How to remove fairing paint?

My paint is both trashed, and poorly done in the first place. I need to start from scratch. How to remove the old stuff? Does paint stripper melt the plastic? Should I sand it off instead?

I did a search, didn't find anything...

 

sand sand sand then sand some more.......

 

I have a sander and have sanded down the top fairing pretty well.

Now I need to figure out what to do about cracks. Who knows how many times the previous owners have dropped this bike. There is some old fiberglass on the back that helps I suppose, but I still saw cracks on the front side. Time for some googling I guess...

 

mostly just sand and then prep and use fiberglass to fix the cracked area then more sanding before priming and paint.

 

Repair cracks on plastics with a product called Plastix. I am told it is a great product for bike ferrings. Google it for availability in your area.

 

Before doing potential damage to parts that may be hard to find, find out what your fairing is made of.

Fibreglass is just the fabric or the aggregate. The matrix is resin.

Keanu Reeves is an actor who rides a Norton.

 

Randy, I assume you mean "Plastex"? Couldn't find any "Plastix". Here's the website:

PLASTEX Plastic Repair Kits

Looks pretty impressive. I can definitely get some use out of this stuff.

I'm a little reluctant to use fiberglass on the front side because it doesn't seem to stick to ABS reliably. Some of the previous owner's backside fiberglass repair is peeling off.

 

Hi Paul,

I did all that to my bike at the end of last year and i can give you some advice. Dont worry about sanding all the way down to the plastic, youll kill
yourself and its not necessary. Just remove the clear-coat and smooth off
the paint underneath. Use 180 grit paper(white). Fix the cracks then use some body filler where you need it. When it all looks nice and smooth, which it wont actually really be at that point:wink:, then prime and sand with a fine paper. Let it really dry good between prime coats too, otherwise it wont fill the fine scratches as good.

The tank you can paint strip all the way down, thats an easy part and be
very carefull of the paint buildup where the fairings overlap, especially where
the bolts go. If theres too much paint buildup there, when you tighten the
fairing bolts it will squeeze too hard and crack the paint.

Also make sure the primer is the same as the paint you will eventually use ie
acrylic or enamel.

Good Luck.

David.

 

Thanks for the tips David, any info really helps.

I may have to go down to the plastic in some areas, because the previous owner's paint job is not sticking reliably, esp where I pulled off stickers; also where his sanding was very coarse and shows through. Or where I need to do plastic repair.

 

Hi Paul,

Sounds nasty :biggrin:.
I remember trying to put a sanding disk on my drill, and then i tried paint
stripper, and then i even sent some fairings to be sand blasted. I knew it
was a dumb idea but i was too impatient :tongue:. None of those things
worked properly because of the substrate (plastic).

Youll find whats best!

Good Luck!

David.

 

Say, I want to fill in the turn signal holes (I don't have the OEM turn signals, don't like 'em anyway, and what was there was cheap crap). I'm scratching my head trying to figure out how to do it. Normally I would use fiberglass, but it doesn't stick well and probably there would be an oval crack since the materials are so dissimilar.

I tried something I saw mentioned here for other repairs, using abs glue and some abs "sawdust". It left a rubbery surface that didn't sand well. I suppose it's because it's not the black abs glue (which is hard to find), but some all-purpose stuff. I don't think it would work in the turn signal holes.

Maybe I ought to spring for the plastex stuff.

The summer is fading away, and I have my bike apart. Maybe I should slap it together, sanded panels and all, and just ride for the title of ugliest bike around. At least I'd be riding.

 

just do enough to get you riding. then you'll have an early spring project.