Topic: Cutting through Faded Clear Coat

[Wayne Grauel]

OK Y'all -

I have a 78 750K that looked pretty good up till a couple of years ago ( and it is stored in a shop) .  clear coat had a dull "white" over the maroon paint. Tried taking a buffer and polishing compound --  (works on boats)...   OK.. how about rubbing compound...  Shoot....    How about see what you guys think.  I've been told to just strip it all off down to metal...  with paint stripper and a plastic scraper..     But on the other thread, they recommended not going to bare metal.

The tank is in good shape, NO Rust, just a paint job (that on one side mostly is faded out beyond hope as far as i can see.


I am not opposed to spraying (or getting someone who does better than me - but going to bare metal -- is that the best approach for a bike that is going to be but on the road NOW (when its warmer).. and then perhaps strip it down next winter  (when i have a heated shop)...  a shop is one thing - 15-25 degrees in a steel building and a concrete floor is another!

All my polishing and rubbing efforts seem to do was load up the roughness in the clear coat and make things noticeably worse!

Here is a shot from several years ago - you can see where it was then just under the arrows... more so on the other side and now more so everywhere!

Thanks for any advice!

Wayne

[Hockers Choppers]

take it to a body shop and see if they can save the stripes, if it isn't into them aready. You can sand the clear down with a fine (5-600 grit) sand paper and maybe have to dust some base on thin spots, then clear the whole tank. No need to strip to bare metal.