Windscreen rejuvenration

[Skinhead]

So the other day I used one of those headlight cleaning kits to clear up the headlights on my Pontiac Vibe.  They cleaned up real nice.

My question is, has anyone here tried using one of those kits to rejuvenate a badly oxidized windscreen?

[Chrisj CMA]

Don’t try it on a Honda OEM Valkyrie windshield, it has a coating in it. It will get much worse before (if) it gets any better.

[Jess from VA]

Polycarbinate (with coating) (like OE Honda) really can't be polished up beyond a good cleaning.  Unless you remove the whole coating then polish up what's left.  (No)

Lexan plastic (like Clearview, and I think Memphis Shades) can be polished, carefully.  But I would not use an abrasive beyond like a mild cleaner wax.  Even then, I'd start out down low and be happy with the result before I went after the top you look through. 

I used one of those kits once (with a power buffer) on my car headlight covers, and it didn't work very well.  It got better, but it didn't get like new, even after several times.   I was just about to order new covers when I traded the car on my van. 

[Gondul]

Memphis recommends Hot/Soapy water and Novus for scratches.

[Jess from VA]

Novus comes in three strengths; #3 is brutal and even #2 can give you scratches.



This stuff is the bomb for MC windshields, and never harsh.



Everyone may know this, but you want to wash with soapy water with a clean wet microfiber, then dry with a microfiber.  And avoid bearing down with anything you use.  One grain of sand will piss you off.

And never use the paper towels at the gas pumps, those things are made of wood pulp.

I've got two new Clearviews on my Interstates, and I'm real careful with them.

[Jims99]

I’ve had great results with novus products on many different plastics. But the factory shield will need stripped down first. Time consuming but will come out looking great. Much easier to get a new one.

[JimmyG]

I was at a shop asking about this and a mechanic told me to try something that he has done before. Get Repel bug spray and clean it. Well, my windshield was so bad I said what the heck and tried it. surprise, surprise, it works. I got it clean enough to get by until I can get a new shield. 

[6Banger]

Believe it or not, I used brake fluid. It removes the original coating. Mine was toast anyway. After hours of rubbing with everything I tried this. 10 minutes...looks new. But, like I said, coating is gone.

[Skinhead]

Believe it or not, I used brake fluid. It removes the original coating. Mine was toast anyway. After hours of rubbing with everything I tried this. 10 minutes...looks new. But, like I said, coating is gone.

That is my reason for asking in the first place.  Most of the headlight restore kits include a spray which I believe becomes the new "coating".

[Mooskee]

I wonder if the spray ceramic coating would seal it after taking off the coating.

[da prez]

  Not in all cases , food grade silicone spray does wonders. I have not used it on the new style windshields , but have in the past.  Food grade is not used on food , but can be used where food is processed.

                                              da prez

[Knapdog]

Just wondering, why does the oem screen have a coating?
What is the coating and what does it do?

[Jess from VA]

OEM was polycarbinate, and all polycarb shields have a hard coating to make them last and reisist chips.

When they get old and beat up they are very hard to repair.

My Clearview replacement shields are no coating Lexan and can be polished out of scratches.  Not that I have any.

[Joe333x]

OEM was polycarbinate, and all polycarb shields have a hard coating to make them last and reisist chips.

When they get old and beat up they are very hard to repair.

My Clearview replacement shields are no coating Lexan and can be polished out of scratches.  Not that I have any.

A clear view came on my bike, I like it and it's still clear but not clear like glass at night with light dispersion. Figured its normal for such a big piece of plastic, its the larger shield with the operable vent but wonder if it could be better with a polish?

[Jess from VA]

I would call Clearview and ask them for advice.  Free.

I never bear down hard cleaning, washing or (non abrasive) waxing my shields (or eye glasses).  Too many bad things can happen.  And no Windex (ammonia) either.

I now only clean my shields with a very clean microfiber soaked only in water and wrung out, then wiped with a clean dry one.  I carry a wet microfiber folded up in one of those plastic snap top sandwich containers in the saddlebag (it stays wet), for buggies picked up along the rides.   

[Led]

Why Spend the "elbow grease" on a "rejuvenation"......when done, the results may still suck.......

I would use that "elbow grease" to just bolt a brand new windshield on??   JMHO......

[rug_burn]

I replaced my hopeless OEM screen about 2010 with a large Clearview screen with a vent.    It was good, but had a lot ot aerodynamic drag.  It was acylic, and didn't get too scratched, but I replaced it last year with a stock size (oem sized) Clearview, with the vent which is great.
     One thing that bears repeating is that if you always clean your windshield using vertical strokes, never with horizontal ones,  all those microscopic sctatches will be in an orientation that does not reflect or  catch the light in normal conditions.  It'll end up being much clearer in afternoon light, etc.   This is a well known standard thing in aviation, where all the window glass is plastic of some sort.

[h13man]

I use a old wet warm bath towel over my Slipstreamer and let it soak for awhile before cleaning. I use Lucas Slickmist to coat for 14 yrs.

Been using these to do cleaning on the road and home for 19 yrs. and fine micro fiber towels aka the thinner/cheaper variant as they are the softest and most adsorbent.

https://www.amazon.com/Four-Peaks-Cleaning-Wipes-Flat/dp/B0170138DW