| Author | Message | ||
     Dsmitty25 |
Whats everyone using to buff their bikes? I tried searching a little for this. Mainly fine scratches and scuff for boots. | ||
| Rieguy187 |
I buffed my tank after removing the decals with a fine foam pad and a very fine compound came out great! | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Novus Plastic Polish. www.novuspolish.com Works great, you wont need #3 for what you're describing. My dealer has it, I'm sure many of the site sponsors do also. | ||
| Misterrich |
I too use the Novus. Makes your bike glow. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Oh, and I use thier buffing cloths, I think it's very important to have something to use that's not going to scratch more, so I would recommend getting those also. | ||
| Blackflash |
If scratches are deep I use chrome polish and then I use novus or a wax | ||
| Zac4mac |
I worked out the gouges in a pod cover from a 20 mph lowside. Started with 320 grit wet sand thru 2000 grit. Finished with 4-0 steel wool then 2 or 3 grades of polishing compound. Final shine with Meguiar's Gold Class. Almost good as new, Surlyn is nice to work on. Z | ||
| Dsmitty25 |
I used the novus and tested it on my rear seat pod. It took the scratches out really good but there was a haze afterwords. I stared with number 2 and finished with number 1. Also waxed it a few times afterwords. Used soft cloth and like I said took the scratches out really good. And used on a windshield and it made it look like brand new. Anyone had this problem with this stuff? | ||
| Kevin_stevens |
Nope. I scratched my tank cover from carrying a cardboard box a couple of blocks; the Novus combination took it out with a couple of minutes of work. I don't know that it worked any better than Meguiar's Cleaner and then Polish, but it certainly didn't leave any hazing. KeS | ||
| Dmhines |
I posted this in another thread about screwing up my black plastic. Read your Manual .. it explicitly states to take it really gentle with any sort of polishing compound on the colored plastics - especially black. I ruined the front fairing on my CR by trying to polish out a scratch. The entire thing turned cloudy so I bought a new one .. $70 lesson learned. I used the Novus polish as well and it is really for clear plastics like the Buell Translucent parts ... not the solid colored parts. Once the plastics are screwed up you cannot fix them. As per the manual I spent the $13 and bought a bottle of HD Glaze Polish ad Sealant and a bottle of HD Swirl and Scratch Treatment ... nothing else will be touching my plastics .... Use of abrasive products or powered buffing equipment will cause permanent cosmetic damage to body panels. Use only recommended products and techniques outlined in this manual to avoid damaging body panels. (00245b) Buell Manual } (Message edited by dmhines on November 27, 2009) | ||
| Marcodesade |
I've also used the HD products with good results. | ||
| Johnnys999 |
The first thing I wanted to do when I got my CR home was buff it out. I knew right away the plastics/paint was of a different composition, but this didn't deter me. However, I learned soon enough the plastic doesn't take to buffing with an aggressive foam pad and "high" speed cordless drill. The surface started to cloud up so I backed off and used a ultra finishing foam pad and mild polish. That fixed it. Later on I read the manual and realized what I had done, just like what DmHines alluded to. Fortunately, I've been in the buffing pad manufacturing business the last 15 years and a polish and wax representative for 8 years prior. At least I know which pads to use and which ones not to use. I didn't make too much of a mess in the beginning because I was operating at fairly slow speeds. I think however if I had used an automotive buffer at higher speeds the outcome would have been much worst. Just an observation but the impregnated material really likes waxes. The finish at this time is flawless and it pops really nice. I was unsure about it in the beginning since I'm so used to working with paint, but to be honest I like it a lot. | ||
| Moosestang |
How can it buff out scratches if it's not abrasive? | ||
| Dsmitty25 |
Havn't had any luck with the harley stuff or the novus all bad results so far. Takes scratches out but fogs up or almost looks like has water stains in the plastic. Man working paint and metal is a breeze but the plastic kickin my butt! Doing all the work by hand and letting the polishes do the work. Zac im going with your route. Thats what I was going to try at first but wasn't sure if I would do any good. | ||
| Freight_dog |
These plastics are great because they are so cheap and I found small scratch repair very easy. I used Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound on a small scratch on my seat cowl from me kicking it while throwing a leg over. After a lot of elbow grease, it is virtually invisible unless you know where to look, and a little more work would have it gone completely. I followed with Turtle Wax and it looks all shiny. YMMV. The only negative to me is they do scratch way too easily, but ease of maintenance and cheapness to replace make up for it. My boot would only leave a mark on painted ABS plastics, not actually scratch them. I do plan to use Novus products in the future. (Message edited by freight_dog on December 03, 2009) | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I'm wondering if the issues some are experiencing is from the cloth or what you are applying the finish polish with. If you are using something that will leave micro scratches it's not going to matter what polish you are using. | ||
| Dsmitty25 |
using softcloths from HD they are lent free and are very good about not scratching. Going to try the wet sanding route on my lunch break. | ||
| Andynj |
Porter Cable 7424 on 3-4 speed. Using an Orange 3inch pad and Meguirs Gold Class Wax it comes a treat. Don't use any kind of scratch repair compound its too aggressive and will could the finish. Normal wax is very lightly abrasive and works fine on surface level scratches. | ||
| Blake |
A friend had excellent results restoring the original luster to a hazy finish on his Buell Lightning's black surlyn air-box cover using S100 Detail and Wax. I'm a huge fan of the stuff myself. The Uly gets a quick touch up with it whenever I have a chance. It's also great at dissolving bug goo and light road grime. Works great in the travel kit for face-shield cleaning at the gas station. Nothing else I've tried seems to work as well at cleaning and shining as the S100. Most dealerships carry it I think and the aerosol form is too convenient. That an a couple small swatches from an old cotton t-shirt are all you need to keep your Buell's upside shiny?  (Message edited by blake on December 03, 2009) | ||
| Freight_dog |
Good point on the cloth. I used a soft clean shop towel and just hand rubbed it. Took about 10 minutes of hard work to get it pretty smooth. | ||
| Steeleagle |
+1 99buellX1 re; Cloth I was fighting the same issue (clouded finish) using the Novus products. I whined to my bodyshop guy and he asked about the cloth I was using. Very important that it be fine microfiber. It still takes a LOT of elbow grease and time. | ||
| Kevin_stevens |
I don't really understand how this Surylyn plastic is so soft and easily marred if it's used in golf ball covers. KeS | ||
| Moosestang |
I've used Meguiars cleaner wax several times on my red CR, with good results and followed it up with the polish and carnauba wax. It removes light scratches and hasn't clouded the finish. I do get color transfer on the rag, which I guess is normal since this is not paint with clear coat over top. | ||
| Kevin_stevens |
Yes, I use Meguiar's three-step products as well. Not that they're necessarily better than anything else, I'm just familiar with them as I used to get their "commercial" grade stuff from a paint shop friend. They've worked well on my CR so far. I bought the Novus stuff since it was recommended by the dealer, and it works ok, but when it's used up I'll go back to Meguiar's unless I find a reason not to. Just simpler that way. KeS | ||
| Mountainstorm |
+1 on the S100 I work with plastics professionally and use Novus products but the Buell parts hate it. I do find the Novus Cleaner and Polish (not scratch removing) is a good cleaner for bugs etc. But I finish up with s100 once the surface is clean. | ||
| Byron |
Golf ball covers scratch too.  |
