Freshening up plastics?

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I've decided to show my Gasser some love and give it a thorough cleaning, stick on the new graphics and exhaust system I've had sitting around for months.

I'll strip all the remaining stickers from the bike and try and buff out some of the finer scratches - what do you think would be best for this?

I've seen plastic polishes but they all seem to be for clear plastic, what about something like T-Cut?

What about for some hardcore cleaning? - I have some of that pink degreaser spray stuff (forget its name). I've seen 'Gunk' for sale in my local Halfords - I've heard people having success by painting it on the metal bits, leaving for 10 mins then rinsing, anyone tried it?

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

Bring it round mine again and I will show you the way of real muddy bike love.
I did my WR tank before I put the new graphics on and it worked a treat .... but its hard work.

Tools needed:
4 grades of wet and dry 'sandpaper' ( medium to extremely fine (I will have a look, as it may be fine to extremely fine - I cant remember).
Degreaser.
Heat gun.

Clean plastic thoroughly and degrease.
Use med sandpaper to take out the largest scratches.
Then start going down the grades until you have a dull but smooth finish.
Finally use the finest grade with some washing up liquid.

Now for the heatgun part Smile

Its an art... and takes a little while (practice on some old plastics) to learn how the heat/plastic behaves.
Basically you want to melt the top layer.
Not too much or you deform the plastic - but enough that the 'dullness' goes and you are left with shiny plastic.

It works well ... and a side benefit is you are then left with the perfect surface for the new stickers.
My stickers were applied (using heat gun also) over a year ago... and have not peeled once. Thats including being jetwashed after every ride.

However, it takes ages and a lot of elbow grease.
The only reason I did it was because my northern roots wouldnt let me spend the money on new plastics (ie: I am tighter than BlueSV).
Looking back it was fine .... but I do remember, mid way through a 1 hour rubbing session, thinking "maybe I should just buy some new plastics". Rolling Eyes

____________________
There's nothing that shouts "Poor Workmanship" more than wrinkles in the Gaffa tape.

Gaffa tape is like "the force" - it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Cheers Silky, most helpful Thumbs Up

I've bought some cleaning stuff today and will attack the bike at some point soon. First off is a strip down and thorough clean, followed by replacing rusty fixings, then the plastics.

Tonka · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Karma :

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

Handsome · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Karma :

Fabreeze ?... Thumbs Up

____________________
Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

Tonka · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

It begins

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/baldgit/IMG_0219.jpg

Dirty whore.

Rear wheel bearings are shot as well, front brake needs bleeding. Apart from that it's proper bo.

Handsome · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Karma :

Fucking Hell Joe, you've rubbed a bit to hard there mate Shocked

...
____________________
Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Made some very slow progress today scrubbing away with my tiny little brushes. It takes fookin' ages and I've only got as far as starting cleaning the engine - so only done front forks, bars, radiators and 90% of the frame, not including subframe.

Ordered a new front sprocket, wheel bearings and seals for the back, shiny new exhaust springs to go with the shiny new exhaust and an upper yoke allen head bolt as I forgot to tighten them before leaving Silky's on Monday. One was loose and one had completely fallen out Shocked

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

I changed the rear wheel bearings and seals today so that's a new job learnt. The old ones were completely shagged. Now the wheel spins really nicely and has no sideways play, which is nice.

As I was packing up this little blighter walked around the corner

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/baldgit/IMG_0231-1.jpg

He seemed hungry so I gave him a sausage, a Tesco Finest the lucky git

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/baldgit/IMG_0232.jpg

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/baldgit/IMG_0219.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/baldgit/IMG_0234-1.jpg

Before and after. It's not anywhere near perfect but it's much, much better than before. The inside of the airbox was a disgrace. Bought a nifty air intake cover so I could get busy with the hose which helped. So yeah, totally bored of cleaning now.

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

Is it all still 'go' for Tuesday MOT ... and therefore a ride next weekend ?
____________________
There's nothing that shouts "Poor Workmanship" more than wrinkles in the Gaffa tape.

Gaffa tape is like "the force" - it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Yep, all back together today, new front sprocket, new exhaust and new grips. Started 2nd kick - she's a faithful ol' girl.

bikersupermot... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Karma :

ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 08 Jun 2007 Karma :

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

bikersupermot... · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Well the bike is pretty much sorted now, apart from the plastics which was the whole point of this in the first place Laughing

Bike has had a good clean, new fork seals and oil (cheers Silky Thumbs Up

), new front sprocket, wheel bearings, new exhaust system, new clutch slave cylinder and seals, new clutch lever, fresh brake fluid, fresh gearbox oil, carb clean, new grips and new fork guards.

Just need to get MOT now.

And then do the plastics Laughing

silky666 · Captain Rulebook Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Karma :

..... · Quote Me Happy Joined: 15 Jan 2005 Karma :

Cheers Silky Thumbs Up

However, it's all gone a bit pear shaped

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=198236