Helmet Face Shield Scratches

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:36 pm

Anyone have suggestions for buffing out some light scratches in my helmet face shield.

When I brought the helmet to Key West (because I knew I was renting a scoot down there) I put it in the way back of the rental car. Well, it rolled around a bit and that scuffed up a section of the face shield. Now just one small area is scratched up, but visibility through that one spot is bad.

I don't know if I can use an SOS pad and then go lighter or just see if I can chamois it out.

Help. I don't want to buy a new shield already.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:43 pm

Only way to "remove" a scratch is to add more scratches so they all blend in. Are you sure it is scratched and not marred by something it rubbed against? I would try a mild soap and cotton cloth first to see if it is something that will come off. If its scratched in a location that obscures your vision it would be safest to replace it. Mine cost 20 bucks to replace.

Dennis

Orange Guy · Post by **Orange Guy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:47 pm

On a kind-of-related note, what do you all use to remove bug and assorted road grime from your face shield? Windex? Cloth and water?

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:52 pm

Honda Spray Cleaner, now labeled as Original Spray Cleaner without the Honda name on it and available at Honda dealers. Pink and black spray can. Great stuff for every surface, including face shields you think might be scratched.
I was once told not to use Windex on my Helix windshield as it would dull it over time. Hasn't happened, but I don't use it regularly, only if I'm out of the spray cleaner. Why would a window cleaner dull a windshield? Anyone have any info on that?

Dennis

sotied · Post by **sotied** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:16 pm

Nope. Really scratched.

It's an area about the size of a 50-cent piece, left of center. The rest of the shield is pristine.

Will see if I can get a replacement. Trouble is that the Website doesn't specifically list shields for my model helmet.

It's an EXL-708 Modular helmet from Moto Direct.

They do list others (608 for example) so I'm waiting for their customer service to call me back. I'd hate to have to buy a whole new helmet just for a tiny scratch.

7eregrine · Post by **7eregrine** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:20 pm

Any decent scooter rental should provide you a helmet and goggles.

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:22 pm

sotied wrote:Nope. Really scratched.

It's an area about the size of a 50-cent piece, left of center. The rest of the shield is pristine.

Will see if I can get a replacement. Trouble is that the Website doesn't specifically list shields for my model helmet.

It's an EXL-708 Modular helmet from Moto Direct.

They do list others (608 for example) so I'm waiting for their customer service to call me back. I'd hate to have to buy a whole new helmet just for a tiny scratch.

Bummer. Most helmet manufacturers do make replacement parts. Hope it works out.

Mine was an HJC and is available at lots of dealers. It was an easy repair as they keep plenty of spare parts. Apparantly the swivel locks and the shields take a beating.

You might try a dealer search at the manufacturers website and see if there is a dealer close by. That could save you a lot of trouble.

Dennis

DennisD · Post by **DennisD** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:24 pm

7eregrine wrote:Any decent scooter rental should provide you a helmet and goggles.

Not to mention ringworm, head lice, dandruff, etc. Suuure, they clean them after each use.

Dennis

Orange Guy · Post by **Orange Guy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:27 pm

sotied wrote:They do list others (608 for example) so I'm waiting for their customer service to call me back. I'd hate to have to buy a whole new helmet just for a tiny scratch.

This cached google search page shows them for $12.95. Hope they still have some in stock for ya.

Wonder if there's a lesson here to maybe buy a few backup shields now so I'm not in the same boat 9 months from now?

7eregrine · Post by **7eregrine** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:29 pm

DennisD wrote:
7eregrine wrote:Any decent scooter rental should provide you a helmet and goggles.
Not to mention ringworm, head lice, dandruff, etc. Suuure, they clean them after each use.

Dennis

lol. Point taken.

jetboy · Post by **jetboy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:52 pm

DennisD wrote: I was once told not to use Windex on my Helix windshield as it would dull it over time. Hasn't happened, but I don't use it regularly, only if I'm out of the spray cleaner. Why would a window cleaner dull a windshield? Anyone have any info on that?

Dennis

It has to do with the way ammonia chemically reacts with plastic. Eventually it will cause it to get foggy/hazy.

-jetboy

jetboy · Post by **jetboy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:52 pm

DennisD wrote: I was once told not to use Windex on my Helix windshield as it would dull it over time. Hasn't happened, but I don't use it regularly, only if I'm out of the spray cleaner. Why would a window cleaner dull a windshield? Anyone have any info on that?

Dennis

It has to do with the way ammonia chemically reacts with plastic. Eventually it will cause it to get foggy/hazy.

-jetboy

k1dude · Post by **k1dude** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:29 pm

You can remove scratches and polish up your face shield with this stuff:

http://www.novuspolish.com/

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:54 pm

I'm going to be trying iCleaner iPod scratch remover on my scratched windshield and faceshield:

http://www.methodshop.com/gadgets/revie ... ndex.shtml

Will let you know how it works out.

They also make a "deep scratch remover."

sargelee71 · Post by **sargelee71** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:10 pm

OK, this might sound odd, but it works AWESOME...it always did on watch faces, i.e. Swatch watches, which has a plastic face. And this is my father's Special Forces experience--he taught me this.

Here goes:

1) Take a cottonball and dip it in some good old fashion toothpaste---that's PASTE, not gel. I've always used plain white Colgate. Get a good little glob on the cottonball.

2) Take the cottonball and dip it in some cigarette ash (regular paper ash doesn't seem to work)--make sure there's a goodly amount of ash on the toothpaste on the cottonball.

3) Now just rub it in a circular motion on the scratch of your face shield. In other words, you're polishing/buffing it with the cottonball/toothpaste/ash combo.

* The point is to let the ash/paste kinda buff out the scratch, if it's not too deep a scratch.

Can you report back and let us know if it works? Try it on an out-of-place corner first before tackling the part you have to see out of...just in case.

bfreed · Post by **bfreed** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:10 pm

To get on with riding while waiting for your replacement shield, you could pick up a pair of goggles or a good (read: shatter-proof) pair of sunglasses.

I'm using a borrowed helmet this week waiting for my replacement to arrive. The faceshield is tinted more than I'd like - I ride with the shield up and my sunglasses on. (the glasses have multiple lenses - I use the yellow or clear at dawn/dusk)