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[Jerry/MD]

Had a slight mishap with gravel over the weekend and my fairing got damaged. Not a big area but I want it fixed. Looking for some recommendations from my fellow MD CVOers on where to take it.

Jerry

[Ghost Rider]

I'm not 100% sure on a shark nose fairing, but when I had some damage to the fairing on my old ultra, it was cheaper to just buy a new fairing from HD then to try and have the old one fixed.  Especially after I sold the damaged one on ebay for about half what the new one cost.  Just something to consider.

[Sledge]

I'm with Ghost on this one.  Matching paint with CVO's is a problem, especially later models.

Sledge

[Jerry/MD]

I hear ya. My local dealer verified that the CVO colors are hard to match. They gave me a recommendation for someone in the area to try. We shall see. If he can get close, that is fine. The damage is on the left side so it won't be as visible when the bike is on the jiffy stand. I just can't see dropping $1000.00 on a new fairing at this point.

Jerry

[Sledge]

If he can get close, that is fine.
Jerry

Hey Jerry get a piece of black abs plastic at least 6 inches square and ask him to paint it first in the colors he has mixed.  Eyeball it in full sun and shade before he paints the fairing.  That way he can be assured you will be happy and you won't be surprised when you go to pick it up.  To do it right he has to dull the finish on the whole fairing and clearcoat new.  The border on a patch of overlapping paint will get more visible over time and will cost you more than the cost of the new fairing later at sale or tradein time.  Will just close really be good enough?

Could you post a closeup pic of the damage so I can see how extensive it is?

[Jerry/MD]

Hey Jerry get a piece of black abs plastic at least 6 inches square and ask him to paint it first in the colors he has mixed.  Eyeball it in full sun and shade before he paints the fairing.  That way he can be assured you will be happy and you won't be surprised when you go to pick it up.  To do it right he has to dull the finish on the whole fairing and clearcoat new.  The border on a patch of overlapping paint will get more visible over time and will cost you more than the cost of the new fairing later at sale or tradein time.  Will just close really be good enough?

Could you post a closeup pic of the damage so I can see how extensive it is?

I'll post a pic tomorrow. I spoke with the painter my local dealer recommended. The problem is deeper than just matching the color. Apparently H-D changed to a water based paint a few years ago. His equipment doesn't accept that paint type. He is actually considering stopping ALL paint work because the cost for the new equipment is around $20k! Oh, and it gets better. By 2013 ALL cars and motorcycles are required to have water based paints. Wanna take a guess on who's driving this? The EPA!!! Freaking environmentalists just don't care who and what their decisions impact. OK, I feel better.

[MAT]

California is already water base.

[Jerry/MD]

Hey Jerry get a piece of black abs plastic at least 6 inches square and ask him to paint it first in the colors he has mixed.  Eyeball it in full sun and shade before he paints the fairing.  That way he can be assured you will be happy and you won't be surprised when you go to pick it up.  To do it right he has to dull the finish on the whole fairing and clearcoat new.  The border on a patch of overlapping paint will get more visible over time and will cost you more than the cost of the new fairing later at sale or tradein time.  Will just close really be good enough?

Could you post a closeup pic of the damage so I can see how extensive it is?

Here ya go Sledge. Let me know what you think......

[smkymtnboy]

you may buff and clear over.if not talk to big fattys. there is website called this. genes speciality is matching cvo paint.

[AXIL]

   east coast refinishing on Euclid ave. manassas park Virginia has all the new water base equipment. 703-369-4980

[Sledge]

That looks like an easy repair for an experienced paint shop.  I don't see much color scraped off but mostly clearcoat, and a couple easyfix chips on the edge.  

Have you tried to polish any of it out?  Looks like most of it will buff out.

If you go to the paint shop: A bit of the touchup paint available for your year (60 bux or so at the dealer) will give them something to match if they think they need to spray a small area, but it may be enough for the whole repair.  If you want it to look perfect put a new seal between inner and outer fairing since it got scraped a bit.  A few bux for that.  You may not need a total clearcoat on top of the repair.  The paint shop will be able to tell you either way and if you go with a new layer of clearcoat it shouldn't cost more than a couple hundred I think.  Closer to 150 I would guess for the whole repair.

If it looks dull under the clearcoat where it got scraped off it's because it is dull.  The metal flake layer actually looks dull before the clear goes on anyway.  I had an old lincoln repainted and was surprised when I dropped by the shop and saw it after the metal flake part.  It looked like flat blue paint.  Once the clear went on it looked like what I expected.

Sledge

[King Glide]

I'd try a scratch repair kit and a good buffing, you might be surprised and it comes out. You have nothing to loose, worst that can happen is you end up taking it to the painter anyway.

[Jerry/MD]

Thanks for the replies. I have a touch-up kit on order from my local dealer. Price was around $60.00.    I've been told buffing does wonders. I've never tried it so I'd be curious as to what I need or where I could find some detailed info. I will check on Google and utube.

[Sledge]

Thanks for the replies. I have a touch-up kit on order from my local dealer. Price was around $60.00.    I've been told buffing does wonders. I've never tried it so I'd be curious as to what I need or where I could find some detailed info. I will check on Google and utube.

Hey Jerry,

Don't try to use an orbital or other powered buffer since you can easily burn right through the finish if not familiar with how to do it.  Use a buffing pad to apply but only by hand.   I wouldn't put any touchup paint on the scratches 'till you are sure they can't be buffed out.

I would start with a 100% cotton cloth or pad and a small amount of polish (not wax).  First use a cleaner to clean the area thoroughly and let it dry.  Use light pressure in a circular motion with the polish and see how it affects one of the smaller scratches.  If they aren't deep you should see immediate improvement.  If not you will have to use the cleaner again and go with some rubbing compound using the same technique.   I have used Meguiar's with good results, you can get it at Autozone or similar places.  The rubbing compound will take off paint/clearcoat (they call it cutting) if you rub hard so take it real easy.  After the compound you will need to polish, then wax.  I have used ScratchX with good results on minor scratches and swirls.

Never do any of it in the sun.  Never use any cloth other than 100% pure cotton.  Make sure it is soft and clean.  If you drop it don't use it again 'till it's been washed.  One spec of sand on a polishing cloth can ruin a nice paint job.  (btw I never allow anyone to wash/wax my bike, I don't care if it is a bikini bike wash.  You like swirl marks?  Let someone else clean it for ya.  If the girls are buck nekkid and use only their bazooms to suds it up maybe lol.)

Save the edge chips for later after you get out the scratches.   Chip repair is a bit more complicated but there is a bunch of info on chip repair on the net plus a lot of kits available with the proper brushes, sandpaper and other materials at auto parts shops.  The little cap brush in most touch up kits leaves a glob too big.   It's a process of building up the paint in the chip in layers to the level of the stock paint.  Tiny brushes are available with only a few strands for this purpose.  Damaging the surrounding area trying to flatten the "glob" is common if the touch up is too rushed or too big.

Let us know how it turns out.  Hopefully not like my first attempt at chip repair. 

It's a learning experience so take your time.

Sledge

[smkymtnboy]

Thanks for the replies. I have a touch-up kit on order from my local dealer. Price was around $60.00.    I've been told buffing does wonders. I've never tried it so I'd be curious as to what I need or where I could find some detailed info. I will check on Google and utube.

Jerry, take this to a body shop and have them do the work. you will be glad you did. most over the counter products are not real good for what you are wanting to do.experience counts here! i am of course assuming you have none. gaining experience  on a cvo fairing may not be the place to start.