Cleaning/preserving white sidepanels....

Discussion in 'Common Items on Husqvarnas: Tires/tubes/grips/etc' started by Johnrg, Jul 3, 2014.

  1. NCSteve Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Appalachia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    12 WR300 13 WR165
    Other Motorcycles:
    02 XR250R 00 XR100R
    Yeah, thanks for that. Will give them a try. I'm not into polishing too much, but nice to preserve the plastic. I still use Armor All to resist stains and to make clean up easier and it still works fine.
  2. Bad Juju Husqvarna
    A Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TE610 TE510
    Other Motorcycles:
    Suzuki M109
    Rather than a new thread, I thought I would revive this one..
    I can buy plastics for my 08 TE510 $10 cheaper then the protective sticker kits..... go figure :excuseme:
    Also anyone with light scuffing you can flame polish out that with a propane torch
  3. bikesparky Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Townsville Oztrailia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    FE501
    Other Motorcycles:
    Superduke 1290
    +1 for tyre shine, it stops the plastics deteriorating from the high UV here too.
    Bankso likes this.
  4. duggoey Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 310
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM 690, Yamaha WR200, FGS650(800cc)
    Could you elaborate on the flame polishing method please.
  5. La Flama Blanca Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Carlisle, Pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Husqvarna TE449
    Other Motorcycles:
    2005 kawasaki kx250f
  6. duggoey Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 310
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM 690, Yamaha WR200, FGS650(800cc)
    Can anyone else elaborate on the flame polish method?
  7. duggoey Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 310
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM 690, Yamaha WR200, FGS650(800cc)
    Alternatively i could just turn the torch onto the bike and see what it does. What's the worst that can happen.
  8. shawbagga Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Eaton, Western Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None
    Other Motorcycles:
    2018 Gasgas XC250
    can you please film the above mentioned proposed polishing method please duggoey?! also make sure you do it in an unventilated area fuel of flammables after half a slab with no ppe on. i see youtube fame on your horizon(& a trip to the ER):D
    Bankso likes this.
  9. duggoey Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2010 TE 310
    Other Motorcycles:
    KTM 690, Yamaha WR200, FGS650(800cc)
    20151004_201232.jpg
  10. shawbagga Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Eaton, Western Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None
    Other Motorcycles:
    2018 Gasgas XC250
    bwwahahaha classic!:lol:

    is there any hair left on your body?!
  11. NCSteve Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Appalachia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    12 WR300 13 WR165
    Other Motorcycles:
    02 XR250R 00 XR100R
    did that work? :eek:
  12. Xriderdown Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    La Center, Washington
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    WR360 SW / WR360 IT / FE501 AU
    Other Motorcycles:
    BUL MK3,KAW KE100,CZ 988-1,YAM FZ1
    Nothing works better than BonAmi. Been using it since the white Yamaha days. Doesn't dull the plastic and cleans better than anything......trust me!
    image.jpg
    Johnrg likes this.
  13. shawbagga Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Eaton, Western Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    None
    Other Motorcycles:
    2018 Gasgas XC250
    Yeah but is it flammable?!;)
    duggoey likes this.
  14. pahusky Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Hummelstown, Pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '14 TC250
    Other Motorcycles:
    '12 250XC '09 1200GSA KLR650
    +1 for the Plexus after you clean.

    Bon ami does works. But if your plastic is rough/stained already you can try 'Soft Scrub with Bleach', let it set a little then scrub and it will clean or bleach stains.

    And that's where the Plexus comes in to seal and put the shine back on.
    La Flama Blanca likes this.
  15. HS507 Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Te 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yz450,crf150r,crf100f,crf50f
    Nice!!
    Big Timmy likes this.
  16. HS507 Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Te 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yz450,crf150r,crf100f,crf50f
    I use wd40 to shine, but i dont shine. Maintenance like a freak but looks? Nah.
    I will say that paint thinner or acetone cleans white plastic nicely!!!
  17. Big Timmy Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    (South Eastern) AZ.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2015 FE 501 with lots of goodies.
    Other Motorcycles:
    BMW G450X, 15'FE501, 23 KTM 1290 SAR
    I have used "Plexus" for years on Lexan windows on my Drag Race cars. It makes them last and they don't dull or craze. Cleaning plastics in the case of clear plastics should really be done in an up and down motion or a sideways back and forth motion. One or the other. Never in a circular pattern. This causes that dull surface crazing 'fine cracks" to appear quicker.

    The use of nearly all window cleaners on any plastics is a No-No. Even if the container says its safe for plastics. As nearly every one of them contains Ethyl or Methyl alcohol and even Glycol ether, and like any strong solvent. Such as "acetone" will clean yes but its use is a No-No on any plastics as it draws out the plastics essential oils. On clear plastics especially as it can be easily seen. It causes crazing on both Plexiglass and Lexan a dull surface will be the result.

    Look for plastic cleaners with a "Surfactant" in it. Which is really what all soap is. It's a wetting agent that takes away surface tension like plain water has and allows the chosen cleaning product to work against the solid surface. Allowing it to more easily penetrate the plastics surface and do its job. It allows the cleaning product to penetrate and get under the grime to help the water to lift it away.

    Its also a surface tension lubricant. So is shaving cream, the surfactants in shaving cream allow a razor to glide across the surface more easily. We all know shaving with a razor without is not that fun.

    An alternative to "Plexus" and at about half the cost as it isn't in an aerosol can. Is "Plaskolite" Plastic Cleaner. It's available at about any hardware store that may not have "Plexus" brand. It will be in the section where they might sell items to repair or replace your houses Screendoors and pieces of "Plexiglass" panels for the same thing.

    "Plaskolite" plastic cleaner. (Pictured below) Its recommended for "Duraplex", "Optix" and "Lexan". It has anti static properties. It brings back a shine on dirt bike goggles, Plastic lenses on eyeglasses and safety glasses, motorcycle windscreens, even painted surfaces with clear coats.

    It does a real nice job on dirt bike plastics as well after a good cleaning. It cleans and polishes and make the bike easier to wash after a good thrashing too. If its safe for prescription lens glasses it will work on your dirt bikes plastics and is probably one of the safest products you can use.

    SAM_1465.JPG
    Johnrg likes this.
  18. HS507 Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Te 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yz450,crf150r,crf100f,crf50f
    So do u recommend this fir googles? Plastics i dont worry about
  19. Big Timmy Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    (South Eastern) AZ.
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2015 FE 501 with lots of goodies.
    Other Motorcycles:
    BMW G450X, 15'FE501, 23 KTM 1290 SAR
    Yes of course. I use it on my goggles all the time. it has great anti static characteristics. It even hides fine scuffs and tiny scratches on the surface caused from the brush, branches and the like. It works just as good as the "Plexus' brand product at about half the cost. Where I get it anyway. Home Depot sells "Plexus". In the same size aerosol cans at about 1/3 less than buying it at a motorcycle retailer or race car supply parts house.

    I get the "Plaskolite" cleaner locally at a Hardware / lumber store and I use it on my reading glasses, work safety glasses, my clear or tinted lenses on my dirt bike goggles, my face shields on my ADV helmet and my full face street helmets all the time. It also helps keep them from fogging up.

    I even use it on my welding hood lenses. To keep the static down which causes dust to collect on the inside and outside of my welding hoods when they are not in use and they are in the helmet bags in my work truck. It helps a lot when I'm going down dirt roads all the time with the trucks windows open.

    IMO, It works just as good as the Plexus and doesn't cost as much.
  20. HS507 Husqvarna
    A Class

    Location:
    NE Ohio
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Te 300
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yz450,crf150r,crf100f,crf50f
    Great! Went to menards today, no such thing. Wil
    l try homedepot for plasko as well