Headlight Restoration By Kit

I drive a 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Doublecab with the 6 1/2' bed. Even though the frame rotted out and Toyota replaced it at the end of 2018, it has been the best pickup truck I've ever owned and has 164,390 miles on the odometer. In 2016 with over 90,000 miles on it, I towed a 25' Puma camper from Kommiecticut to Glacier National Park in Montana and back with zero issues. I did have to stop at the Toyota dealer in Bozeman for an oil change, and that was my swap to synthetic oil from conventional. What was nice was NOT having to drop the trailer, because their oil change area is a large drive through over a pit. The truck is starting to show its age however, and one of those ways is typical of all modern vehicles, cloudy plastic headlights. I have been contemplating a headlight restoration kit, and finally pulled the trigger.

There are many different brands available, but I chose the brand of vehicle care products that I have used for decades from back when I had my classic car and still use for my bike... Meguiar's

 

 

They offer three different levels of their product; "Light" in the red box which is mostly a deep cleaning kit. Think better than just using glass cleaner. The next level is "Moderate" in the blue box which is what I used because my headlights were just starting to get cloudy looking. A two-step process that starts with a polishing compound, and then a clear coat/sealer. You apply the first coat to fill in the lens imperfections, then apply a second coat 3-5 minutes later to seal it. It takes 24 hours to fully cure. The "Severe" product in the yellow box is a multi-step process requiring sanding and polishing using a drill. See the photo of the rear of the box below.

 

The contents of the blue "Moderate" box are pictured below.

 

The kit comes with the cleaning paste, the spray on clear coating, and two applicator pads. The process is supposed to last for a year per application. There is enough cleaning solution and spray on clear coat to do the process several times. The applicator pad isn't anything special. I threw away the one I used. 

I have read reviews of these kits over the years, and have come to the conclusion that reading and following the directions as well as preparation is everything to be successful. Like an idiot, I neglected to take "before" photos, but this photo from March 26th when I did an oil change kinda shows the condition of the right headlight. The left was no worse.

Here is the same headlight after the full treatment and prior to removing the masking.

And the other side.

I started the process by cleaning both headlights of surface crud using Windex and paper towels and letting them air dry thoroughly. After everything was dry I completely masked off critical all areas to prevent any over-spray. I wanted to wait an hour before removing the masking to ensure no "oopsies" by muffing up a finish that might not be dry. It takes 24 hours to fully cure even though it is dry to the touch in a few minutes. The instructions say that during the 24 hour cure period, the treated area cannot get wet. That's why I did it this morning inside at the firehouse. We are supposed to get rain starting tomorrow afternoon, which should be outside the 24 hour cure period. I am hoping that having my truck inside the heated bays all day will actually help speed up the curing process.

Overall, I am quite pleased with the results. IMHO the only way to have clearer headlights would be to replace them at about $400 a pop. Time will tell how long the treatment lasts compared to the claimed one year.

UPDATE 1-3-23: The rain predicted for today came in much earlier than expected. When I went out to start my truck this morning I found heavy drizzle coming down. I have a very short commute so I wasn't too concerned, and having the truck inside and warm yesterday most likely accelerated the curing of the seal coat. I would have been really worried with a long commute in a driving rain. After having my truck inside for a few hours and dry, I checked the headlights and they are just fine. Whew!

Wingin' It On New Years Day

The post title is a double entndre minus the normal sexual overtones. 😆

 

As I alluded to in this post from Friday, I was hoping to get out for a traditional biker's New Years Day ride. But due to the rain overnight, I wasn't sure what road conditions would be. So rather than really get spun up to go for a ride today and be disappointed, I figured if it happened, it happened. If not... oh well. The double entndre comes from not really having a plan, and riding my Goldwing.

"The Beast," awakened and running in the driveway today

Temps were not as warm as last Friday, not quite making 50, but the sun was out. The rain completely washed away the rock salt residue from the previous winter weather events. I was wearing a long sleeve undershirt, my CCDL Poker Run t-shirt over it, and my leather jacket and vest to really block the cold and wind. In my saddlebag was a long sleeve hoodie in case I needed another layer. I had the top vents closed on my helmet and the breath deflector snapped into place. I also wore my cold weather gauntlet style gloves. The grip and seat heaters are still not working (only because I have not torn into them further than my previous effort) but I had the fairing vents open that blows warm air from around the engine onto your legs and feet. I chose not to wear my cold weather riding bibs. More on that later. I did not have a destination in mind until I started to head out, and decided to see if I could meet up with an old friend in the Norwich area.

The ride down was uneventful and enjoyable. I reached my destination in Baltic and texted my friend to see if he was nearby. He could have only been closer if he was on the back of my bike! He came walking out of the building I was parked at. It was really good to see him and we got to chat for a bit. He is a fan of the blog and had told me so online months ago, but I did not want to contact him back to let him know who I really was for PERSEC on both of our parts. I told him face to face and he was surprised and understood the reluctance to leave any kind of electronic trail between us. I told him about the troubles I had a couple of years back with my previous effort and he totally understood. Now that he knows it's me he will be a regular visitor I am sure. A like-minded individual, he agrees with most (if not all) of what I write. We had to cut the visit short so he could finish what he was doing, so I asked him where is a good place to get something hot to drink and a snack. He sent me down the road to Norwich to La Stella Bakery.

Located at 137 Norwich Ave in the Taftville village of Norwich

 

 

La Stella is an authentic Italian bakery, that also serves traditional Italian food. I parked my bike in the only level spot right out front. The rest of the parking is on too steep of a hill for parking a bike safely. I went inside, placed my order and hit the restroom. I ordered a hot black coffee and a blueberry muffin and it was ready when I returned. Really good and hit the spot. I sat inside and warmed up for a good half hour. I texted my co-worker that lives nearby to see if his plans for the day fell through. If they had I would swing by his house. Nope.... his plans for the day went accordingly so he was not at home. I went outside and saddled up.

I was thinking of heading to my sportsman's club to see if anyone was hanging out, but after riding for 15 minutes I decided it was just too chilly, that I would just head for home. The weather was borderline for wearing my Polaris cold weather bibs, and if I had worn them I would have definitely rode longer. But the downside is the extra bulk. When the heaters were working, in my full cold weather gear, I was riding comfortably with temps in the 20's and could probably go lower.

The trip meter display showing today's effort

 

 

 

The GPS display is off so no one inadvertently gets my address. I use Trip "A" is for fuel, and Trip "B" is for my rides. You'll notice the solitary key with no key ring or other keys dangling from it. That is how the switch panel on a 15 year old bike looks like new instead of being beat to shit. I have a small locking Nite-Ize carabiner that secures the key to my key clump. When I run the bike, the key is by itself, and the rest of the keys are in the fairing pocket. I usually carry my keys on a clip on my belt, but on the bike I don't want them to fall off, or scratch up the body panels under the seat.

So, the bike has been placed on the stands to keep the tires off the cement floor, the tank re-topped off with stabilized fuel, the Battery Tender hooked up, and the cover put back on. If I get out again this winter... great! If I don't, then the bike is in suspended animation until spring meaning when I get ready to ride and turn the key (after checking the tire pressure of course) it will start right up and be ready to go.

The 90-7-3 Rule On Full Display

 The 90-7-3 Rule defined:

• 90% of LEO have one firearm, their duty weapon, which they begrudgingly qualify with once a year. They do not hunt, target shoot, plink, or compete off duty. In the event of a justified shooting, they will empty their magazine(s) towards the perp and maybe hit them. IMHO, there should be no more than one or two shots fired, and unless the bad guy is wearing body armor, should result in a fatality every time. Instead what we get is the ground littered with empty LEO brass, and a perp hit once or twice and recovering in the hospital.
  
• 7% of LEO do own and use firearms outside of their normal duties. They will hunt, target shoot, plink and maybe even compete at a lower level by shooting clays, silhouette, bullseye, or at a turkey shoot. They might even load their own ammo.
  
• 3% of LEO are truly firearms experts. They most likely grew up with firearms and served in the military. On the job they are instructors for other LEO and may be members of tactical teams. Not only do they participate in all types of recreation with firearms, they probably compete at a high level shooting like 3-Gun, Military, SWAT Challenges, IPSC and IPDA. They are NRA safety instructors, Range Safety Officers, and belong to the local sportsman's club, teaching the civilian population firearms safety. They may even be advanced hand loaders, gunsmiths, and hold an FFL. I actually know one of these. He's a retired LEO that works at the state's largest gun retailer at their indoor range as an R.S.O. and instructor. His son has followed in his footsteps at a different police department here in Kommiecticut. Both are big Second Amendment supporters and support civilian firearms ownership and use.
  

 

So here is what prompted this post... an EMS call last night involving a violent individual with a firearm. For our part, we were to stage until state police made the scene safe. We got called in to provide EMS services after the individual was taken into custody. But it turns out, the scene wasn't 100% safe. The handgun, a J-Frame 5-shot S & W revolver was in the hands of an inexperienced state trooper trying to unload it and all the time exhibiting poor muzzle discipline. He and his partners could not get the cylinder open, and they asked ME if I knew how to do it. I professed to them to be a gun guy quite familiar with wheel-guns. I immediately saw the problem... THE FUCKING HAMMER WAS BACK! The cylinder release is never going to work that way on any modern revolver and that trooper had no idea how little trigger pressure it would take to cause a negligent discharge. He handed me the gun, and I moved over to the lawn area, pointed the muzzle to the ground, and properly lowered the hammer. I pushed the cylinder latch and popped the cylinder out. I then handed the gun back to the trooper with all the rounds still in the cylinder. All of state troopers admitted that they were unfamiliar with revolvers, because they are used to dealing with semi-autos. We got the patient to the hospital without incident.

I would be more than happy to provide firearms training to these guys. They don't know revolvers? The cylinder mechanism is different between Ruger, S & W, and Dan Wesson.What would they do with a lever action? A Henry unloads differently than a Marlin or Winchester. How about a bolt or semi rifle with a flush fit box magazine? How about a mil-surp? An M1 Garand? How about a Mauser or a Mosin-Nagant where you pop open the magazine floor plate? The list is endless.

Winter Wind Therapy

Yup. Got out on The Beast this afternoon. Roads were 99% dry, it was partly cloudy, and temps close to 60.

"The Beast" taken in the driveway during warmer weather.

 

Even in the above freezing weather we've had the past few days, the iceberg at the bottom of the driveway was persisting. I really did not want to attempt crossing it especially while turning. When I got home from my morning errands, I stopped at the bottom of the driveway and attacked it with the shovel I keep in the truck bed. I easily removed more than half of it, which was plenty of room to get in and out safely on the bike.

I figured I'd take a ride out to the big shopping area in the Dayville section of Killingly on RT. 101, but first I had to stop at the firehouse to torment my normal shift partner who was working today. I received the expected response from him because he was stuck inside and I was riding. Anyways, I needed to go to Lowe's to get some batteries for my stockpile and figured I would grab lunch too. I also wanted to get an LED headlamp that clips on the visor of my ball caps. First lunch at Taco Bell, or so I thought. They have the dining room closed with only the drive-thru open. Yeah, that doesn't work on a bike, so FUCK YOU! I decided to try my luck at the McDonald's next to Lowe's. I have not eaten anything there except coffee or breakfast (a McGriddle and hash brown) in many years. I got a 10 piece chicken nugget meal. OMG! it was sooooo good I couldn't believe it and it came out piping hot! I saddled up without my helmet or gloves to shoot across the parking lot to Lowe's.

I have stated previously that I do not normally park in the "Reserved For Veteran's" parking spaces at Lowe's or anywhere else that has them, leaving them for a vet that may be elderly or otherwise disabled. Three out of four of those spaces were open, so because I was on the bike and wearing my leathers with my military stuff on it, as well as the PGR and military decals on the bike I parked in one. I wasn't going to be there very long to grab what I needed anyway. I went to the only open register with a cashier, got my 10% military discount and got out of there. FYI... until retail outlets give me a discount for scanning and cashing myself out, I refuse to use it... BFYTW!

The ride home was nice and uneventful. The outside temp on the bike said "61." I saw a handful of other bikes out and waved to them all. I got home and put it back into full storage mode; topping off the stabilized fuel, putting it on the center and front stands, plugging in the Battery Tender, and putting on the cover. I am hoping to get out on Sunday New Year's Day for the traditional ride, but it depends on how quick the rain we're supposed to get Saturday night clears out. At least if I don't get out the bike is ready for a winter slumber.

I Have Made My Decision

In this post from October 9th, I had received my C & R renewal forms and was contemplating not renewing. I asked for reader advice and got lots of comments, mostly in favor of ditching it. There is a mechanism for non-renewal that requires the FFL holder to send in the form and all their records. Since I have never used my C & R, I have no records. Therefore, I will simply let it lapse, making it no longer valid as of January 1st.

Fuck 'em! As I have stated before, there us no alphabet agency I hate more than the BATFE. So the less I have to do with those assholes the better.