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[JohnnyRock]

I've been after my wife to keep our kids (and her!) away from the bikes parked in the garage.

Then tonight, like a dumba**, I go and put the first chip in the paint of the FLHXSE2. I was setting up the GPS mount, specifically tightening a bracket on the handlebar using a socket wrench to tighten the nuts. I was being ever so careful as to not drop anything. Sure enough, I'd forgot that that particular wrench is finicky (it constantly slips into "neutral" on its own.)

Long story short: the socket stuck on one of the nuts and the wrench slipped off and put a tiny ding in the paint on the tank near the LED fuel gauge.  Here's a pic:



Not a great image (cellphone), but you can see it at the end of my finger; it's no more than 1/16" by 1/8". Also, to me it looks like it's down to bare metal and the paint doesn't look as thick as I would expect. I could be wrong about bare metal, though.

I did a search and (among others) found the following two threads:

www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=55651.0

www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=14175.0;all

I don't know anything about paint, and am looking for useful information or advice in addtion to what is in those two (and other) threads regarding how to best touch it up. I'm guessing that more are inevitable, but this particular one is going to drive me nuts.

***IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: In the future, no matter how small the job, I'll be covering any of the tins that might be affected by tools or parts. Hopefully my "tragedy" will prevent others from making the same mistake! 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[gabe]

 sorry about your chip but in sounds like you have a craftsman racket you where useing ??

[napalm]

Ouach!!!!  Always got to cover the tins when your wrenching!!!

napalm

[Rooster]

Don't worry yet I had a bigger one than that on my old Wide Glide. A skilfull hand with a buffer made it magically dissapear. Good luck with yours.
l

[BUBBLEHEAD]

Sorry to hear about that. Looks like the kind of problem you should be able to have good success with touchup paint some 1500 grit, polishing compound and some patience.

[2smoke]

Ouch! That really sucks.  I've caused more damage to my stuff over the years than kids or pets.  On a ride home from Sturgis a few years back it was pouring rain for 400 miles!  The pant leg of my rain gear was loose and flapping in the breeze.  It made a hazy spot on the gas tank (from my feet on the highway pegs).  I was so pissed.  Battle scars I guess.  Now it has some character and a story to go with it.

[dejavo]

Clearly it is time to sell or trade the bike on a newer one.

[hogsty]

I agree with dejavo.

It's roont.  Get a new one

[dartman]

I agree with dejavo.

It's roont.  Get a new one

[Mano]

OUCH......I feel your pain.

[kraut]

a bike is a bike - it's there to be used. If it looks used that's ok.

It's going to accumulate chirps and so - only the first one really hurts 

[1sharprdkg]

OUCH......I feel your pain.

[Devil Dog]

"I KNOW EXACTLY HOW YOU FEEL" I got a self-inflicted chip on my fairing about the same size as yours. First thing I did was order a touch-up kit from Jennie @ Fosters HD. I still know where the chip was, but you'll never find it.

Lou

[spydglide]

Some can look at the scars as giving the bike 'character'.....but, it is especially hard for the 1st one.  I feel your pain & wish you the best in trying to repair (or replace).   spyder

[Buy early]

I agree with dejavo.

It's roont.  Get a new one

X3, obviously, time for a new bike.