C. windshields, and buff it back to clarity?? Oh to retire at 50!! Keep me in your prayers guys...jim

Women can be so girly I like that.

Maybe thousands of MC owners will be sending you their windshields for you to clear them up.

[wantakaw59]

Just a note for anyone following windshield "saga". The windshield was resting downstairs for a few days, and did seem to dull down a bit after the Platic X must have been "absorbed" into the plastic?? I put the shield on for a 110 mile scoot yesterday, and although it was bit duller than before the scratchectimine, I had no trouble with vision through it. I have no doubt that it will be lightly sanded and buffed yet one more final time soon. After numerous applications of Plastic X I'll make the final decision as to whether a new shield will be purchased for next spring or not. GOOD ride in 60's temps yesterday...RIDE ON