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Plastic Rehab

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by KA1J, Mar 5, 2012.

  1. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    I'm trying to rehab the black plastic that goes around the instrument cluster. This particular one is from a 650 Maxim but it's like so many other plastics on other models. The plastic is intact, no cracks seen but there's discoloration most likely from the sun and maybe something like oil/brake fluid that ended up on it & changed the color from the original dark shiny black to a mottled blackish gray.

    You can see where drops of something had ended up on it and left the image but left no apparent change in texture so the plastic itself isn't rippled. After a thorough cleaning with both soap, well worn 3M pad and plasticlean to get it down to base as much as possible, the affected areas remain. I tried wetting the plastic to see if that would temporarily bring out the black luster but there was no change. I'm hesitant to tape off the glass and indicator lights and spray paint it. So perhaps someone here has an idea of what might bring out the original black color and make it look well cared for?

    Idears?
     
  2. maverickbr77

    maverickbr77 Member

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    try back to black worked nice on some faded plastic for me
     
  3. DuoDS

    DuoDS Member

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    I am looking for a solution on my Seca dash as well. I found this black plastic dye. Anyone ever used it?

    Plastic Trim Restoration

    I am seriously thinking about getting a bottle for all the black plastic parts on all my toys.
     
  4. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    @ Maverick

    A worthy suggestion. I bought some tonight at Auto Zone. It really didn't do much to restore the all black the plastic used to be. I read in links talking about back to black about something called "return to Black" which is I think, like a black plastic dye. I thought back to black was going to be black but it's milky white in color. Didn't seem to get into the plastic. Maybe it'll be more effective on rubber?
     
  5. maverickbr77

    maverickbr77 Member

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    i rubbed a decently heavy coat on let it sit for a while then buffed the crap out of it (x2 on a couple parts). It definitely isn't a dye supposedly you can use it on ant color plastic not sure exactly what it does or how. It may be that yours is worse off than mine was but it left mine looking nice.
    You may have to resort to dye or paint if you didn't see any improvement.
    Supposedly a touch of a heat gun can help faded plastic as well as long as you don't turn it into a puddle of goop.
     
  6. JeffK

    JeffK Well-Known Member

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    What you are seeing is a coat of oxidation....yup, rust for plastic! Cool huh?...'cept that rust remover won't work to remove it however there is something that will.

    Now before I tell you, I will warn you.....hate when that happens right? If you apply this as a liquid, it will melt your piece soooooo, you need to wet a section of cloth, then wrap it in a dry section so you are only applying the fumes to the actual piece.....also, do NOT RUB it or you will melt the surface and the little raises will flatten and again, it will be ruined. It's very difficult to describe the procedure but if you get it right, you can actually get your piece looking brand new.....The chemical is Actetone or Tulane, either will work but it's best to practice. Hint, don't buy either at a auto store unless you enjoy rape....go to home depot or similar and take a walk into the paint department and the driveway cleaning sections

    good luck,
    jeff
     
  7. CapnRedbeard

    CapnRedbeard Member

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    Im sure that I have read somewhere on this site about the wonders of black boot polish, apply allow to dry and then buff with a nice soft cloth.

    When it dulls reapply and shine again! real cheap and provides a protective coating that does no harm.

    :)
     
  8. wamaxim

    wamaxim Active Member

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    PAINT IT and be done with it. Acetone and plastic is surfin' for disaster!

    Loren

     
  9. dmccoach

    dmccoach Member

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    Pure silicone does wonders for plastic and rubber -- Len sells a pure silicone grease -- it is clear but thick like toothpaste so you can apply it and leave it for a few days... This is the look of pure silicone on the plastic:

    ---
    [​IMG]
    ---
     
  10. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    I started cleaning the love bugs off of 2 bikes, spraying the fronts down with Windex, and by the time I got back to the 900, the windshield had streaked !! Kinda diagonal too, I was ticked.

    I ended up using a tire dressing, which was clear, and also gives a "new" look to rubber, black plastic, and old matte paint.
    There's no trace of those streaks now.
     
  11. whitewolf_00

    whitewolf_00 Member

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    I do belive Rustoleum does make a plastic rattle can paint for plastic. I myself have not used it on my bike, but have seen it used on plastic outdoor furnature. and it looks good..
     
  12. dmccoach

    dmccoach Member

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    I have to say that I've had the worst luck w/Rustoleum on plastic -- for me, it actually never sets up -- it remains undried, pliable nearly tacky... Personally, I do not like that paint for anything
     
  13. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Precisely.

    I noticed I could very effectively remove it with my fingernail. But obviously not in large areas or it would take a lifetime.

    Solvents, however, are quite tricky, as above.

    So I used fine Scotchbrite (gray) to very carefully remove the oxidized layer; and then treated the plastic with Mother's Back-to-Black.

    I used this technique on my airbox, rear fender and chainguard (X2 bikes) with excellent results. The key is proceeding patiently and carefully so that you ONLY remove the oxidized layer.
     
  14. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    All good answers but this is just wierd. It's not horrible but I'd like it to look good. I'm not adverse to using something like a solvent to improve the look to what this inside looks like but I can't help but think I'd ruin the surface trying.

    Nothing to rub off with a fingernail, this seems embedded in the plastic, it's not the surface scum stuff onl old plastic, this stuff doesn't come loose and the plastic is hard everywhere. I did use a 3m pad with attached sponge to have at it & it didn't make any change.

    What's curious is there are a few areas where there are what looks to be drops or tear drop areas where the plastic looks great. They're tiny, maybe 1/4" across but 95+% of the plastic has this hazy whitish coloration to it.


    Oh.... A photo is worth 1,000 mumbles...

    Close-up
    [​IMG]

    Ignore the man in the mirror...
    [​IMG]

    All this was after maybe 4 minutes of rubbing with that 3M side of the dishwashing pad and then maybe 8-10 minutes of rubbing in back to Black. I saw no change except it's nice & shiny but the discoloration remains.
     
  15. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    URK.

    As faded as that instrument cover is, what I'd do is:

    -remove it. (The cluster comes apart.)

    -carefully mask the glass.

    -add a layer of duct tape over the masking.

    -wet-sand with 1600 or 2000 grit.

    Then either polish it back up (which may not work) or paint with AUTOMOTIVE trim paint.

    That's not the oxidation that I was referring to; that's badly faded plastic. There may not BE any black left in it.

    Those dark spots are where something dripped on it and prevented the fading.
     
  16. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    I thought about the spraying with paint but didn't want to experience the joys of peeling paint & runs in the crevices. Rubbing with fine paper or steel wool would remove the lettering below the indicator lights & I'd have to attend to those areas or it'll still look bad.

    My glass over the speedo is broken, it's too bad I can't just replace the glass but it's not made that way.

    Nuttin hard is ever easy...
     
  17. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    I wonder if a thick head sharpie or magic marker's indelible dye would do the trick to return black & then maybe the "back to Black" would make it shiny & new looking again???
     
  18. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    i sprayed one from a kawasaki with lacquer thinner and it turned almost white, then i mixed lacquer thinner and polyurethane varnish
    50/50 and two coats later it looked like new
     
  19. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Magic Marker/Sharpie dye is actually a dark purple. Draw a line on a piece of paper with one and then spray it with clear lacquer; you'll end up with a fuzzy purple line.

    Since the speedo glass is broken too; why not just replace it? The cover is a separate piece:

    NOS: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Yamaha-Mete ... 03&vxp=mtr

    Decent used: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Other-Year ... a8&vxp=mtr

    But here's the real kicker: It's Yamaha part number 4H7-83559-A0-00, COVER, METER and I show it as still being available FROM YAMAHA for $45.81.

    I have another NOS source that has a bunch of them, but they want $87.00.

    You might wanna check with Len...
     
  20. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    You could patiently watch E-Bay for a clean unit, then sell your parts to re-coup some of your loss.

    This will keep you from staring at the cluster while trying to enjoy the ride :D
     
  21. KA1J

    KA1J Member

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    I love my bike but I just won't pay that kind of money for a NOS cluster rim. The other one you linked (& BTW, thanks for looking!) looks about as worn as this one. The one I have now is a replacement part and I've been holding off putting it on till I get some resolution on the color issue.

    Maybe I'll need to do what I consider to be the unthinkable & spray paint the cover. Somehow that seems like defiling it but if I tape the indicator lights well I can probably do a decent job of spray painting it.

    Wonder what spray paint characteristic is closest to the original plastic; satin, gloss semi-gloss.

    Oh I shudder...
     
  22. zap2504

    zap2504 Member

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    I got some stuff called "Forever Black" (www.foreverblack.net) to try to re-dye the black plastic fender extensions on my wife's Jeep Wrangler that had turned light gray. It comes in a 4oz plastic bottle with a large "magic marker" chisle wick. It might take 2 coatings to make it look even but it worked great on the Jeep.
     

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