Weather Proofing Gap In Scooter Body By straightbangin (Read 2,254 times)

[gatekeeper]

There was a video floating around that says you can buff out a glazed over car headlight cover using bug repellent spray. Might be worth trying if you have some on hand.

[straightbangin]

I may try that ( start off in a test corner ) but.. I think its hazy from the inside ( like moisture from it sitting covered for months got in there. I'll try it on my speedometer cover since I'm not replacing that. I had to replace the headlight cover anyway because its all cracked in the top corners. Soon after buying it the scooter the plastic looked discolored, almost like the blinker lights started to burn it ( makes no sense to me though ) then it got hazy and cracked. Time for a new one.

[gatekeeper]

You're probably right. Makes sense to replace with new when parts are so cheap! It's good to see you getting it back on the road. Scooters need love too!

[straightbangin]

I tried out the bug spray. All it did was keep the bugs away from me Thanks for the suggestion anyway. It may have worked if it was a haze I could remove from the outside.

[cyborg]

THe headlite is historical

[Guitarman]

Yep. That's sun damage haze on the inside. Cheap plastics get it quick on the inside and outside. Better quality plastics normally only get it on the side exposed to the weather. Like car headlights. If you take them off and do both sides with the deep woods off, then you might see a bigger difference. Notice how shiny the part is where you tested it.

anyway, I'd just replace them. Baby needs new shoes. LOL

[Deleted]

Hazing on both the inside and out is common on scooters, because there is no actual seal between the clear outer cover and the housing. Reconditioning it is very easy and inexpensive. A kit can be purchased at the local auto pasrts store, where you can also get an acrylic sealant for the cracks (post reconditioning). If you want to slow the interior hazing, then add a sealant between the two pieces.

here is a good how to on reconditioning:

straighttalkautomotive.com/articles/headlights-cleaning.html

[tdi]

straightbangin you may try to clean the hazed plastics with toothpaste in a cloth.
At least that works for me with car headlights

[straightbangin]

Notice how shiny the part is where you tested it

I think the shine was from the camera flash because I didn't test the bug spray method until after the pics were taken

New headlight is on order. I may try to clean the inside of the speedometer cover if its not hard to get off.
I've always kept my scooter covered with thick tarp so I guess its more from moisture left in than sun damage but who knows.

Thanks for the tips about the toothpaste and sealant.

[Guitarman]

Just in case nobody ever told you, if you have an old CD that is all scared and scratched up, the toothpaste and a soft cloth works good on those too...

Toothpaste is a very gentle polishing compound actually.  It works great on many things that just need a nice shine or to just polish something up.  The brake cylinder cups/pistons on your bike are another good place to use it when you do a cylinder rebuild.  Cleans and polishes without scratching.
Test it on a hidden part of your paint to see it it will polish out minor scratches without removing paint. 

You would be amazed what you can do with the stuff in your kitchen and bathroom.

[Alleyoop]

Yes, BUT NEVER USE IT ON YOUR TEETH

[Alleyoop]

Well if you cannot clear them up here are the two parts you need:
Alleyoop
www.scrappydogscooters.com/Sunny_style_parts.html

[straightbangin]

guitar man -

when you do a cylinder rebuild

oh God I don't want to think about that.

Thanks for the tips. It makes sense. I found the magic of baking soda for cleaning certain things. I used bleach and steel wool to clean a porcelain tub. It left black streaks so I googled what to do and someone suggested rubbing baking soda into it and it looks good as new now. fewwwww

Alley - thanks. I ordered that head light assembly since mine is all cracked. my speedometer isnt as important to me because it works but if easy enough to get off I'll try to clean it.

[richardv]

Your damage may be coming from the tarp you cover the scooter with. It should not be water proof but rather breathable. If it can't breath the moisture collects and when the sun comes out your scooter will get 'steamed', that's good for your vegetables but not at all good for the scooter.

This is the best I can recommend. I've used one on my Gold Wing and Magna:

dowcopowersports.com/guardian-scooter-cover-498/

That $50 could save you a lot of money later on.

[straightbangin]

richardv - thanks. Ive use ones like that before and it rains torrential hard here. The scooter would always be soaked after. Now I'm doing a thick tarp with some heavy duty mini clamp clips but leaving spaces for air to get in, but have it positioned so water can't get in. I didnt start doing this until after the covers were discolored and had already been soaked with my old covers.

guitarman - exactly. I was just making bad joke about it

Okay so the turning signal relay is supposed to come today and so I took the top apart and could see items of good news...

1) the head light assembly has no cover, it IS just so hazed/fogged over so bad that it looks like there is a cover on it.

2) headlight assembly is a 4 prog plug and thats what I ordered

3) relay is a 3 prong plug and that's what I ordered

( I was almost positive they were the right ones but this further confirmed it)

4) the speedometer and cover were very easy to get off

I tried in different areas (both sides of the cover) bug spray, tooth paste, scrubbed hard with baking soda, let bleach set then scrubbed in, nothing last resort was CLR and steel wool, nothing. That discoloration is baked in there good. The speedometer itself was in perfect shape.

I saw some covers on Ebay for $10 that I thought would fit but looked closer and realized they wont.

I saw this on Ebay for $25 if I wanted a whole new speedometer(also Alley linked me to it as well) but replacing it would be HELL.
www.ebay.com/itm/Sunny-Speedometer-49cc-50cc-GY6-Engine-Chinese-SCOOTER-/221435086529?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item338e8f46c1&vxp=mtr

It says in the add its a 9 pin, 8 wire connection (sounds easy) but the back of my speedometer has a few wires going to one three prong connection and the rest going into a major wire bundle all taped together down in the column. I hope I never have to deal with that. If the speedometer dies I'll prob just let it sit there dead. I know what 15mph feels like for school zones, what 30 feels like and it doesn't go over 40 so I'll be fine with not knowing exactly should s**t hit the fan with it. Also I'm quite used to looking in the gas tank to see if I have enough gas since I had a malfunctioning fuel gauge before I replaced the sensor when I replaced the gas tank. lol. I don't even want a new cover should I find one. Getting it back on was a ROYAL bitch to line up coming through the hole in the front for it while trying to get those two tine screws in at an angle. I ended up taping it in place so I could KEEP it lined up and then screw them in.

Can't wait to get the relay and ride legal LOL.
My mechanic was laughing at how the relay was working. If i flicked on the right turn signal relay it would flash normal a few times while the left one was super barely there flashing dim, after a few good flashes it would go as dim as the left one which wasn't even turned on. Same for the back. Weird.

EDIT *** just got the turning signal relay in the mail and put it in. Turned ignition on, tried brakes and turning signals, nothing, fuel guage won't even rise when I turn the key wont start. Texted my mechanic and he said make sure the color wires are lining up on the plug in spot and you prob blew a battery fuse. Replace and try again. Took me seconds to do this and that turning signal relay is BEAUTIFUL. Perfect. So excited.

Now if I can go ahead and not have problems putting the new head light assembly in, new fuel lines and filter (done before so its cake) and the trunk latch, I will be a happy camper.