Cleaning windscreens

[Mikkel]

Hey folks,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some good advice on how to get my windscreen spotless and clear.
Since last week there has appeared some streaks on the inside of my windscreen that won't go away from normal washing. Unfortunately I don't know exactly what caused it...
It looks as if some liquid has run down the inside of the windscreen and dried up - but normal carwashing products and a brush doesn't help.
Not that I think it makes any difference - it's an '89 Kawasaki ZXR250.

Cheers
Mikkel

[Disco Dan]

Meths and paper towels.

[Trudes]

wet newspaper and then dry newspaper does a great job of glass, no streaks, might work.

[Usarka]

if any old fart says to use a potatoe i'll punt them back 1927 where they belong.

[Mikkel]

I'm not too keen on chucking solvents on the windscreen - solvents have been known to fuck up plastics.

And let me repeat that normal washing doesn't take care of it... It's not streaks that are left over from drying since I use a chamois to wipe the bike down after I've washed it.

I was thinking more in the direction of a fine cut'n'polish thing to get the stuff off - or remove a thin layer of plastic since I fear that it's the plastic that has somehow gotten discoloured...

[spookytooth]

toothpaste works well on glass to take crap off it shouldn't scratch plastics

[vifferman]

Ignore ALL the previous posts.
Use a good plastic polish (I have one called "Plastex" I think), then follow up with Plexus or Pledge. If you can remove the screen and use a polisher, so much the better. You can buy the plastic polish from Repco, SupaCrap or one of those kind of shops. Pledge you can get at the supermarket (I'd recommend that New World around the corner from where we used to live in St Martin's Road.

[James Deuce]

Mother's (the Car Cleaning Product brand, not my Mum) Plastic polish is bloody good too.

[imdying]

Ignore ALL the previous posts.
Use a good plastic polish (I have one called "Plastex" I think),

What do you reckon about the autosol plastic polish (comes in the blue trimmed tube)?

/edit: Thinking about it more, it's actually labelled 'autosol plastic cleaner'. Might be just the ticket in this application. I'm guessing it'll be an extremely mild abrasive.

[Mikkel]

Thanks guys. I'll put down a shopping list!

No worries getting the windscreen off the bike - it's still curved though and I'm not too keen on starting to bend 18 year old plastic. Besides I haven't got a polisher - will have to apply some elbow grease instead.

BTW - should I use this on the plastic parts of my bike as well (fairings and panels I mean)? Or should I keep on using the turtle wax I've been using so far? (Can anyone recommend a better wax than the turtle stuff? I've found it hard to get good smooth coverage and it takes ages before it goes "foggy"...)

[babyblade250rr]

cheap and easy solution iso-propanol a.k.a Prepsol, works on just about everything plastic paint etc.... (Not recommending washing ya bike in it lol) it's almost 100% alcohol no solvents added

[jrandom]

People who wash their bikes (other than the exposed portions of the drivetrain prior to lubrication) are odd.

One day I will buy a shaftie, and then I shall never wash again.

Muahahahahahaha!

Edit: An exception to the above rule is made for anyone who owns an MV Agusta.

[Mikkel]

cheap and easy solution iso-propanol a.k.a Prepsol, works on just about everything plastic paint etc.... (Not recommending washing ya bike in it lol) it's almost 100% alcohol no solvents added

Well - all alcohols ARE solvents... Organic solvents.

[jrandom]

Well - all alcohols ARE solvents...

Yes, I never let solvents anywhere near my bike.

Particularly dihydrogen monoxide. Nasty shit that is.

[babyblade250rr]

Well - all alcohols ARE solvents... Organic solvents.

i understand that but i assumed when you mentioned solvents you ment serious solvents i.e Dichloromethane,ether,acetone etc.... things that actually melt plastic, iso propanol will not, even methanol, ethanol will do if you can get some.


good luck with it anyway