From: frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt
Subject: Plastic care (+) RE: FAQ
Date: 1 Oct 92 08:30:53 CDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility

In article <1454.161.uupcb@cccbbs.UUCP>, jim.engle@cccbbs.UUCP (Jim Engle)  writes:
> Yes!  Please tell me more about the floor wax and plastic.
> Thanks, Jim

  I'm not too sure my mail was getting out, been getting some strange spooler
  errors.  Regardless I got enough replys to repost the plastic FAQ that I
  had received.  Plus I thought I'd add a little something of my own at the
  end. Thanx to the originator and to those that passed it on.  /* mdf */

X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

/* Article introduction deleted */

>    There's an art to applying the stuff, so here's what to do. Firstly,
>    don't buy the stuff that cleans and polishes. Just get straight
>    liquid floor wax.
>
>    Clean the bike plastic really well. This is important for the first
>    application. You can get rid of some scratches with very fine 1200 
>    grade wet and dry (...ummm....it's like really fine sand paper
>    that you use with soapy water). The wet and dry makes the plastic
>    look really dull, so buff the area with a clean wool buff in your 
>    power drill.....Looks really good doesn't it..
>
>    Now you are ready for the wax. Just a thin coat straight from the 
>    bottle on a clean *lint free* rag and let it dry hard. Don't keep
>    rubbing it as it gets tacky. Just evenly wipe it on. After a beer
>    or two, get another coat on. If you really want it looking good,
>    get a third coat on. The more thin coats you put on, the deeper
>    the shine.
>
>    Now you can get the WD40 out and make the rest of the bike look
>    great.
>
>    Give it a fresh coat every now and then and you'll have a great 
>    looking bike for many years.

   The other day before a test ride I was forced to use an old can
   of the black chain lube since I was out of everything else. Yuk!
   Don't think the stuff stayed on the market for long.

   As always the stuff sprayed black specks under my rear fender again.
   This stuff does not like to come off with normal household cleaners.
   Nor do those smudges from oily hands.

   While at KMART last weekend I noticed a shelf of auto finish cleaners.
   I picked up a can of KMART brand Bug and Tar remover and read the back.
   Of course it said to test on a small area before application as you
   should with all strong cleaners.

   It did not damage the plastic and removed all the crud that I would
   have thought not permanant.  It even removed the blowby suit on the
   inside panel from the exhaust.  It left the finish a little dull
   but it buffed back to a shine quickly with an old towel.

   If you are going to try the floor wax, I suggest removing all the 
   grime first in a like manner.  Be sure to test a small non-visable
   area first incase the stuff wants to melt the plastic.
_________________________________________________________________________
mark frampton....O/30 NOVICE   |    You can ride as long as you are alive,
frampton@skitzo.dseg.ti.com    |      as long as you can take the pain.
                               |  
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles.dirt