Interstate Headlight housing polishing

[pago cruiser]

Have some clouding (no crazing, just a bit cloudy) on my IS headlight housing. 
Can this be polished out like the plastic headlight covers on autos?
Figured I'd ask before trying...
TIA.

[Steel cowboy]

hi Pago, if you want to polish or clean the I/S head light lens you can use a automotive head light restorer sold at automotive stores. If you want to remove the lens altogether pre heat an oven at 240' and insert the housing in it for 20 minutes. the glue holding the lens to the housing will become soft enough to separate with 2 butter knives. To re install it just do it in reverse.

[pago cruiser]

Thanks Cowboy!
It sounds like you have done this?  Would never have thought of seperating the lens from the housing; let alone sticking it in the the oven...

Does the headlight restorer stuff work long time?  Or is it like the plastic restorer stuff I have tried that looks good for a week, and then reverts back to the crappy finish?

Interesting headlight ya got there.
Any details?

[old2soon]

I've had good luck on my neighbors Subaru's plastic headlight covers with that California purple metal polish I use. And I used regular ole paper towels for application and final buffing. Bout a year later needed a touch up. He has since gotten rid of the Subaru. Both times after buffing out the headlight covers we did use some silicon wax? stuff that seemed to be easy to clean. Sorry-can't recall the wax? stuff we used. And I originally bought the California purple metal polish for the aluminum stuff on Phatt Ghurl. Who knew it had other uses?  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

The 20 U-tube videos (I watched) on using headlight restorer mostly said that after polishing, they need to be sprayed with rattle can clear coat to stay clear.

[pago cruiser]

Thanks guys.
Was hoping to find someone with maybe some b4 and afters of their IS light - and comment on how long it lasted.  It's not like these bikes have not been "out there" for about 2 decades...

All plastics are a bit different, and I know that the headlight covers on my Jeep appear way different material than the covers on the IS headlight.

I can't visualize how to rattlecan clearcoat and maintain the clarity of the lens? Maybe the "special wax" is the way to go?

There are a few on ebay now, but all of them show cloudy.   

[Jess from VA]

Both my '99 IS fairing lens covers are really very clear, considering their age (they have a few nicks from hard stuff).  I can't remember ever seeing a cloudy IS lens cover.   

My '03 Dodge Intrepid (with just 30K) lenses will (just) pass inspection, and I rarely drive at night, but they look crappy on an otherwise minty looking car.  My polish attempts failed (the one I worked 45 minutes on ended up worse than the other side) (similar to my plumbing skills).  I went on line and bought new aftermarket covers for $100.

BTW, using DEET Deep Woods Off bug repellent didn't work at all either.  Many have claimed a good result.

Seems unlikely, but could your haze be on the inside?

[pago cruiser]

This is from ebay; mine is not quite as bad.
Sure looks "cloudy" - maybe a bike parked for awhile where the sun hit the headlight every day at the same angle for awhile?

And apparently, these are now officially un-obtanium.  I purchased a couple when resurrecting my Solo and Hack Valks a couple years ago.  Wanted to get one for the Magnum Valk Project - but looks like ebay is going to be the only source - and ALL of them have different degrees of cloudy...