How to refinish black plastic?

[1catquak]

I picked up some used fenders and a gauge cluster to replace the ones damaged in a crash. The new ones are badly sun faded, almost white in color. How can I make these look new again? I am trying to restore the bike to look factory original, so I really don't want to paint them.

[t3rmin]

There's a product called something like "Black Again" that seems to work pretty well.

[jtolbert]

Flitz is a polish that may take off the top layer of white. It'll take some time, though.

[robertbarr]

I've used Mothers' Back to Black with decent results, but on moderately faded black plastic. I don't think it will help much if it's that badly faded. I'm wondering if there's a way to spray paint that type of thing with decent (& durable) results.

[petelardo]

I picked up some used fenders and a gauge cluster to replace the ones damaged in a crash. The new ones are badly sun faded, almost white in color. How can I make these look new again? I am trying to restore the bike to look factory original, so I really don't want to paint them.

Just about any good vinyl dye should work; it is THIN, so it runs EASILY. You have to spray several LIGHT coats to get good coverage, but you'll love the results. I first started using it nine years ago to change the color of computer monitors; since then, I've used it on many different plastic items with great success, including keyboards and mice. Dupli-Color Black Vinyl Dye should be just what you're looking for, and your gauge cluster WON'T look painted... I used it on the guage cluster housing for a 1980 GS850G, and it looks very nice, like factory work...

Krylon Fusion is good stuff; technically, I don't know if it is more like vinyl dye, or actual paint. I've used it on plastic lawn chairs with good effect, but I've had such good results using vinyl dye on motorcycle parts, that I haven't been willing to try Fusion on any motorcycle plastics yet...

You're right NOT to use actual paint; that would act more like a "shell" on the plastic, while vinyl dye actually penetrates the surface of the plastic, and "lays down" better.

Don't get carried away trying to cover everything in one shot; vinyl dye WILL run and drip if you spray it too thick or heavy, so mist on several light coats... You'll get excellent coverage and color penetration that way, which is what makes vinyl dye superior to paint for this type of refinishing...

Try it on some junk part first, so you'll see what it can do for you...

[robertbarr]

Dupli-Color Black Vinyl Dye should be just what you're looking for, and your gauge cluster WON'T look painted... I used it on the guage cluster housing for a 1980 GS850G, and it looks very nice, like factory work.

Geez, what a great idea! I've never heard of this before, but after reading your post, I did a search and found that it's really popular among computer geeks who want their cases, monitors & drive faces to match. I've also found it on the Summit racing parts site.

I've been thinking of a way to 're-blacken' the bar controls (signals, horn, etc) and housings, and then maybe redo the lettering somehow. I even have a guinea pig. Cool, thanks for the tip.

[simon_C]

try Kiwi leather dye. VW guys use it on their trim. to get it ever so black again. works great.

[1catquak]

Thanks for the great info.

Off to the store I go.