Best way to strip paint from the painted fender light?

[99VoyagerXII]

I just bought an extra rear fender, complete with brackets, seals, tag light assembly and matching paint for my 99 Voyager, and now that I have a painted lens to spare, I want to try the stripping and lighting of the fender light.
In the Tech-Tips, I read about using a citrus-based stripper, yet I also read a post about how it would cause a whitening of the lens, so I looked around the internet and found where Brake Dot 3 had been used to remove paint from another Kawasaki taillight lens, but needed to be rinsed well, but would rather rely on the advice of members of this site, who are particular about their Voyagers.
I would just like to know if this is still the best and most approved way or is there a better way..
Thank You for any advice or tips.

[davidl]

I have used the citrus strip on the fender lens and it does not discolor it. If I remember correctly, it takes a little longer and you have to rinse a little more but other than that it works well.

[Me Again]

Pretty much anything you use to strip the paint WILL discolor or even melt the plastic if left on to long.The trick is to take your time and if you need to do it 3 or 4 times thats better than ruining it.

[Skibou]

I used the citric stripper on the fender and trunk light on my 1999, and was happy with the result. There is an excellent description of the process I believe in the tech section - unfortunately I can't remember exactly where. I'm sure someone else with a better memory will chime in with the location.

[Skibou]

I found it! It's under the lighting section of the 1200 tech tips. Sorry I don't know how to provide a link, but it's easy to find.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

I used the citric stripper also and had positive results with no discoloration of the lens.
Like previously mentioned just takes a bit of time and lots of rinsing.

[VoyKimmer]

I've used citra strip and don't like it. That being said it is the only thing available short of very fine sand paper. Just go slow and rinse often and don't let it sit on there to long. It will still leave a white residue. After finished polish the heck out of it with a good plastic polish. The best stuff I've used was called Chameleon. Very good stuff that worked excellent but is no longer available.

[chevyman1]

The citrus stripper don't seem to work on some of the colors, I had a problem with 96-97 red.
When that happens I use a DA sander on the paint just to get the clear off then use the citrus stripper.

[triton28]

Hello;
I am having a hard time with the interior paint of a black "92/93 lens. The exterior paint was difficult but did come off with careful timing of the stripper, but the interior bubble textured surface was also painted black and is proving to be very difficult to get in between the bases of the bubble texture. Are the lenses for other years painted inside as well?
I suspect I will just have to carefully pick away at it with a dental hygienist's tool and stripper. What have others done, if needed, to polish the residual dull finish that I will end up with after stripping of the interior paint? That bubble textured plastic seems to be the worst surface to do.
Dave

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Dave,
What I did was used a few parts brushes (stiff corn brush) to scrub the textured area after the stripper was on it for a while. I repeated this process several times (apply stripper, wait, scrub, rinse, repeat).
It takes a bit of time and patience but you will get the paint off there. Keep at it!

[99VoyagerXII]

When is the right time to remove the stripper, as soon it bubbles? And then clean and reapply?
I'm probably worrying too much about it, but I want to be sure that I don't screw it up!

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

George to be honest I think I left it on mine between 20 and 45 minutes, the first time was shorter as I too was concerned. As I was tiring of the process I know I left it on longer, each time as a matter of fact it got longer and longer!
As thick as the lens is I think it would take quite a while for stripper to eat through the plastic, but you aren't alone in the worrying, I think most of us who aren't body guys are/were too.
Like I said in a previous post, I applied, waited, scrubbed and rinsed (even used dish liquid to wash away residual stripper) several times.

[99VoyagerXII]

Thanks to all for the replies, now there is nothing to do except for me to get to it! I'll hunt down the stripper and let you know how it goes!

[chevyman1]

I have gotten citrus stripper in a spray can at Walmart.
It was quite a few years ago I don't know if they still carry it.

[99VoyagerXII]

I'll try WallyWorld for Citrus Strip, Thanks!

[99VoyagerXII]

Finally got around to stripping the taillight with CitriStrip. None in my area, couldn't even get it shipped by Lowe's or Wally-World, so I bought it in Home Depot in Salisbury, Md for less!
Stripping began in less than 10 minutes and worked well. I did notice some whitening of the plastic even though I tried to keep it on at a minimum of time and rinsed a lot! When it was stripped, I tried some rubbing compound and removed the whitening or residue, I'm not sure which. I then used a polishing compound for auto paint that I picked up somewhere, no brand.... It took a bit of work, but it was mostly just time, not hard work at all.
Now, I am working up the courage for stripping the trunk lense, because I don't have a spare for that one!
I see that 1157 receptacles and bulbs will work, but I am interested in LED bulbs. Is there a set of rules for installing LEDs in a circuit with incandescent bulbs, and...... are there any recommended led setups that anyone has used?
I have done several searches, but I guess that I don't know how to search efficiently, because I'm coming up with Bupkiss........ so I ask for your advice and inputs. Thanks

[chevyman1]

on the LED's make sure you get bright enough ones 800 L or higher
also red bulbs behind red lenses amber bulbs behind amber etc.
when you put them in the turn signals you will need a electronic flasher

[99VoyagerXII]

Thank You Chevyman1, I was afraid that it would be much more involved!

[Avidrider62]

On the 1156, 1157 bulbs, get side emitter bulb I have like 18 SMD bulbs in the trunk lamp and wow !, nice. Front emitting (top of bulb), less light. Side emit makes front turns look nice too. 13 smd>>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-4-x-BAY15D- ... 1a&vxp=mtr" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[krasmu]

I've been thinking about stripping one of both of those lights myself during this winter off season, but I'm having trouble picturing what the bike will look like with them done. Can anybody who already has them both stripped post some pics of the bike from the rear so we can see what the final look is?