KX Riders

General => Riding Tips & Tricks => Topic started by: SlideWays on June 14, 2009, 10:57:16 AM

Title: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: SlideWays on June 14, 2009, 10:57:16 AM
I wax my bike monthly :-o, but the front fender on my 98 250 is starting to fade to white in a couple of places, I have tried several different types of wax, rubbing compounds, etc. nothing seems to work, anyone have any ideas how I can get the green back? I don't want to buy new plastics, other then a little white in places they are in good shape.

I tired the search function but didn't find anything regarding rejuvination of plastics.

Thanks,
Slideways
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: DoldGuy on June 14, 2009, 12:08:13 PM
If it is stress marks in the plastic, take a heat gun and heat it up from the outside of the white mark & work your way in, & of course work the heat gun slowly into the fender (don't want to make a green crayon). I have used this technique on my previous Blue bike (notorious for the white marks) with good results. Hope it helps. :-D
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: SlideWays on June 15, 2009, 02:49:48 PM
Doldguy

Thanks for the tip, will give it a try this week and report back, now I just need to find the heatgun!

Slideways
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: kx250.1698 on June 15, 2009, 07:27:27 PM
Hi you can use a carpet knife blade! you scratch the white of and then use car boddy poilish works great!!!!
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: wicked500 on July 08, 2009, 03:25:31 PM
s.o.s pads from the market work the best
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: abramztnk on November 10, 2009, 09:05:50 AM
I had a 99 CR 250 that had black plastic on it.  When it was time to send her to a new home(2008), I cleaned her up really good and though she'd been stored inside, the black plastic looked a little dull.  I used Formula 2001 car polish, Formula 2001 Protectant and a wool sock. 

Put the protectant on first, let dry and then buff with the wool sock.  Repeat with the creamy car polish, then one more coat with the protectant.  It shined like a new penny.  Didn't cost anything because I had both products on-hand.  I repeated the process on my son's KX 65 with the same result. 

Tank
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on June 10, 2010, 09:47:20 AM
I use the Plasitc renew kit from PC racing. It's sweet!
heres where i get it.
Plastic Renew (http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/home.do)
Just type plastic renew in the search.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: ktmdude on June 10, 2010, 05:26:08 PM
When I got my 01 kx 250 it was dingy, oily, and a bit faded. I cleaned it with acetone, removed all the big scratches with a razor blade and polished them with mop&glow. It worked really well. I put new griffix on it, its like a million bucks. No one can believe it is an 01. Try it. It works.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: bruuuuup on July 17, 2010, 01:02:42 PM
U can use a heat gun or a torch with indirect flame just go at it easy and it should turn out good!
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on October 29, 2010, 10:48:05 AM
Go for the PC racing plastic renew kit and scrape the worst area with a carpent knife.
heres where i get the plastic renew
Plastic Renew (http://www.rockymountainatv.com)
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: greenstreak on October 29, 2010, 05:32:12 PM
Lemon Pledge has always worked for me. My 87 KX had a patchy white and green gas tank.  I let the pledge soak in and put on one more application and it shined up nice and the color looked great. 
Smells good too.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: HAWK1111 on January 05, 2011, 01:12:45 PM
I have always used pledge, having great results!
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: cbxracer30 on January 15, 2011, 01:27:50 PM
Mr Clean Majic Erasers work great , a buddy told me try them and I couldn't believe how good they even on old oxidized plastic , it takes off the small scratchs & oxidation then I polish with Mothers and a Powerball on adrill motor.CBX
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on January 19, 2011, 07:21:28 AM
I use the Mr. Clean Magic eraser too. It works miracles on plastics.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: jbehunin on March 09, 2011, 02:41:59 PM
for the price of plastic renew or the head ache that can come from rubbing, heating, scraping...etc...

just go buy a new fender. I just bought a brand new fender for my bike for 18 bucks!!!
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: chris-mets on January 22, 2012, 08:31:19 AM
Get a double edged razor blade...they work really great... you go in the opposite direction when doing the strokes. It peels 2 layers until it looks brand new after. I can send you some if you want.

CHris
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: alward25 on January 22, 2012, 09:59:27 AM
I would rather spend $20 any buy a new fender than spend $10-$15 for supplies to fix a fender and then spend time heating, buffing, wet sanding, cleaning, and polishing.
Just my thoughts though :wink:

Alex
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on March 07, 2012, 09:36:03 AM
alward25 You make a very valid point. But a friend of mine showed me this stuff that yeah does cost about $20 but it comes with enough stuff to restore more than just one fender. I bought some restored a set of cr fenders a set of ATC 250r rear fenders and my front fender from my kx. I'm not saying you need to do this cause a new fender is always great, but maybe give it a try and see what you thinkhttp://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/43/72/216/942/-/3519/PC-Racing-Plastic-Renew/PLASTIC+RENEWAL (http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/43/72/216/942/-/3519/PC-Racing-Plastic-Renew/PLASTIC+RENEWAL)
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: alward25 on March 07, 2012, 12:47:36 PM
The PC renewal is decent stuff.  ATV fenders are expensive enough I would give the $20 fix a try first but, for dirtbikes, I would still rather just get a new fender.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: TacticalMedic on April 27, 2012, 03:11:45 PM
Dirt junkie you sound like a salesman for that plastic renew stuff lol
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: dirtjunkie85 on April 30, 2012, 09:02:52 AM
No I don't sell it but hey now that you think of it  :-P Nah lol. I've just used it a lot on my older vehicles and a lot of friends and family machines. My opinion not too bad
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: asteroid500 on June 13, 2012, 07:30:47 PM
that plastic renew is crap.......
When you get the product only then do you see how useless it is.

You cant use detergent, cant spill fuel on it, when it looses its lustre you have to re apply.
You might as well use Armour all or the Motal silicon spray.

I watched some interesting youtube ways & used the scrape, sand 400 wet'n'dry, wipe & heat gun ... yes & this worked, its alot of work, but for my 87 KX500 & 86 CR500 theres no alternative. (new plastics-i wish)

Just my 10cents worth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJb5IPOx2l0
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: TJXK on July 24, 2013, 07:13:54 PM
Buy a new one.  A polisport fender on motosport is around $19.  Also I'm not sure if they fit your year, but I just got a 2010 kx450 front fender.  Looks a lot meaner and bolts right up to an O3.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: Ims Roll on July 25, 2013, 01:39:13 AM
Buy a new one.  A polisport fender on motosport is around $19.  Also I'm not sure if they fit your year, but I just got a 2010 kx450 front fender.  Looks a lot meaner and bolts right up to an O3.
Every body is quoting front fenders... What about the $50 shrouds or 40-$50 rear fender. to buy all new plastics for a K5 is well over $20 for the front fender. Don't think just the front fender is dull lol. 2cents
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: sandblaster on July 25, 2013, 04:11:28 AM
I have not tried the plastic restore products yet.... But here is what I have tried:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=170 (http://www.oem-cycle.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=170)
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: Foxx4Beaver on July 25, 2013, 11:04:32 AM
I've had good luck with my Makita buffer with a foam pad and some 3M Fast Cut compound at 1200RPM.....but I agree with alward25....just buy a new one,bolt on -n- go.
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: motopunk on July 25, 2013, 05:24:54 PM
new replica plastics for all kx ´74 and newer  :  ---   www.nightmare-racing.com   ---

aftermarket plastics ´87 and newer : from "ufo-plast" : ---  www.ufoplast.com  ---


the pc plastic renew is a cool thing if you make it right. but if you have the chance to get new plastics, you should bye it.
 with the plastic-renew- kit you should only work on parts, that are no more available in new, like tanks, airboxes  etc....
Title: Re: Plastic starting to fade, how can I get the color back?
Post by: TJXK on August 16, 2013, 10:15:44 PM
Buy a new one.  A polisport fender on motosport is around $19.  Also I'm not sure if they fit your year, but I just got a 2010 kx450 front fender.  Looks a lot meaner and bolts right up to an O3.
Every body is quoting front fenders... What about the $50 shrouds or 40-$50 rear fender. to buy all new plastics for a K5 is well over $20 for the front fender. Don't think just the front fender is dull lol. 2cents

Rear fenders are $20 or less.  A complete polisport set of new plastics is $94. 

I can see the value of buying cleaning supplies for $20 if you have a lot of plastics to clean up, but if it's just one piece I'd probably buy it new.