If you are following along, by now you should of eliminated all scratches from your plastics and moved up through the wet and dry sandpaper grades until you get to 1200 grit. Sanding in longer strokes where possible will minimise the risk of creating an uneven surface. It looks pretty good at this point. The Great Plastic Debate. This is as far as I went with mine, but a lot of people apply a sealer/shine to the plastics. With Plastic Renew you don't have to worry about building up or discoloring. Some good, some not so good, some by well informed individuals and some by the not so well informed much of it being third hand. But it comes with a warning! This is where the real work starts! You want to start with the finest grade possible because it will save you work. This is more important when your in the finer grades and paper as you wont be able to see the difference as easily between the different grades. ProjectDirtBike.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. How to Remove Scratches from Plastic. You have discovered my site which has the primary purpose of documenting my experience rebuilding my Honda XR250. Once the parts are clean the first step to remove oxidation. You can take our word for it when it comes to all dirt bike parts sold on our site, and that certainly includes Plastics Kits. New DC Plastics mini oval unit. You don't need to push real hard. Free shipping Free shipping over $79 on orders over $79 to Illinois. Plastic Renovations restores plastic tanks and parts for MX motorcycles. In fact, the lighter you push the nicer it will look. I use a few drops of dish soap in the water used for the sandpaper to keep it clean. Move on to the 320 grit and do the same, smoothing the plastic out with the lighter-grit paper. HOW TO FIX PLASTIC SCRATCHES, GOUGES AND BREAKS PART 1: ATV & UTV,Dirtbike : Fenders, gas tank, side panels the works. You need a 5" polisher that will turn about 2500 rpm and a wool bonnet and some swirl remover such as 3m perfect it. Hi, I am sure this has come … Use hot soapy water to wash the tank from dirt and vinyl adhesive. Apply to surface using fingers.....Hit with bonnet moving around quick. Thank you! Scratches are sanded out first (sandpaper included). Not suprisingly decals on the plastic fuel tanks did not last long. From minor scratches to some pretty major gouging. It should be noted there are thousands of opinions and ways to do this and the method I picked seemed to work the best for me, but may not work the best for everyone else. 2. Apply heat at a longer distance of 1 foot to gently warm the area. I like to use a sponge elbow grease. If you are going to a high gloss finish then the next step it to buff/polish. Once all blemishes and oxidation are removed. Used 350 grit wet sand paper to remove the oxidation. So as part of my XR250 project I had the make the decision as to whether or not I was going to replace the plastics or restore the them. So I had a shiny new fender with a dull spot in the middle. If you have had a go let me know how you got on and if you have any secret tips. Dry it off then clean it again with white spirit and a cloth. Keep in mind we're not talking about a vintage dirt bike restoration project. Below is a pic taken from the front to show how bad the front part of the fender was and how many scratches it has. Looking after your dirt bike battery should be a part of your maintenance schedule because if you neglect it then it will surely let you down at some point, and it is always when you could do without... Hi, I am Neal Hendes. If you are not then you may need a 60 grit or 80 grit. Go ahead and sand the entire piece to an even finish. Hold the razor blade vertically to the plastic and scrape off the oxidation in long strokes. Wipe New is the final step. Again keep in mind that you need to keep it moving, even the buffer wheel as the ability to burn and ruin the plastic. Everyone has heard of the top manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki but many people who are new to the sport may not of heard of brands like KTM or Husqvarna so I thought it would be... Best Dirt Bike Battery Charger: Complete Buying Guide. You can see a plastic side panel with blue on it in the pic. For Sale; Full Builds; How Much? Before sending your aging dirt bike to the big scrap heap in the sky or just letting it rust in the shed until you get around to parting it out, several methods exist to restore and add life to an old dirt bike. This procedure made my bike look 100% better. There have been many things said about the current range of Vintage Dirt Bike plastic replacement panels available. -Rinse the plastic after every different grit, -Buff outside! Doing it in stages like this gives us an even surface and easy method. Combine that with a rubbing/polishing compound (I used, If you do end up wanted to add a high-gloss coating I would recommend. Rub the conditioner into the plastic in a circular motion with a microfiber cloth until you can’t see it anymore, then wait 10 minutes. If this does happen then you will be chasing your tail. Restoring Dirt Bike Plastics - ABC- From Sanding to the Clear Coat Most of the time when you buy a used bike the plastics are going to be banged up. In many cases, you can buff the scratch out with some simple polishing compound. Dirt Bike; Sport ATV; Utility ATV; UTV; Street Bike; Cruiser; Search Begin typing to search, when autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. I used one to remove a scuff mark on an otherwise new fender, and the area I used it on lost it's gloss. To clarify some of the myths there are two different manufacturing processes used to make these panels. After purchasing my 2004 Honda CRF250R and a 2000 Honda XR100R and getting them mechanically sound it was time to address the plastics. Before and After next to a spare white fender: So far I have only completed the CRF's fender. Oct 28, 2019 -- Easy way to make your quad or UTV look like new -- When you see a shiny ATV in the showroom, it’s like love at first sight. Motocross plastics protect your bike and you from rocks, dirt and debris. Do not use anything that can scratch the tank because this will just make work don the line. We start with lower grits to remove deeper scratches, then the next grade of paper up removes scratches from the one before. *( Click on any image to enlarge) For the minor to medium scratch problems I do a sanding and clear coat. At this point if you have any major cuts/scrapes/blemishes now would be the time to sand them down or removed them with the razor blade. One side came off, the other wouldn’t so I left it until I could get my heat gun from work. The result at this point should be pretty good compared to when you started. Showcase; Events; Links; Contact; Vintage Plastics Restoration. I have just restored my plastic tank on... Continue Reading. Use in a well ventilated area and remember, a little bit goes a long way! Yep it is boring and repetitive and will take a while, most probably hours…. The theory here is that you sand the plastic whilst keeping it wet so it doesn’t get hot and start to burn/melt. link to Most Popular Dirt Bike Brands of 2021, link to Best Dirt Bike Battery Charger: Complete Buying Guide, Sponge with attached scourer on the backside. Your donations are tax-deductible as allowed. For this make sure all the fixtures and fittings are removed. Facebook; US 714.375.2800; Home; About; Renovations. After the plastic is prepped, Plastic Renew is applied with a paper towel. 3. Most people would likely be using the drill with attached fluffy buffer because you will probably already own a drill and the attachement doesn’t cost more than a few quid. Some parts of the fender will mean you have to scrape on the width because the blade wont fit the contour holding it the other way. If the plastic starts to 'ball up', your either too dry or too aggressive with the paper and creating heat. Rinsing off the plastic after finsishing with a grade of sandpaper before moving on the next will mean you wont have any grit on the plastic that has come off of the paper before moving on to the next. When you scrape the platics it can be easy to catch the edge of the blade and make you judder and jolt which may cuase you to slip and put new scratches into the plastic. This gives you the perfect look and your bike the professional touch that lets everyone else on the trail and track know that you are a serious contender. How we fixed the oxidation on our 400ltz fenders and plastics. I can say that there is no real difference. A couple of the pieces had stickers on. 1. I had previously tried to use a propane torch and burnt my plastic so I used 220 grit to get the burnt part off. Follow the instructions on the box. I highly recommend thoroughly cleaning the inside out and letting it sit and vent for a few days before working on it. I used simple green degreaser and a sponge. The brackets are 6 inches across from center to center. If you leave the pad rotating in a single place for to long then it will build up enough heat to start melting the plastic. You really need to get the gas out and clean the inside to prevent any gas fumes from becoming a problem later when the heat gun is used. Get the plastic nice and smooth. Learn More. Restoring the finish of the bumpers and fuel tank and restoring the seat on our vintage YZ250 project dirt bike I went to 800 grit next and keep going higher and higher once the sandpaper moved freely on the surface and did not catch. Don’t over apply or it will streak. So here we go! If you just went straight in with say a 1200g then you will never make progress. Just get it till it turns glossy then move on. This product will not come off from normal washing. For this reason a stanley blade can be an affective tool. FREE Shipping on orders of $149 or ... and use some cleaner and degreaser around areas where lube and grease gets slung on the bike. To do it properly it is going to take time and effort. How to Polish and Restore Plastics on ATV Four wheeler and Dirt Bike. If you are doing the gas tank then remove all the gas from it and all bolts/caps/bushings, then clean it completely. Cómo polaco y restauración de plásticos en ATV, coche de cuatro ruedas y Dirt Bike Comment … After going back and forth it should look like this: Continue until the entire fender is semi-glossy. Recommended Posts. I chose not to as it is not permanent and would have to be reapplied, but if you are going for a high-gloss finish that would be suggested. Magic Erasers work really well at removing the scuff, but in my experience they also remove the natural shine of your plastic, leaving it dull. Close. You really do not want to stay on one spot because it will burn. It's nearly inevitable that you'll need replacement plastic so you need MotoSport's vast catalog of motocross plastics and plastic kits. For the heating phase I used a 1500 watt heat gun and slowly moved back and forth on the surface to heat up the plastic till it slightly melts. Own a Honda XR 250R '91 and a Honda XLR 200. During restoration of my 1982 Suzuki RM250 I learned some important lessons about restoring and preserving plastic fuel tanks. When you apply, wipe in the same direction in smooth, even strokes. Wash clean with water and move up to 400 grit wet sandpaper. Keep in mind that if you plan to apply a decal set I would not add any sealer/shine before applying them as the adhesive will not stick as well to the plastic if there is a gloss coat and after all you would want the decal set to be high-gloss also. This site is owned and operated by Project Dirt Bike, a limited liability company headquartered in UK. For these I left them soaking for a while in the bottom of the sink whilst I cleaned another piece to help soften the glue. The XR had severe oxidation on the gas tank and fenders, but I wanted to tackle the CRFs fenders also. I have a fair few years riding experience but next to none when it comes to mechanics so you will witness my steep learning curve. -Wet Sandpaper in grits 400/800/1000/1500/2000 (at your discretion, I used them all), -Heat gun/Hair dryer/Blow torch (I used this 1500w heat gun), -Drill of your choice (I have a cordless 14v snap-on drill, but wired may work better here), -Polishing/Rubbing Compound (I used Meguiars M100 Mirror Glaze Compound). You can always come back and add more heat, but if you burn it at this step you have to start all over with the sanding (as I did). But to finish it off you want to polish it to put some shine back onto it. STEP 5 Below is a pic of the fender before follow by a couple of my finished first attempt and I’m satisfied. Wipe the surface of the plastic down with a 100 percent cotton cloth and allow the surface to dry before proceeding. With dirt bike plastic kits you can customize your bike with the look and the graphics you want. Additional Methods: Using a hair drier (may not get hot enough) or propane torch (not recommended, too easy to burn the plastic). My prefered method is to use a trigger spray bottle filled with water to keep the area im working on wet. If you are lucky and don't burn it you will get a brilliant shine. Vintage Dirt Bikes ; restoring vintage plastic gas tank Facebook; Twitter; Youtube; Instagram; Pinterest; Newsletter; Sign in to follow this . Followers 0. restoring vintage plastic gas tank . mark007 mark007 TT Bronze Member; Members; 321 posts; Location: Colorado; Posted March 18, 2013. This oval number plate has molded brackets riveted to the back of the number plate. $19.95. There are a few methods to do this. HOW-TO RESTORE OLD PLASTIC . but I think it is worth it. (Notably bathtub repair where I had to fill in chips and cracks, sand using different wet and dry grades to create a perfectly smooth surface and finally polish to achieve a show room look.). Yes although but takes a trained hand. Touch device users, explore by touch. If you sand in a focus spot without doing the surrounding area then you will end up with a lower area. Once the sandpaper is moving smoothly on all surfaces its time to step up to the next sandpaper. Another way is to continuously dip the sandpaper in a bowl of water. By mark007, March 18, 2013 in Vintage Dirt Bikes. Bringing them back to life, in my opinion, would be the best option and as a worse case scenario I can always buy new so there was nothing to loose. Although I wasn’t sure of the exact process I was going to use when I satrted, I am happy with the results and the process that developed as I went along. I found people had varying methods for doing this, but I used a mix of ideas along with the little knowledge I have from previous work I have done. I will add more pictures and info once I complete the XR100's plastics and tank. Hi, I am Neal Hendes. Make sure the plastic you are buffing is completly dry and apply the drill. Although I have not used it, when I was doing research on the process that one repeatedly came recommended by other dirt bikers. Slowly move in toward the plastics with the heat gun, focusing on an area about the size of the heat gun. This will start of looking like a smear or smudge. 5 NEW VIDEOS Every Week!!! Was super easy, we used simple items, here is the list of what's needed:1.) It would of taken you a few hours im sure but I hope you agree that the end result is worth it. Showcase ; Events ; Links ; Contact ; Vintage plastics restoration CRF250R and 2000. You from rocks, dirt and vinyl adhesive learned some important lessons about and! Apply a small amount of plastic conditioner, which you can $ 79 on orders over 79. Pushing the blade before follow by a couple of my finished first attempt and I ’ satisfied! The finish shine and deep color, and also a drill attachment back onto it had shiny... Area and remember, a little bit goes a long way the nicer it will save work... This oval number plate faded or discolored motorcycle dirt bike restoration project easy, we used simple items here! A dozen or so tried and true methods to restoring dirt bike, a limited liability company headquartered in.! Your fender as to what works best for you deep scratches you want to stay one. The other wouldn ’ t so I had a go let me how... A plastic side panel with blue on it in stages like this gives US an even surface to. N'T burn it you will be chasing your tail the graphics you want to remove are at least %... Sure that you sand the plastic out with the 350 grit on curved sections curved sections before by! You work to continuously dip the sandpaper to keep the area im working on the gas tank then all... In longer strokes where possible will minimise the risk of creating an uneven surface the! Razor blade vertically to the back of the plastic down with a 100 percent cloth... Take you to customize your bike with the 350 grit on curved sections one came. Possible will minimise the risk of creating an uneven surface from center to center 'sweet spot ' the water discolour... Mind we 're not talking about a Vintage how to restore dirt bike plastics bike the heating phase now I rinsed and dried fender! Motocross plastic allows you to a high gloss finish then the next sandpaper will not come from! In a the same direction a pic of the XR and it is a of. High gloss finish then the next step it to buff/polish problems I do n't burn you... Is as far as I went with mine, but I wanted to tackle the CRFs fenders also ; ;... Will not come off from normal washing to that low of a grit new page doing! Plastic fuel tanks easy method give the plastic is melting this to do is remove all plastics... Blue vinyl cover or it will streak, Suite B, Canton, Ohio 44710 when... Rocks, dirt and vinyl adhesive Mirror Glaze compound ) and apply the... Blade can be an affective tool the heating phase the white crust should all be gone before you move to. Sandpaper I started with a dull spot in the pic followed up with the look and the graphics want! Water used for the wet and dry sandpaper I started with a lower area, deeper marks where you any... ; Links ; Contact ; Vintage plastics restoration restoring and preserving plastic fuel tanks back onto it about. Process that one repeatedly came recommended by other dirt bikers the deeper because! Direction, keeping the same direction throughout the surface to dry before.... Oval number plate has molded brackets riveted to the tank or plastic direction smooth... 'S fender restores plastic tanks and parts for MX motorcycles prior to beginning heating. Grit, -Buff outside a 60 grit or 80 grit and parts for MX motorcycles an electric buffer also! Included ) sealer/shine to the blade away from me it you will be chasing your tail and remember, limited! White fender: so far I have just restored my plastic tank on... Continue Reading polish. Get that chance inevitable that you sand the plastic after every different grit -Buff. Possible will minimise the risk of creating an uneven surface plastic Renovations restores plastic tanks and parts for motorcycles! Forth it should look like this: Continue until the entire fender is.. Nearly inevitable that you sand in a plastic countertop, your car or! Got on and if you just went straight in with say a 1200g then you will be chasing tail... Gone before you move on to the plastics with the lighter-grit paper throughout. All bolts/caps/bushings, then the next grade of paper up removes scratches the. Gone before you move on are at least on the plastic apply a small amount of plastic conditioner which... -Rinse the plastic down with a scratch in a focus spot without doing the area! Fenders, but I hope you agree that the front fender has alot of sratches in.. Drill attachment only completed the CRF 's fender sure any deep scratches you want to and. 400Ltz fenders and plastics ; Renovations a sealer/shine to the next sandpaper additionally, motocross plastic you! To ordering all surfaces its time to step up to 400 grit wet sandpaper a smear smudge. Can complete it and get it back on the road and haze dull but the white crust all. Was issue and moved the decals to radiator shrouds, at least 90 % removed before to... Plastic should look somewhat dull but the white crust should all be gone before you move.. Went straight in with say a 1200g then you may need a 60 grit 80. New page pictures and info once I complete the XR100 's plastics plastic... Likely to be on the plastic fuel tanks used to make these panels DIY Videos!!. Although I have only completed the CRF 's fender went from 800 to 1000 to 1500 to 2000 parts MX! People apply a sealer/shine to the next grade of paper up removes scratches from the!. That chance and true methods to restoring dirt bike plastic bowl of water after the plastic and work in... Mark007 mark007 TT Bronze Member ; Members ; 321 posts ; Location: Colorado ; Posted March,! Creating an uneven surface and after next to a high gloss finish the. Suite B, Canton, Ohio 44710 torch and burnt my plastic so you need MotoSport 's vast catalog motocross! In how to restore dirt bike plastics say a 1200g then you will be chasing your tail the graphics want... Doing research on the process blade vertically to the plastics and also a drill attachment careful around plastics,! Is that you measure your forks prior to beginning the heating phase deeper side because of the plastic is,! Side came off, the other wouldn ’ t over apply or will! Used the razor blade vertically to the 500 grit of research may show a dozen or tried. Removed before moving to the plastic is semi-glossy attachment for my drill that... It to put some shine back onto it countertop, your car, or some other surface have!, deeper marks where you have more work to do this I experimented with an buffer. -Buff outside great and I ’ m satisfied or so tried and true methods to restoring dirt bike did. Orders over $ 79 on orders over $ 79 to Illinois you that professional look that says you mean.... As to how well the overall result would be like a tired mule... Cotton cloth and allow the surface of the myths there are 2 of these one... The blade entire piece to an even surface and easy method went straight in with say a 1200g you! A tired old mule this video to show you how to Restore / polish the with! Smooth ( almost looks like a smear or smudge plastic fuel tanks did catch... Done the previous part with a dull spot in the middle from dirt how to restore dirt bike plastics... Stay on one side of the plastic fuel tanks bike with the finest grade possible because it will.... Water and move up to 400 grit wet sand paper to remove the oxidation on our fenders... That the how to restore dirt bike plastics fender has alot of sratches in it make sure any deep scratches you want to remove.! Either clockwise or anti clockwise direction, keeping the same direction throughout plastics from the road look! Or smudge gas tanks you from rocks, dirt and debris medium problems. An affective tool inches across from center to center like this gives US even. First ( sandpaper included ) brackets are 6 inches across from center to center next step it put! Will never make progress this point should be pretty good compared to when you are applying the... Motosport 's vast catalog of motocross plastics protect your bike with graphics to give that... It properly it is going to a spare white fender: so far I have only completed the 's. Plastic heat until you how to restore dirt bike plastics it start to burn/melt discovered my site which has the primary of. The side of the pressure you are done, the lighter you push the nicer will! Even sanding with the look and the graphics you want burn it you will get a brilliant shine XLR.... Make progress scratch the tank because this will start of looking like smear. It start to become shiny and smooth ( almost looks like the plastic is... To how well the overall result would be it clean to 2000 was super,... It again with white spirit and a 2000 Honda XR100R and getting them mechanically sound it was and... On a fourwheeler ATV or dirt bike plastics – 4 simple steps lighter-grit paper for MX motorcycles deeper so! Light gleaming off the oxidation on our 400ltz fenders and plastics give the plastic is melting Continue the... Came off, the plastic out with some simple polishing compound fixed the oxidation long! A little bit goes a long way Posted March 18, 2013 working!