Omar Khalid
ATVs spend most of their time outdoors, so it's no surprise that their plastic bodies can become discoloured and scratched over time. To restore your ATV's plastic, you'll need to start by giving your vehicle a good clean to remove any dirt, grease, or oils from the surface. Once dry, you can begin sanding the plastic with fine sandpaper, working your way up from a lower to a higher grit. Wet sanding is recommended to prevent the plastic from scratching and to keep the surface smooth. After sanding, you can apply a liquid wax or a plastic restorer to give your ATV a shiny, like-new finish. For more severe damage, such as cracks, you may need to use a heat gun or plastic welder to melt the plastic and fill in the cracks. With the right tools and some elbow grease, you can restore your ATV's plastic to its former glory.
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What You'll Learn
Cleaning your ATV
First, remove the racks and skid plates to give yourself good access to the ATV's plastics. If they are severely damaged, you may want to replace them.
Next, wash the ATV thoroughly using a dishwashing liquid such as Dawn, which is effective at removing oils and grease from the surface. You can also use a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water. Be sure to clean any parts of the device that are covering the plastics.
After washing, dry the ATV completely. You can use a towel to ensure the vehicle is totally dry.
If your ATV has scratches, you may need to sand its plastic surface. Before sanding, ensure the plastic is very clean. You can use warm soapy water and a towel to dry.
Once you have cleaned and dried the ATV, you can begin the sanding process, working from low to high grit sandpaper.
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Sanding techniques
Firstly, it is important to start with a clean surface. Wash your ATV with a suitable cleaning agent, such as Dawn dishwashing liquid, to remove any grease or oils. Ensure that you dry the ATV completely after washing. This step is crucial as it ensures that the sanding process will not be affected by any contaminants on the surface.
Once the ATV is clean and dry, it's time to begin sanding. It is recommended to use wet/dry sandpaper, which can be easily found in auto parts stores. Always use water when sanding plastics as it helps prevent the plastic from burs and scratches. Start with a lower grit sandpaper, such as 180 or 220, to address deep scratches and uneven surfaces. Work on the more damaged areas first, sanding in one direction to avoid creating more scratches. Keep both the sandpaper and the plastic wet during this process.
As you progress, you can move to finer grit sandpaper, such as 320 or 400, to smooth out the surface further. Sand in a slightly different direction, about 10 degrees off from the previous sanding direction. This will help create an even finish. Continue using water and check for any remaining deep scratches by running water over the sanded area or looking for shiny spots on the dull sanded plastic.
Once you're satisfied with the results of the initial sanding, move on to finer grits like 600 and 1000. These higher grits will help remove any scratches left by the previous sanding steps and create an even smoother surface. Again, keep the sandpaper and plastic wet, and work until the sandpaper glides easily over the surface.
Finally, you can finish up the sanding process by using steel wool or fine-grit sandpaper to create an ultra-smooth finish. This step prepares the plastic for the next stages of restoration, such as waxing or painting. Remember to wear gloves when using steel wool for safety.
By following these sanding techniques and working systematically through the grits of sandpaper, you can effectively restore ATV plastics and create a smooth, even finish that is ready for further treatment.
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Removing deep scratches
Another method is to wet sand the plastic. This process requires a lot of water and sandpaper of varying grits, such as 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, and 1000. Start with the 180 grit to sand away deep scratches, then move on to the 220 grit for the whole ATV, sanding until the colour is even and scratches are less visible. Repeat this process with the 320 grit, then move on to the 400 grit, ensuring the sandpaper glides easily over the plastic with minimal resistance. Finish with the 600 and 1000 grit to smooth out any remaining scratches.
It is important to note that using power tools for this process is not recommended, as they can easily damage the soft plastic. Additionally, always keep the plastic and sandpaper wet during the sanding process to prevent the build-up of plastic on the paper, which can cause further scratches.
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Waxing and buffing
After sanding, cleaning, and drying your ATV plastic, it's time to apply wax and buff it out. First, prepare the plastic for waxing by sanding it with fine sandpaper, working your way up from the lowest to the highest grit. You can use an oscillating tool to speed up this process, but be sure to wear gloves and finish by sanding with steel wool.
Next, apply a liquid wax to the plastic using a car wax applicator. Work in thin coats, allowing one section to dry while you work on another. You will need to apply several coats, and it's important to buff out the plastic after each application. A powered buffer can be used for this step, or you can buff by hand.
After the final coat is completely dry, finish with an automotive wax to add an extra layer of sheen. This step is more involved than some other restoration methods, but it typically yields longer-lasting results.
If you're looking for a quicker fix, you can try using a heat gun on a low setting to melt the top layer of plastic, making it look like new. However, this method will make the plastic more brittle, so it's not recommended for long-term use.
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Repairing cracks
As ATVs spend most of their time outdoors, their plastic bodies can become discoloured and scratched, and splits can appear in the body or windshield.
To repair cracks in ATV plastic, you can use a plastic welder, heat gun, soldering iron, or another source of heat to melt the plastic along the crack. You will need to apply pressure to both sides of the plastic until the melted plastic remedies and holds. For larger fractures, you may need to melt an exterior plastic to fill the fracture. You can also get plastic welding rods or reinforcement plastic mesh.
Before you start, make sure to clean the plastic with warm soapy water and towel dry. Tape off the surrounding area with masking tape. You can use a thin filler rod from under the seat to keep the weld area narrow. Make sure your tip is clean, using a wire brush and then emery paper.
If you can, take off the piece that needs to be repaired and do the repair from the back, so the crack is barely visible. A good tip is to drill a small hole at the end of the crack to prevent it from spreading. You can refill this with a melted rod.
You can also use zip ties to hold cracked plastic together, or superglue or epoxy, although these may not be permanent solutions.
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Frequently asked questions
First, make sure your ATV is clean. Wash it thoroughly with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water to remove grease and oils. Next, remove the skid plates and racks. If they are severely damaged, you may need to replace them.
You can start sanding the plastic with fine sandpaper, working your way up from the lowest number of sandpaper grit to the highest. You can use an oscillating tool to speed up the process. Remember to always wet sand and keep the plastic and sandpaper wet to prevent scratches and plastic build-up.
Start with a lower grit sandpaper, such as 180 or 220, to remove deep scratches and create an even colour. Then, move on to higher grits like 400, 600, and 1000, sanding until you can't feel resistance between the sandpaper and the plastic.
After sanding, you can prepare the plastic for waxing. Finish up by sanding with steel wool, and then apply a liquid wax or vinyl floor liquid wax using a car wax applicator. You can also use a plastic restorer or a heat gun to restore the plastic.
Yes, it's important to take your time and not cut corners during the process. Additionally, if you're planning to paint the plastics, make sure to use primer, paint, and clearcoat with flex agents to prevent cracking.
