windsheild cleaning and repair

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Your going to get so many answers on this topic, you will be right where you left off, trying to figure out what to use. It largely depends on what type of windshield you have. There should be a mark at the bottom that would tell you. I have a Polyshield - I use Novus #3 for heavy scratches #2 for polishing and #1 for just cleaning. Now if you have a hardshell on the surface, get your wallet out if it's deep, if not polish it. Not to say Knute is wrong, but you should never use an orbital buffer on a windshield. All it takes is a micron orthreeof dirt on the polisher and you will have scratches in circles. You should always use vertical strokes or horizontal strokes while cleaning. These are less detactable to the eye while driving in sun or oncoming headlights. If you use a cleaner containing alcohol or ammonia (including Windex or Pledge) you start softening the hard coating (if one is applied), exposing the windshield to greater tendency to scratches. Never use Rain-X on any coated windshield of any type (motorcycle windshields anyway). Alcohol or high-petroleum-content cleaners are even more destructive to aftermarket windshields made of Lexan. I guess I'm saying read the contents of what you use and determine what you want. As I said earlier I use Novus, but there are others as well that are formulated for what your windshield is made of. Some windshields are made of a Plexi base with a hard shell added, some are Luxan, some are (what Luxan is made of) Polycarbonate, with different types of coatings on them as well.

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First & foremost, I agree with most everything Spiderbob wrote.

However, I had pretty much the same problem with the original windshield on my bike from the PO. I installed a new shield and was about to throw the old original shield away when I thought, "What the heck...I can't hurt it anymore than it is." So, I purchased some NEW pads for my orbital buffer and some MEGUIAR'S Motorcycle Plastic Cleaner & Polish.....and went to work !

I put on & removed two applications of the MEGUIAR'S and was so pleased with the results that I did a third application. My old scratched hazed shield looks practically like new. I'm going to put it back on for cooler weather riding.

Now if anyone tries what I did, REMOVE YOUR WINDSHIELD, place it on a soft, managible surface (I used an oldthick beach towel)and DO NOT press hard on the buffer...let it do the work for you....make certain that you are using NEW, CLEAN Applicator pads & polishing pads....also try it first on an area of your windshield that is not as noticable.....I can't gaurantee the results on all windshields, but mine was outstanding !!!!

Oh, and I too have been using lemon pledge on my bike windshields for 20 + years with great results...the "key" is to use a CLEAN, SOFT cloth on every ride.

Happy Riding !!! :action:

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SpiderBob wrote:

OK, so I have a windshield I took off that the mounts broke out of it during my accident. It's a good test piece. I started using pledge on it. So far nothing wrong with it at all. I have done about 20 polishes with pledge so far. I might even add it's looking pretty darn good. I'm going to keep it up for a month or two and just see what comes up if anything.

I will say that I also use pledge on our helmets and visors for many years with no bad results. I'm just not convinced yet to do it on my new windshield. Time will tell.

Click to expand...

SpiderBob, I like your technique......I love a good 'market test ' :cooler:

My experience with the pledge is that you do have to keep changing your rag to a clean one (not every time you use it, but often) Remember that pledge does pick up substances, dust, & dirt and causesthem to stick to the cloth (rag)....and after the pledge dries away, thebuild up on the cloth becomes 'hardened' (so to speak)....THIS will cause streaks & scratches & in some instances possibly a 'spider-webbing' haze to form....but then most any type of cleaner for the winshield will do the same thing, ifusing a dirty cloth.

That's why I keep clean, soft rags in my shop and changethem about every2nd ride. When I get a load of rags, I chunk them into the washing machine and run them through a cycle using a mild detergent.

Keep us informed as to how your test & research turns out.....and most importantly, if you don't trust a product "DON'T USE IT !!!"

Happy & Safe Riding ! :waving: :action: