I need help please

[Atticus808]

compounding and polishing a motorcycle tomorrow. looking at it, I'm not sure if this silver strip has rubber/plastic/clear coat on it.
I can put a little bit of an indent with my nail in it and then it comes back out. can I put compound over this? advice peoples and thank you

 

[Just02896]

Looks like a vinyl pin stripe to me. If so, personally, I would charge to acquire matching pin strip, remove the old one, correct the paint, and then install new pin stripe.

 

[beamerstrumpet]

What kind of bike is it? Is there clear coat over the stripe? if yes just go light over it,, if not. the above option is good if you know how to do it, option 2, find some vinyl painters pinstripe tame(IE very skinny) and cover the stripes, go by hand and get as close as possible. Ask owner if he put stripes on, voice your concerns and see what he says. but that tank def needs some love!

 

[Atticus808]

it's a Yamaha Virago 1100
made in 1999

 

[Atticus808]

just looked again. looks like there's clearcoat over it. a little bit.
do you guys recommend i do this whole thing by hand probably?

 

[Just02896]

just looked again. looks like there's clearcoat over it. a little bit.
do you guys recommend i do this whole thing by hand probably?

By hand? No way! A DA will give you a much better finish in waaaay less time! Just be sure to lighten up downforce when you must cross the pin stripe. Are you sure there is clear over the stripe? Can you catch a fingernail on it or does it feel as though your nail glides smoothly over the edges of the stripe?

 

[Atticus808]

By hand? No way! A DA will give you a much better finish in waaaay less time! Just be sure to lighten up downforce when you must cross the pin stripe. Are you sure there is clear over the stripe? Can you catch a fingernail on it or does it feel as though your nail glides smoothly over the edges of the stripe?

it goes over the bump smoothly. there's the same thing on the back that is very obvious and my fingernail catches

 

[JAF06SE]

I would get some thin painters tape to put over it as a precaution. Why risk messing it up. I wouldn't even consider taking it off and putting a new one on unless you're damn good at pin striping. Beings that it is a bike and not a car I would attempt to compound by hand to see how soft the clear is. You might not have to bust out the DA on it.

 

[Niblick]

id just tape over it. as its very narrow, tape to the edge of it one side and polish up to that edge, then re-tape it from the other side and polish up to it again. hope that makes sense

 

[Atticus808]

id just tape over it. as its very narrow, tape to the edge of it one side and polish up to that edge, then re-tape it from the other side and polish up to it again. hope that makes sense

thank you everyone for your help!

and you saved me with that idea..... I was going to cut my masking tape which would have took me like an hour for typing lol. I'll update after I do it tomorrow

 

[TundraPower]

just looked again. looks like there's clearcoat over it. a little bit. do you guys recommend i do this whole thing by hand probably?

The clear coat over these stickers is as thin as the air you breathe. Either tape the sticker with painters tape or remove the sticker with a heat gun and replace it. Motorcycle folks (myself included) tend to be really funny about decals and such.

 

[beamerstrumpet]

I suggest something like this 3M 6405 1/4-in. x 36-yard Blue Vinyl Painters Tape: Cleaning Supplies : Walmart.com

Or check the auto store for it,, (better bet) NAPA usually has many more paint and body related items so You might start there.

 

[Niblick]

thank you everyone for your help!

and you saved me with that idea..... I was going to cut my masking tape which would have took me like an hour for typing lol. I'll update after I do it tomorrow

glad i could help :xyxthumbs:. just make sure you use something 'low tack' and when you re-tape it from the other side, try to avoid pressing the tape down too much onto the area you've just polished.