"Renewing" weathered system cases?

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:24 am

Hi folks...

Did a search for this, but didn't find a thread yet that covered the topic...

They (normally black) system cases on my R-R are grayish from weather exposure... any recommendations on restoring the deep black color? I've tried Armor All, not expecting it to work, and I was right... a temporary, relatively "fake" looking shine that lasts only a few days.

Appreciate any ideas... prefer not having to paint them...

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:42 am

Mother's makes a polish that works for the black plastic stuff. I've used it on my cases and it's really brought them back to new looking (minus the scratches) and stays that way longer than Armor All.

http://www.mothers.com/products/product ... lprod.html

I'm referring to the "Back to Black" product.

Spookymonster · Post by **Spookymonster** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:05 am

Try Black Again. Here's a review from Web Bike World:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Reviewed-mo ... -again.htm

pneuby · Post by **pneuby** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 11:54 am

See how long WD-40 will last. I picked that up from an article in Motorcycle Consumer news. It did a great job on my black parts that seems to be holding well.

I definitely would like to hear your input if you try those other recommendations, also.

Post by **GypsyRR** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 1:04 pm

I tried WD-40 as someone recommended in another thread. It did not work for me for very long.

darcym · Post by **darcym** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:53 pm

I've had great success with armor all. It helps if you keep the bike and bags out of the weather. Also, really saturate the bags with it. I found it even helps to cover up the scratches by evening out the tonality.

Both of my system bags were bought used off of e-bay. They were very weathered. I have new city lids on them but you can't tell that the bases are older than the lids unless you look really close. I think Meguir's Black is essentially the same stuff as Armor-all.

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:37 pm

Thanks very much for the input!

I'll probably give the Black Again stuff a try; thanks for the link Spooky!

I haven't been too keen on the Armor All... it lasted a few days when I "soaked" the bags, but it looked a bit splotchy after I wiped the bags down. And whenever I rubbed up against the bags, I'd get a "dry" spot on the bags (and a greasy spot on my pants).

Post by **towerworker** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 9:09 pm

"Back To Black" made by "Mothers".

You can buy it in most any Autozone or Advance Auto for about $5.
Works great.

Wayne
03 r

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:17 pm

I was thinking about this myself. The system cases inevitably get scuffed from boots and general handling over the years, as well as exposure to UV. I'll have to renew them cosmetically soon. It would of course help to wash my bike, which is something I haven't done in six months!

crashfaster · Post by **crashfaster** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:16 pm

I can attest to the restorative properties of Armor All. I took the recommendation of someone else on this board and scrubbed my bags (which were scratched and weathered when I got them) with super fine steel wool (soaked in Armor All)...the results were amazing. it buffed out all but the deepest scratch, and gave the plastic a nice shiny lustre.
Highly recommended!

geothepencil · Post by **geothepencil** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:38 pm

I painted a couple of K75 black cases with some 1200 degree high temp flat black engine paint. Worked just great-- just seemed to melt into the covers. Don't know if you can still get the kind I have since mine contains lead. Sold under the name of Seymour Hot Spot Heat Resistant Spray Paint.

geo

edit: Well forget that: It is still available, but no lead and it requires high temp heat curing, something that the lids would not like at all. Guess I better hang on to my remaining few cans ( and use lots of ventiltion)

Post by **yjleesvrr** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:41 pm

geothepencil wrote:Don't know if you can still get the kind I have since mine contains lead.

Er, that would be enough for me to avoid it.

geothepencil · Post by **geothepencil** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 11:47 pm

yjleesvrr wrote:
geothepencil wrote:Don't know if you can still get the kind I have since mine contains lead.
Er, that would be enough for me to avoid it.

Yeah , you are probably right. We originally got it for some 1K Par 64 lighting cans that needed refinishing. We have never used much of it, but it sure did work great on the cases.

geo

Post by **bmwdave52** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:47 pm

If you like Armor All try a product called '303'. Think of it as Armor All on steroids.

http://www.303products.com

Post by **CycleRob** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:22 am

When the black cases get light grey and powdery looking the Sun has taken too much life out of them. I'm fanatical about parking in the shade whenever I park it and it's always garaged. The seat will also last longer too - - - although extending the stock seat's lifespan may be considered masochistic.
My 5 yr old cases were just mildly dull looking and one application of ArmourAll worked wonders. Months later they still look pretty good.

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:07 am

crashfaster wrote:I can attest to the restorative properties of Armor All. I took the recommendation of someone else on this board and scrubbed my bags (which were scratched and weathered when I got them) with super fine steel wool (soaked in Armor All)...the results were amazing. it buffed out all but the deepest scratch, and gave the plastic a nice shiny lustre.
Highly recommended!

That's an interesting approach; one which I hadn't heard of before. I may give that a shot too... once I have a chance to do something on the bike at all! Holidays have forced me to spend time with my family...

(jk)

CycleRob wrote:I'm fanatical about parking in the shade whenever I park it and it's always garaged.

Definitely the best way to prevent the discoloration... unfortunately where I work shade is limited, and in the Sacto Valley the sun can be really brutal... I suppose if I had the common sense to cover it every day, it wouldn't be so bad either...

BchrisL · Post by **BchrisL** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:47 pm

I tried Armor All on my system cases. After a while they started to get gray streaks on them.

I have been using this dressing on my leather for some time. I saw another BMW owner applying WD 40 to his cases and I thought of using this dressing on the cases. It is a petroleum-based product (like petroleum jelly), and I keep an old linen table napkin saturated with the dressing. I rub the system cases down till they just start to get that "damp" look. The dressing does not dry out and water beads on the cases, but they do not feel greasy. They look dark and moist like they did when they were new.

GOOGLE: KAO CHO LINE
Chris

Mar · Post by **Mar** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:33 am

If you've gotten wax on any black plastic parts, ArmorAll will take it off, and so will Back to Black.