Polishing side covers - ?on removing YICS emblem

Hi Everyone,

I picked up some side covers off Ebay for my 82 750 for cheap and figured I'd polish them up and then swap them with the ones on my bike. (Keeping downtime to a minimum)

I don't want to mess up those YICS emblems, what's the best way to remove them? I'm guessing they're glued in with something. Is it as simple as prying them out with a blade? I just don't want to experiment and risk scarring the emblem.

Once out, do they just clean up nicely or has anyone had any luck in repainting them?

Thanks!
George

 

Warm them up with a heat gun or hair drier, the gently lift them off, if you can get some fishing line under one end and 'saw' it along, they should clean up OK, if they are not scratched.

 

Warm the cover from behind in the area where the emblems are; a drop or two of mineral spirits will help soften the adhesive and allow them to be carefully dislodged.

CAREFULLY. They are made of very thin and relatively soft metal and will bend very easily.

OR

Put about 4 or 5 layers of masking tape over them and leave them where they are but be VERY careful in the stripping/sanding/buffing/polishing process.

They're held on with a thin, rubbery two sided foam-ish tape.

 

Thanks for the feedback,

I left them in the sun this afternoon, it was only an 80 degree day but they got so hot I could hardly hold them. I also put a few drops of mineral spirits to go along with the heat and using a SS dental spatula, carefully pried them up. They came pretty clean, but after gently cleaning them, they just don't look very pristine. I'll be repainting them I guess.

The repainting looks like it'll demand a steady hand and patience.

George

 

if you want the raised letters to me metallic, spray the whole thing let it dry then rub whole thing on a smooth piece of wood till the paint is off the letters. if you want painted letters, spray the whole thing, when dry spray your color on something smooth and hard, while it's wet stamp the badge on the wet paint like a rubber stamp

 

hi polock,
I’m trying to revive my emblems. They are in sad shape. I want to either repaint them or wrap it in
Gold vinyl wrap to get them back to original looking.
Can you send me a little more detail on how you have done yours and what kind of paint you used please?
Much appreciated!
Thanks Motown

 

Polock has not been on the forum since Oct 2021.

 

what are you using to polish? I'm doing all my covers this winter.
Also, are you clear coating it with something once polished ? if so,what?