Removing the front number plate

Removing the front number plate

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Discussion

Bruce Fielding

Original Poster:

2,244 posts

289 months

Thursday 23rd December 2004
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You'd think it would be easy - just get out the hairdryer, heat it up and off it peels. But it doesn't...

... it crumbles flake by flake until you feel like taking a blowtorch and some sandpaper to it!

Having tried soaking the entire nose in a hot bath, white spirit, turps and paraffin, I finally came up with the solution - but it's still tricky and still takes time.

What you have to do is dribble boiling (not hot) water slowly over the plate (the numbers and letters come off easily, so they'll just float away). Then, whilst the reflective vinyl is hot, scrape away at it with a plastic picnic-style knife. It'll come away in gobbets a line at a time, and by the time these cool off on the knife, they'll go rock hard and crunchy. But keep at it and the boiled plastic will go soft enough to be gradually scraped away. You'll be left with some white bits on the nose, but these can be rubbed off with a vigourous going over with a white sprit-soaked cloth. Then polish as normal for a nose that looks a million times better!

ross.mcw

393 posts

264 months

Thursday 23rd December 2004
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....or just leave it on....

Bruce Fielding

Original Poster:

2,244 posts

289 months

Thursday 23rd December 2004
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Yes, but it looks so much better without - I'll post before and after pics shortly...

Check out the openwheeler's site to see generically - and they do a numberplate holder that straps on under the sidelight/indicator which (I imagine) is easily removeable. Incidentally, is that something you guys manufacture yourselves, or if not, where is it from?

monza

205 posts

248 months

Friday 24th December 2004
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From Ariel Motors company ... as on mine.