getting scratches out of motorcycle windshield

I couldn't see through it, and that is dangerous on a motorcycle.Read on and see what I found out worked to make it clear again. Also, sems rain-x i not a good thing to use on lexan as a wax. the ammonia maybe? Pressing lightly/using just the weight of the sander. 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. (NEVER tape a Lexan windshield, it removes the protective covering! Severely scratched windshields hinder your vision and detract from your motorcycle's appearance. Toothpaste has the advantage of being safer to use, but it isn't as immediately effective on most scratches. If your windshield is caked with insects, soak a terry cloth towel in water and drape it over the windshield. The wax coating lasts me about a week of riding.I ride a lot off road, because I live on a dirt road (And for fun sometimes) and I repeatedly will go through dust clouds and dust storms, so my windshield is really exposed to elements that are never seen in a city.Your wax coating may last quite a bit longer than mine.Just wax on, let it dry, wax off, grasshopper.Now is a good time to put a coat of wax or two on the mounting hardware! We have a special cleaner for acrylic, or you can use warm soapy water. Any commercial cleaner that says its made for use with plastics is probably fine, too, but avoid cleaners with petroleum products, ammonia or kerosene because these can all damage hardcoating. 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. Fortunately, there are inexpensive products on the market made to restore your motorcycle's windshield. How the brackets that bolt to the mount on the motorcycle go (It is easy to reverse them).And 2. 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. It will not polish well at all with even a slightly low battery. Good, common sense, easy to follow guide. Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control. The wax really helps. Having a scratch-free motorcycle windshield is not only essential in achieving an optimum motorcycle driving experience, it is also necessary to prevent road accidents due to poor windshield visibility. Use the highest grit that will cut the surface to the point that the scratches don't show. Phooey to that. Id test it on a small section first! Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. 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. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Wearing goggles is also a good idea. Choose a cleaner safe for plastics to follow up after polishing. Use a thick terry cloth towel with plenty of soap and warm water. I recommend using the shower wand instead, but I just washed each side like in the pictures. Terms of Service - 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. You can see what the polishing does, and the waxing does for the main upper portion of the windshield. After you've finished, wipe away any excess toothpaste. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. You don't want to polish with dust, trust me!An important thing to remember is if you are using a battery operated unit: When you hear the battery starting to lose power, STOP. Spray on a plastic cleaner. Thanks! The purpose of the sandpaper is to get the surface flat, as light reflects off the scratches, which causes the glare and haze. No crap, we promise. The polishing compound will not only remove the scratches on your windshield, but it will also clear the windshield of whatever insect trails are left on it. :), TundraWolf, Hi!I think I'll stick to using your method of polishing the windscreen. After buffing, use a fresh and soft washcloth to apply the polish. I used two coats of wax. Ialmost wish Ihad adishwasher for this purpose. Follow these instructions to remove scratches from a motorcycle windshield. Set the windshield on something soft and dry it gently with a soft cloth.Go and grab your orbital sander w/ buffing wheel. Copyright Before you try to remove a scratch from your windshield, try running your finger vertically over the scratch to assess the damage. First, rub the sandpaper against itself several times before use. Cordless tools dont generate enough power and may overheat. Keep close to an electrical outlet, though, since you need one for the buffing pad. Store your motorcycle in a safe area and keep it covered until your next drive. It is about $5 a bottle. After a hefty wash, the bike started looking pretty good, except for those annoying scratches, so I decided to tackle the problem. Paper towels are too abrasive, and shop rags, even though they look clean, can pick up metal chips and other scratchy stuff that remains even after a thorough washing. I can actually see through it now, which is a small miracle for me. Using a soft towel, gently apply the mixture to the windshield, making sure that the entire surface is covered. Apply the toothpaste the same way you would apply cerium oxide or another buffing compound. Heather Mckinney has been writing for over 23 years. However, replacing a windshield can be costly. Your email address will not be published. We think life is better on two wheels. The vibrations of the windshield edges on the carpet will actually bring dust up and on the windshield. I think if you have the motivation and time, you can make just about anyplastic clear again. Polycarbonate is more impact resistant than the other material, acrylic. Go slow, and make sure you are really polishing the windshield properly. 12 years ago 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. Clean the glass first, then apply your polishing compound to the glass and buff it with a polishing pad. My porcelain sink has some kinda deep scratches in the basin. Share it with us! Always cover your skin and wear a dust mask when handling it. Daily updates on Powersports news that motorcyclists care about. It works to get rid of compound that has pooled or is applied too thick. Open your garage door, for instance, to help disperse the powder. First, you have to remove the windshield. Take a look at the pictures, you can clearly see how much polishing helps.Please remember, too, that I have added no wax. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. They may tell you to replace your entire windshield. Once the windshield is clean, apply the paste to the scratch with your microfiber cloth. on Introduction. Use "Wax on Wax off, grasshopper" swirls, overlapping 50% each pass. It would be very interesting to see how baking soda(And water?) Dry the windshield with another soft terry cloth towel. National Cycle uses two materials for its shields. This article has been viewed 184,126 times. A new windshield alone can run upwards of $200.These days times are hard for all sort of people. Whatever you use to clean your windshield, start off by soaking paper or cloth towels in water and laying them on 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. Plastic cleaners are designed to work in cool temperatures so park your bike in the shade before you start. Then, use the towel to wipe them away. Plastic polish is a mild abrasive, safe for use on your motorcycle's windshield. Use tools that run at 1300 rpm or higher. One criticism You show a can of polish in the section on waxing. on Introduction. If you still see scratches in the windshield, chances are the paste didnt get inside them. Pressing hard. home improvement and repair website. When you are through buffing, there will be a lot of white dust static clinging to the windshield,. ah've installed an old dishwasher in mah shop after reading this communique!! The last step in a thorough cleaning is applying a coat of protectant such as non-abrasive spray wax. Make sure you use water with it! 10 years ago How can I fix a scratched windshield myself? Acrylic is much cheaper. Cerium oxide is an irritant. Chris Parker. 7 years ago Regular maintenance is needed to make sure that your motorcycle windshield gives you optimum visibility regardless of whether you are driving on a busy freeway or taking a leisurely drive in the countryside. Then using the same piece of sandpaper, I put the Plastx on the plastic and sand, using the Plastx as the lubricant instead of water. Plenty of both available. He weighs more than I do, to, at 224 lbs. Not good on a bike if you get hit by a chunk of tire going 55 mph. Surface dirt creates more scratches in the windshield. Work in a ventilated environment if possible. 12 years ago It needs to vibrate and spin, I believe. Novus is low-abrasive, but the trick is to remove the scratch without going through the hardcoat. Crack repair is another iffy area. But its a case-by-case thing, he says, depending on how deep the scratch is. The wax helps the lower bib, but when ti wears off you are hosed. (2) Lexan (a tradename for polycarbonate) is stronger than acrylic but the windshields of practically all light aircraft are acrylic, as well as those of many motorcycles. {"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":"