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Buell Motorcycle Forum » Old School Buell » Archives OSB 001 » Archive through April 01, 2007 » The dreaded "decal bubbling" « Previous Next »

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Ratbuell
Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 - 07:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Grrr....

I was in the garage doing a couple things and thought the top of my pristine S1W (Ice White Pearl with blue "BUELL" decals)was wet. Nope. 4000 miles and the decals are starting to bubble. I was so proud that mine weren't doing that yet...oh well.

So, what is the root cause of the bubbling? Bad paint? Bad decals? Bad clear? All of the above? Chemicals? Gas (the odd part is the right - or high, when on the sidestand - decal is the one bubbling)?

The bike only gets washed with a hand mitt, 50/50 simple green and water mix, immediate rinse and dry. Never washed hot. Waxed spring and fall, Harley Gloss used between washes. Nothing bad being done, or in a way I consider "wrong". Gas spills or splashes are wiped up before leaving the pump.

Grrr....

I know the decals are available new...but if they're the problem, should I have a custom set made up instead? Would a quick sand/decal/re-clear (HEAVY clear) by a body shop buddy of mine be enough to prevent it in the future? I want to keep a stock look...but I also want to RIDE the bike, and I hate the look of the bubbling decal "warts". Any ideas?
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Oldog
Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 12:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

many many minds have pondeded it

As I understand it no one has a fix except replace the decals or custom paint no decals,

few have escaped the blistering decals

X1 owners have a cover ( like the blast & XB )

Check the KV the clear coat has been tried
iirc
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Lake_bueller
Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 04:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Rat...I've had tank repainted twice (but only once due to bubbling letters). The hardest part was finding the "raised" replacement letters. Lets just say I had to go beyond Buell to get them!!! The body shop guy I used was familiar with the bubbling troubles on Buell tanks. He used some type of "vapor barrier" under the primer.

Good luck finding the paint. I understand it was since been discontinued by Sikkens. For your records:

Ice White Pearl
1. Spray 3 coats Sikkens 00 Base.
2. Mix 2 parts Sikkens 333PB with 1 part Sikkens 666 Binder. Spray 3 coats.
3. Spray 3 coats Sikkens Autoclear.
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Lake_bueller
Posted on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 04:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Oh yeah...



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