Windshield maintenance

[banginona40]

Wondering if anyone has any tips for removing scratches and or repairing the protective coating on motorcycle windshields? Thanks Alot.

[JCourneyaP]

Depends on how deep the scratches are...............Some you just are not going to get out. I use the Novus No.2 scratch remover then Novus No.1 cleaner Protectant. Both products work as intended and I am pleased with them. Have yet to find anything that works way better. But you never know..

[HarleyCruiser]

Yea ditto what JC said. You can polish plastic just like metal or paint. I have used regular car polish like DuPont no 7 or a scratch and swirl remover.
Then used regular car wax to protect it.
I like to use a buffer, but be careful to not get it to hot or it will burn the plastic.
Like you said the windshield has a protective film layer, both on the front and back.
If you buff it too deep then you get half off half on, looks worse than the scratches.
So you can only take out small scratches.
I even tried to remove the film and replace it but was only able to take the back off with acetone. The front I never could get it off, and I tried almost everything on my shelf.
I would be tempted to try covering it with another layer, but feel the real deep scratches will show through.
Cut to the chase Cruiser.
I ended up buying a new, old stock when a dealership was clearing there shelves.
Got it cheap and stopped messing with the old one.
Doesn’t Klock have a link in here, if I was going to get a new one that is what I would go to.
Hear Buzz has one, and loves it.

[evoKENevo]

"Yep"...what HC & JC said.
Once a scratch or whatever penetrates the thin hard layer there's nothing you can do about it.
If you put stickers on your windshield and try to take them off there's a good chance you'll take the hard layer off along with it.
Windex and most other glass cleaners are too acidic to use on plastic
Novus #2 should only be used occasionally for slight scratches and #1 is kind of expensive to use all the time.
Best bet for routine cleaning IMO is to start with plain old clean water (sprayed on) to soften & loosen whatever is on your shield...rinse (spray) off...and only use a super clean fine sponge to lightly wipe if necessary.
Rain-X applied to a clean shield seems help with the above...but I've heard (not confirmed) that it can turn some plastics milky !?!?

I had a local plastic sign company make me a new shield using the old scratched one I'd cut down to exact size I wanted as a template. But used some crumby plexiglass..and did'nt finish the edges the way they're supposed to be, causing them to eventually crack along/around the edges. So it needs replacing again (especially after accidently getting some spray carb cleaner from different bike on it) and I found a place nearby that specializes in makeing replacementt motorcycle shields the right way, with good materials, for $60** which is just about as much as it would cost to do it yourself...way cheaper than ordering your manufacturer's replacements...and to the exact size/shape you want...just carefully make the template from something like a poster board.

[Crimsonaro]

What everyone has said here pretty much sums it up. However, for sh*ts and grins you may try stopping in at a local body shop and seeing if you can find an 'experienced' tech willing to share trade secrets. My brother is a bodyman and I know he's mentioned some things they do to remove/hide scratches. It's been too long now to remember with my CRS. Also, they have suppliers trying to get the shops to use the new super-duper products, might be something they know of. I guess I could also drop my brother an email to see if I'm right or full of it too.

[94flhtcu]

Try Plexus.

There is some good advice above. Novus and Cycle Clean both are good products. However; the factory shield from HD is a lamenate and it is very easy to rub thru a layer. In selecting custom windshields I have gone to Memphis shades since it is a lexan and bad scratches and rock divots can be sanded and polished out.

[Haulen Ass]

Don't know how to take scratches out but do have a simple way of keeping the shield scratch free while not in use.

[hotrodsporty]

NOthing like selfless promotion Haulen. Just kiddin, I would do the same. Besides it is a great product.

Oh Yea....Hey Haulen.....let me know when you get them those backrests in powder coat black for an 2009 FLHR.