Author Topic: Windshield renewing process..... (Read 13167 times)

Diesel · « **on:** March 07, 2012, 06:31:41 PM »

So I'm cleaning the windshield of my 13 and I notices that too many marks don't wash off anymore - (the downside of LD riding).

So I rocked into this perspex factory and tells the man of my concerns.

"Can you buffs it all shiny again?" I asks.

"Depends" he says "... on whether she coated or non-coated."

Sooooooooo, ......... I'm going to take the windshield in to him and see if he can make it gleam again for a few $$$ as my pockets aren't deep enough yet to gets me a V-Stream.

I'll let y'all know how it all Pan (European)'s out!

Cheers, Diesel

Nh478m · « **Reply #1 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:24:27 PM »

I do hope I'm wrong but I've a suspicion you might be disappointed.

I've got three screens for my '13.

For two-up touring riding I've got a V-Stream - it's fantastic and best of the lot no problem - like riding behind a patio door! - fitted with a bug catcher.

For solo riding, I've got an aftermarket cheapie acrylic to the pattern of the stock screen - as it's not coated at all, it marks fairly easily but it buffs easily and quickly too; back to a lovely shine again (I just have to keep on top of the job when it's on there). - fitted with a bug catcher.

And I've got a stock OEM screen off a wrecker - it was badly scored at the top in the crash, so that's cut down to a shape which mirrors the top of the dashboard - I tried buffing it to get some other quite small marks out of it but the coating is so hard that to do any good I had to work at it so aggresively that the coating went through in several places and it became misty in patches and looked awful. This screen is now completely sanded down to get rid of the coating altogether and it's going to soon be painted as a hot weather shortie only. - will be fitted with a bug catcher.

If the stock screen, the V-stream or any other coated screen is going to be painted or even have a non-porous sticker on you have to be ready for the paint or decal to lift as the coating gases off over time and pushes off whatever is on there. The coating has to be taken off completely otherwise anything that won't breathe will not stick permanently.

Again - I hope I'm wrong and your guy is a magician with all sorts of plastic but if it was me, I'd either put up with it as is or I'd buy a cheapie aftermarket screen (they're not as strong or flexible as OEM but unless you're in a wreck with it you can't tell the difference) and polish it with 'Mr Sheen' after every trip - only takes a minute.

Good luck.

Skip · « **Reply #2 on:** March 07, 2012, 07:53:18 PM »

Will watch with interest Diesel. Let him know that if does a great job he'll have another too do. They appear to be fairly soft and susceptible to scratching very easily.
PJ, I assuming the Mr Sheen simply works as a polish and allows easy cleaning. Prolonged use won't make the screen cloudy will it?
Cheers.
Skip.

Nh478m · « **Reply #3 on:** March 07, 2012, 08:04:25 PM »

Hi,

I've been using the Mr Sheen for about 12 months now and I can't see any changes in screen clarity at all. The screens and the tupperware (only) after a rinse off get the same treatment.

I always let it soak into the bugs for a while before taking it off with micro-fibre cloths and after a few uses, the bugs seem to sit on top of the last coating of polish anyway and so come off easily without need for any hard rubbing at all.

The wife wishes I did the household furniture - yeah right!

Diesel - if it does work you should share the methodology (if your man will give it up that is) everywhere the bike is used because it's a common enough issue all over and as yet, I haven't heard of success anywhere but again maybe I missed something.

PJ

Couch · « **Reply #4 on:** March 07, 2012, 08:49:06 PM »

"Plexus" is the way to go

..............absolutely the best windscreen polish ever, it's available from any bike shop, expensive

, but worth every cent!!

Diesel · « **Reply #5 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:09:46 PM »

Quote from: Couch on March 07, 2012, 08:49:06 PM

"Plexus" is the way to go ..............absolutely the best windscreen polish ever, it's available from any bike shop, expensive , but worth every cent!!

Plexus schmexus...lol I used to use it (and it is flamin good too - there is no doubting this), but try Mr sheen for one quarter of the cost and tell me that isn't at least three quarters as good.

PS - @PJ = thanks for the 'heads up' Paul - will make sure I get explained the reason why/why not this will work.

Cheers, Diesel

terrydj · « **Reply #6 on:** March 07, 2012, 09:12:58 PM »

Havn't got a screen so can't comment. But I do know they are easy to scratch so their must be something that can help you get the scatches out???

Couch · « **Reply #7 on:** March 07, 2012, 10:24:32 PM »

Tried it mate, and you're right, it is probably three quarters as good...........but not as good as!!

Yep..........Plexus is top dollar, but you don't need to use much to get a good result. I've had one can that's lasted me the past 2 years and still going strong. What I do is wash my screen with just water on a soft rag to get off the bugs, dry it off a little then hit it with a light spray of Plexus and rub off with a soft rag. It just cleans it up so well without smears.

Quote from: Diesel on March 07, 2012, 09:09:46 PM

Quote from: Couch on March 07, 2012, 08:49:06 PM
"Plexus" is the way to go ..............absolutely the best windscreen polish ever, it's available from any bike shop, expensive , but worth every cent!!

Plexus schmexus...lol I used to use it (and it is flamin good too - there is no doubting this), but try Mr sheen for one quarter of the cost and tell me that isn't at least three quarters as good.

PS - @PJ = thanks for the 'heads up' Paul - will make sure I get explained the reason why/why not this will work.

Cheers, Diesel

Couch · « **Reply #8 on:** March 07, 2012, 10:48:42 PM »

You obviously took it off for a reason Terry...............but having ridden bikes with, and without screens, I'll always go for one with a screen. I don't like a big screen and always ride with it set to the lowest setting unless it starts raining then I just raise it a little, but make sure I can still see over it. I just find a screen keeps you warmer, drier (if it rains), and makes your ride more comfortable. But....to each, his own!!

Quote from: terrydj on March 07, 2012, 09:12:58 PM

Havn't got a screen so can't comment. But I do know they are easy to scratch so their must be something that can help you get the scatches out???

Aj1300 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2012, 06:36:32 AM »

Have you thought of looking at your insurance. I am with Shannons and you can claim a screen each year at no cost or effect to your policy.
Cheers Aj

Tipsy · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2012, 07:56:41 AM »

py
I don't how good Mr Sheen does on the tupperware or screens but as it is kerosene based it will eventually ruin any decently polished timber furniture.
To test this just spray some on a piece of paper or cardboard and then SMELL it.

Also I presume that the hardening on the screens is the same as they spray on our eye glasses to stop scratches.

If this is so why cant we get them resprayed ?

Tipsy

Tipsy · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2012, 08:23:11 AM »

py

I actually meant respraying our screens.

as for the eye glasses I believe there is a fellow some where in Brisbane (west end I think) that does repairs for those at a third the price of the opto's
He actually does the work for them, they just rip us off.

Tipsy

Brock · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2012, 08:33:57 AM »

Try a bit of super glue on the disc face Kev let it dry then polish out, or clear nail polish (even soap) . When I scratch a cd/dvd, there aint no reading it, as I score the top and destroy the metalic film.

Couch · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2012, 08:44:20 AM »

Right, that settles it...........I won't be loaning you any DVDs!!!

Quote from: Brock on March 08, 2012, 08:33:57 AM

Try a bit of super glue on the disc face Kev let it dry then polish out, or clear nail polish (even soap) . When I scratch a cd/dvd, there aint no reading it, as I score the top and destroy the metalic film.

Down Under · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2012, 06:24:41 PM »

Quote from: Nh478m on March 07, 2012, 07:24:27 PM

For two-up touring riding I've got a V-Stream - it's fantastic and best of the lot no problem - like riding behind a patio door! - fitted with a bug catcher.

Nh478m,

How do you find the V-Stream compared to the OEM screen when it's fully lowered? Is it much quieter and whats the airflow like in the lower position? Also, how long are you?

Thanks in advance,

Tony

Brock · « **Reply #15 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:08:13 PM »

Tony,

Quote

how long are you?

Thats a bit personal aint it??????

Or did you mean how tall...

You Taswegians..

Couch · « **Reply #16 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:56:37 PM »

Taswegians...........from Bathurst NSW????

Quote from: Brock on March 09, 2012, 07:08:13 PM

You Taswegians..

Brock · « **Reply #17 on:** March 09, 2012, 07:58:04 PM »

Well they do let Taswegians in you know....

Couch · « **Reply #18 on:** March 09, 2012, 08:44:37 PM »

Nh478m · « **Reply #19 on:** March 10, 2012, 03:37:06 AM »

Hey Tony,

The V-stream seems to be better than the stock item even when fully retracted. It does seem to flatten out turbulence in all positions but is just as noisy as the stock item when fully down. When fully extended we often find it possible at speed to flip our helmets open and talk almost normally. It can be spookily quiet if the road is good.

I find when it sits just below eyeline that because of it seeming to create some kind of vortex effect it really does make things a lot quieter with our Evoline 2 helms which can be quite noisy themselves. They do seem to work well particularly at speed.

Down Under · « **Reply #20 on:** March 10, 2012, 03:12:36 PM »

Hey PJ,

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely consider getting one before winter hits. They do look a bit fugly but I'll just have to get over that!

Cheers,

Tony

Diesel · « **Reply #21 on:** March 10, 2012, 05:21:40 PM »

Well I took the ST13 windshield in to Mr Perspex - he took one look at it and said - "Sorry mate - Poly Carbonate coating" and with that, there was nothing he could do for me.

But he did recommend using a polish that has no cutting compound in it - i.e. no grit. Wash the screen with soapy water first - then polish (with NO grit polish).

The water shouldn't bead on it either.

Looks like all you smarty pants's are correct. - time to save for a V-Stream.

Cheers, Diesel

Diesel · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2012, 09:05:11 PM »

Quote from: Kev on March 10, 2012, 06:30:15 PM

Diesel,

Does that mean that Poly Carbonate coated screens cannot be resurfaced?...or is it that they (Mr Perspex) doesn't have the equipment to do the job?....

My logic is that, if the screen 'can' get scratched then the 'coating' can be removed, the scratches sanded out etc etc....or is it cheaper just to buy a new screen?....all seems confusing

Yeah Champ - you CAN sand the screen and progressively polish it back to shiny and new, but without the coating, you are sentencing yourself to 'buffing' the damn thing on a regular basis - as the surface is conducive to scratches and pitting and sunlight erosion/brittling. The tough coating keeps the underlying poly perspex from being damaged in rudimentary "collisions" with airborne particles that would normally mark an uncoated version of the same screen.

Much like lacquer over timber for spills n knocks on the coffee table. If you sand the shellack off, you have to keep sanding the table back to preserve it's "like new" finish.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, Diesel

rendog · « **Reply #23 on:** September 05, 2012, 10:54:06 AM »

My screen had become so badly scratched and stained,
of a night time oncoming head lights would completely
obscure vision thorough the screen. So I got a $20
bottle of Meguiar's PlastX.

No it didn't remove all of the scratches or stains,
but yes I could see through it again last night.
Used it on the wife's crumpledoor headlights & windshields.

FYI: smells alot like old AJAX tile & grout cleaner,
it's a slurry compound, bit like gritty toothpaste.

P.S. Just cleaned up the helmet visor with it.

horizontal · « **Reply #24 on:** September 08, 2012, 03:22:05 PM »

The coating they put on the screens is to stop the screen from be scratched when cleanig. Like mr perspex said if you try to sand and buff the scratch out you will end up with a halo around the sanded area. I believe they can be recoated as this is the way they repair plasic headlights on cars after they go yellow etc. But the cost would be over the top.
greg

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Author Topic: Windshield renewing process..... (Read 13167 times)

terrydj

rendog