Log in

View Full Version : reclaiming Enduro plastics



alanTDM
05-10-09, 05:27 PM
I finally got the KMX 200 going started 2nd kick :)but the plastics have faded and where it has been out in the sun looks like its started to go white ish in colour or a very pale green
tried rubbing it down with wet and dry to original colour but not much luck.
Would a plastic polish restore the colour or does it involve a bit more than that?

BB
05-10-09, 07:05 PM
Someone - can't recall who or where - recommended Greygate plastic polish to me so I got some off Ebay but I have to confess I haven't used it yet! :-[ ;D

BB

finbar
05-10-09, 07:33 PM
Hope the grade of wet and dry you used was a high number ie 1000'ish has otherwise your plastic will be duller than a dull thing! What you will need is a specialist plastic polish that effectively dissolves a thin lay as you polish. Can't use normal mechanical ways of removal as the plastic is just too soft to polish up, however gently you do it!...Sorry! :'(

There might be some people who are more intune with this problem. As way of a bodge you could blow it over with a clear lacquer, which may well make it shiny! :-/

alanTDM
05-10-09, 10:04 PM
I tried 1000 + wet and dry but the results wernt brill and T cut
Im not looking for a perfect finish its just where some of the side decals have peeled off the colour green is diff shades so thought id try and see if i could get a close a match as i could.
Some places the plastic colour seems to go to a wite ish powder if i scrape it.
UV ray damage i think.
Plastic polish that you mention Finbar might do the trick.

BB you can try Greygate on my plastics if you like ;D

BB
05-10-09, 11:17 PM
I tried 1000 + wet and dry but the results wernt brill and T cut
Im not looking for a perfect finish its just where some of the side decals have peeled off the colour green is diff shades so thought id try and see if i could get a close a match as i could.
Some places the plastic colour seems to go to a wite ish powder if i scrape it.
UV ray damage i think.
Plastic polish that you mention Finbar might do the trick.

BB you can try Greygate on my plastics if you like ;D


I don't get an offer like that every day! :o ;D ;D

BB

finbar
06-10-09, 01:57 PM
Not being glib, but could you not just get bigger stickers so the shade mis-match is covered? [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

6T
06-10-09, 03:37 PM
as finbar has suggested your best bet is probably to recover with stickers,its all down to the lightfastness of the dies in the plastics where the stickers have been its protected it from the sun so its unlikely any colour restorers will get rid of these outlines as the colour difference will run to deep,if you dont want to lacquer the plastics a regular does of silocone spray should keep them looking good. hope this helps [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

alanTDM
06-10-09, 05:34 PM
Ok thanks for all your suggestions ill see what i can do to make them look better,
being a trail/enduro and going to be my winter bike im not to worried about them being odd shades but think they could look a lot better than what they look now at the mo!