How to polish marks from instrument cluster face

[au-rora]

Any thoughts on what's the safest of most effective way to remove marks and restore an instrument panel lens face? My CR & 12S have marks on the face left from previous owners. There are many plastic polishing products like Nova and Meguiars for general plastic body panels, but should the face of the instrument panel be treated differently?

 

[BuellyBagger]

Anyone is free to call me out on this, but just treat it as your other plastic panels. You'd be hard pressed to do any damage to it by experimenting a bit with various polishes

 

[nicholas900]

I've used the Novus kits on instrument lens and it works great.

 

[au-rora]

Down here, this Aussie stuff works pretty well on bug splatter, but not sure yet which product to try on the instrument face.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Have you looked into plastic film? it comes in so many types nowadays and sticks so well like a clear wrap if you like, now it could improve the look or make it worse! it comes in various really subtle shades of colour too, maybe a slight tint would help? or shall i do like your spray says and bugger off!! ha ha ha

 

[au-rora]

Hahaha! Thanks Tone! Very good...
So now you've let the black cat out of your bag... you are black filming your bike - section by section.
Have you tried black filming those burning silver rings of Saturn? Haha
However, I think I might try some ajax on a toothbrush. Worked on my teeth; might work on the dash face too??

 

[Cooter]

If the scratches are too deep for regular plastic polish to get out, use the same exact rules as polishing anything else. Keep going to a slightly heavier grit until the scratches go away, then re-polish with lighter grit until it's clear and not foggy.

Regular toothpaste, "soft scrub", polishing compound are all pretty light and if they don't get out the scratches, go to rubbing compound. The rubbing compound will leave the screen foggy, but then use polish, then plastic polish to clear it up.

A headlight restoration kit should have tiny quantities of everything you need.

Is that clear??:black_eyed:

 

[au-rora]

Seriously, thanks for your input guys. Good sound advice Cooter.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Try my idea you may be surprised!! i doubt it but you may be! ha ha ha yeah i just put a load of dustbin liners on my bike and then heated them!! lol oh you may mock but those burning halos will be gone oneday! I HOPE!! The latest delivery date is around the 12th of never i believe!! Good luck sorting out your instrument cluster you ungrateful git! ha ha ha ha ha :tongue-new:

 

[au-rora]

Tone, I'm sure you know that you have a bunch of mates gunning with you for the black rotors. I am certainly one. I bet, even amongst the ever silent lurkers! Hope it comes together soon. :encouragement:
My only experience with plastic film is limited to using heat shrink over electrical wiring. And that's great stuff!!
However, I'll think on your suggestion. May post a shot of the results?

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Yeah thanks mate i have a feeling the black rotors are not going to be all they are cracked up to be but time will tell eh! lol The plastic film is a bit of a long shot so i am glad you are miles away just incase it doesnt work! ha ha its seemed like a good idea at the time but i had been hitting the diet coke hard that day and they say that it rots your brain so i should be safe then!! Hope you dont mind when i take the piss its just i love the Aussie sense of humour! :black_eyed: :eagerness:

 

[au-rora]

Tone, go ahead, take the pi$$ as much as you want... may be good for any possible prostate issues?
Maybe any possible brain rot is caused by what you use to dilute your diet coke?
Have you tried a rotor soak in the same formula? You know... to darken it a bit. But don't leave it overnight mate - the bleedin' rotor might be gone by morning!! Haha

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Ha ha ha i know what you mean have you seen what it does to coins! now i wonder if thats good for a humans belly, i am thinking that i am slowly embalming myself, hey i could be the world`s only living mummy!! ha ha ha :excitement:

 

[au-rora]

Mate, I guess the worse case would be that you may end up being a perfect colour match to your new rotors. Black Beauty & rider Black Mummy! haha

 

[au-rora]

Back to the marks on the instrument face...
This is how I can best describe what's on there - when adhesive tape has been stuck to a surface for quite a while and is then peeled off, it may leave some patches of hard dry crusty adhesive residue. Doesn't wash off, wipe off, so defies basic simple non-harsh cleaning methods. Just bloody stays there!! That's just like what's on the dash face of the CR. I have not tried any chemical products to try removing it - too scared that an adverse chemical reaction may permanently damage the lens. And have not as yet resorted to plastic polishing; although that can remain in the background as my "Plan B". My gut feeling is that the right product will penetrate it so it can then be simply wiped off, but not damage the lens. But what chemical cleaning or solvent product do I try? Bit of a gamble! One of my all round best methods of cleaning any adhesive residue off any tough surface is: 1. Paper towel with eucalyptus oil wiped over it, then 2. paper towel with methylated spirits wiped over it and then keep alternating back and forth between 1 & 2 and in no time the adhesive residue is gone and the metho' used last leaves it totally clean and free of anything undesirable. Yep, squeaky clean! So I guess to see if that method is safe on the CR dash lens, I'd better do a micro spot test in one of the lower lens corners. If it turns out to be non-damaging, I think that I may be able to chemically get rid of these (what I suspect is) tape adhesive residue patches. Will let you know how it goes... stay tuned.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

I hope you find something soon and i was thinking methylated spirit like you mentioned or maybe rubbing alcohol? i would take the instruments apart and try a bit of the plastic that doesnt show to be on the safe side? Good luck! :up:

 

[Cooter]

Yuck. Electrical tape adhesive is nasty stuff. It's super goopy until it burns into the plastic leaving a foggy mark. I've seen it do that on glass!

 

[au-rora]

Update.
Took a punt and had a shot at this. Used this Meguiar's PlastX with some dry toweling - result is excellent.



Put a couple of drops onto the toweling, and applied it over the dash face (clear lens) in a small area only in a swirling motion. When it seemed like that shot had achieved its best, used some clean toweling and buffed any residue off. Repeated the same procedure until the whole lens had been polished with all marks of concern well and truly gone. I did this carefully to avoid the need to clean up any excess slop. So, it worked a treat! Thank you guys for your thoughts, advice, humour & suggestions! Great result! Will take a shot of the result in day light hours and post it.

 

[ToneTheMoan]

Brilliant well done mate! do you know if its suitable for coloured plastic or is it just for clear lens type plastic?

 

[au-rora]

Thanks Tone.
Clear plastics only! Because it says:
"Clear plastic cleaner & polish. Removes cloudiness, yellowing, oxidation & fine scratches. Also safe on clear plastic items, such as: plexiglass, brake lights, plastic convertible windows, motorcycle windscreens, helmet faceshields, boat windows, bug deflectors & CD's".
So I'd say NO for Buell coloured plastics (that is... solid colour and transluscent colour panels).
Hope to post a shot tomorrow of the dash lens...