shalow 'deep' in clear coat after Tank Sticker removal!

[razteo]

Last night I removed the annoying factory sticker which was just north of the tank cap.
(Is a rectangular white sticker saying that you need to wear adequate protection when riding the vehicle, etc. It was a pain to remove that one, it took me a while).

But now, there is a shallow rectangular deep into the clear coat of the tank, following exact the shape of the removed sticker!
Is just a hair deep, but you having no problem seeing it.
Is not glue or anything, I have cleaned everything with Goo Gone is now clean & perfect, is recessed inside actually, as that was made in purpose to fit the sticker there.
Is not the metal of the tank bent from the factory in any way - looks like they applied the sticker before the last coat of clear coat, although if were done like that, would be impossible for me to remove the sticker without damaging the clear coat.
My sticker come out perfectly, there are no scratches, the gas tank looks like new, except this hair thin rectangular “deep”, very strange.

Anyone else had this problem?

 

[sxty8goats]

I haven't seen that problem but you can probably polish it up with a hand glaze or rubbing compound and a buffer.

 

[necrotimus]

Mines like that too but is only noticeable if it is pointed out to someone. I just don't wash my bike for a few weeks and then the tank is covered in enough dirt that it doesnt show.

 

[FZ1inNH]

This is due to sun fade of your paint. The sticker blocks the sun's rays thus doesn't fade.

I have to laugh when I see the ribbon shaped magnets on cars... try going up to any of them and moving the magnet to a different location.... yup! There's the outline of the magnet because all the paint faded around it!

The best and only good time to de-sticker the bike is right after buying it, before it has much chance of sitting in direct sunlight.

In time, it will catch up and be a lot less noticable.

 

[razteo]

This is due to sun fade of your paint. The sticker blocks the sun's rays thus doesn't fade.

In time, it will catch up and be a lot less noticable.

I don't think the sun exposed paint will "dilate" and the one under the sticker will keep a "low profile".
Is no difference in the color, is just showing of a gap in the clear coat, you can feel it with you finger too.

 

[Andz]

looks like they applied the sticker before the last coat of clear coat

That's definitely not done, I recently replaced my tank and it came with no stickers on it.

 

[Sawblade]

I had a dull spot from my tank sticker for a while, but it went away after a couple of weeks.

 

[victorb]

I had the same thing as what you described razteo when I took mine off. I used some rubbing alcohol and actually got rid of all the inside of the rectangle (was still some kind of glue / film that wouldn't get off with goo gone)

But still now, I can see an hair thin outline of the rectangle where the sticker used to be. It does feel like there is a recess in the clear coat when you touch it.. I gave up trying to take it off, doesn't bother me that much

 

[Nefilim]

I have an '07 the was garage kept when I bought it a few months ago and it's been under a carport/usually under a tarp. The stickers don't really bother me, but I may go ahead and remove them after reading this.

Would mine have color fading? If so, I'd probably just leave it on.

 

[CHEMIKER]

I had the same thing happen. I took my tank sticker off after a couple of months, and the bike was in the garage or under a cover for most of that time, so I doubt it's due to fading. Hard to tell whether it's glue or an impression in the clearcoat. My guess is that it's glue. Mine is still there over a year after removing the sticker.

It is a slight but distinct lip, and if I cross it with my fingernail I can feel it. It is small, but still bugs the crap out of me, and so far I have been lucky to resist giving into my obsessive compulsive nature to try to get rid of it. I have been down that road and it usually doesn't end well. I know from experience that trying solvents and scrubbing has a small chance of getting rid of the extra glue or whatever, and a high chance of leaving more damage.

 

[razteo]

so far I have been lucky to resist giving into my obsessive compulsive nature to try to get rid of it. I have been down that road and it usually doesn't end well. I know from experience that trying solvents and scrubbing has a small chance of getting rid of the extra glue or whatever, and a high chance of leaving more damage.

Is nothing to remove.
The lip you see in that rectangular, is deeper than the rest of the tank.
To get rid of it we should fill that gap with something - thats how it works.
Unfortunately, I see no fix for it. Bummer.

 

[geetarhero]

2000 grit wet sand and polish with extra cut rubbing compound. wax, done.
I used to fix scratches imperfections and odd things in clear coat for 9hours a day 5 days a week (prior to becoming a licensed autobody painter)

this will work, and its very hard to screw up

 

[CHEMIKER]

2000 grit wet sand and polish with extra cut rubbing compound. wax, done.
I used to fix scratches imperfections and odd things in clear coat for 9hours a day 5 days a week (prior to becoming a licensed autobody painter)

this will work, and its very hard to screw up

I'm still chicken. Do you ever come to California? I'll buy all the sandpaper and beer you need to help me out LOL.

 

[mstewar1]

I'm glad that geetarhero chimed in.

I seem to recall having just the slightest bit of a lip there when I took my sticker off, too. I just used rubbing compound on the spot and it sorted it out.

 

[geetarhero]

Soak a single piece of 2000 grit sand paper in water for 15 mins
take it out, and using a large flat spot (rather than folding it, and using the folded edge which will cut into the clear) sand over the line using liberal amounts of water. I usually grab a rag soak it in water and wring the water out with one hand while sanding with the other.
wipe water off and blow dry often. it will go very dull and you will slowly see the line dissapear. once the clear coat looks uniform (no shiney (indicating its lower) or white (indicating its higher) line) then your good to polish.

polish by hand your gunna have to work HARDDDDDDDD but its impossible to burn through.
An orbiting polisher (NOT a dual action or random orbit) will make your life simple but it could be expensive to but. polish until shiney and use wax to fill the swirl marks the polish put in.

OR, drop by a body shop and see if they can polish it for you. Our shop often has drop in customers with minor stuff like this and we can fix it in a matter of 3-5 minutes. usually no charge but a coffee or slurpee never hurts!