Polycarbonate Door

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 4, 2020

The polycarbonate door on my Cat 279C2 is so opaque from sun exposure over the years, I can barely see through it. When working toward the sun, I can't see anything through most of the door. Has anyone used one of the restoration polishes or compounds that actually work to clear the "frosting" on theirs? Don't really want to spend $700 on a replacement if I can get this one to where I can at least see where I am going.

Welder Dave · Mar 4, 2020

You need to find the lexan that doesn't fog up with age. Be careful what chemicals you use on it though. Certain things like contact cleaner will destroy it. Trying to clean your existing door I think is fruitless. You'll end up with a zillion scratches on it that won't be much better than being fogged up.

John C. · Mar 4, 2020

The same thing happened on the windshield of my Goldwing. I got a product called PlastX that is made by Meguiars and used it. It's a cleaner / polish that worked pretty good. It takes some time and elbow grease and time but was a lot cheaper that a new screen.

Mark13 · Mar 4, 2020

You could see what these guys offer and cost. I've heard their name come up in the past from the forestry mulching and land clearing guys.
http://www.racingshields.com/

KSSS · Mar 4, 2020

I am surprised the cost is only $700 for new Lexan.

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 4, 2020

KSSS said:
I am surprised the cost is only $700 for new Lexan.

Yeah, only $700. The tempered glass option is about 1/2 the cost but raking, pushing, grapple hauling and piling the mesquite I am clearing in my pasture could take out the glass pretty quick.

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 4, 2020

Mark13 said:
You could see what these guys offer and cost. I've heard their name come up in the past from the forestry mulching and land clearing guys.
http://www.racingshields.com/

Thanks, I'll see what they have.

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 4, 2020

John C. said:
The same thing happened on the windshield of my Goldwing. I got a product called PlastX that is made by Meguiars and used it. It's a cleaner / polish that worked pretty good. It takes some time and elbow grease and time but was a lot cheaper that a new screen.

I've seen a couple of videos using this stuff. For $15 it's worth a try before I buy another door. Thanks.

Nige · Mar 4, 2020

Danny if you decide to use that Meguiars product be sure to post back and let everyone know how it worked (or not as the case may be).

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 4, 2020

Will do.......

Welder Dave · Mar 4, 2020

Might depend on how bad it is but worth trying to polish. The back window on my skid steer is plastic incase of an emergency and you have to kick it out. You could barely see out of it. A buddy said the hardware store had small sheets of lexan that doesn't age/yellow so I made a widow out of that. Worked great and was about $35 at the time. Have to very careful cutting it though so it doesn't get little cracks on the edges.

heymccall · Mar 4, 2020

What part number is the OEM?
258-4071?
258-4081?

Ronsii · Mar 4, 2020

I've used the novus stuff with excellent results on flat polycarb and acrylic.

https://www.novuspolish.com/

hosspuller · Mar 5, 2020

Auto head lamps are made of polycarbonate with a UV protection coating. I used "3M Advanced Headlight Restoration System"
that restored the clarity on a VW. The kit has sanding disks that grind the degraded polycarbonate away, then progressively finer grits / polish to restore clarity. I also used Meguiar's Keep Clear Headlight Coating to protect the newly cleared poly. This was done April 2018 with constant exposure, the lights are still clear. I would suggest a trial at the bottom or very top of the door.

Before:

After:

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 5, 2020

heymccall said:
What part number is the OEM?
258-4071?
258-4081?

258-4071 is the tempered glass door, 258-4071-14PC is the polycarbonate door.

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 5, 2020

I've watched several videos of different polish products and decided to order the Novus Kit. When it comes in and I get around to trying it out I will try to remember to post the results. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Joe Fick · Mar 12, 2020

i have bought a lexan door from a john deere dealership that sells diamond mowers attatchment they sell lexan doors way less than john deere doors and i putted it on myself it is pretty nice well worth the money n its half inch thick n doesnt seem to scratch up at all yet

Danny L. Thomas · Mar 18, 2020

Well, I got the Novus 3 part kit in. I tried it out on the door according to the directions. I applied the #3 twice and the #2 twice and the#1 once and I guess it might have made it a little clearer but not much of an "Oh wow!" moment. The sun damage and scratches would probably eventually clear up some with this stuff but, I think to save time and not having to buy another Novus kit, I am going to pick up some 1500 and 3000 grit sandpaper and give the door a wetsanding and see if I can't improve the odds.

Welder Dave · Mar 18, 2020

What about using an electric buffer/polisher like they use on cars? There are types of Lexan that don't yellow.

heymccall · Mar 18, 2020

I buffed the roof skylights ($900 ea) on my 5 Takeuchi excavators. I used Finesse-it finishing compound and a foam finger bonnet on my 9" buffer. Kept the speed down. Didn't do half bad, but, these are coated, and the coating is the worst part as far as opacity goes. Someday, I'll replace them, but, @$900 ea, it's gonna be a while.

Polycarbonate Door

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