Instrument Panel Cleaning

[KubotaL185DT]

How do you keep your Instrument Cluster panel clean without scratching it?

Did a few searches and did find anything about how to keep the plastic Instrument screen clean.

Even l checked the Operators Manual

My Tractor is M5140HD

Thanks

 

[Tornado]

I just wipe mine down with a wet rag, plain and simple. If you got some crud on it you could use some all purpose cleaner, then follow up with windex or something to make it all purty again.

 

[Jim L.]

Only one chemical - water. Lots of water. Dirt on the panel is what scratches it.

No rubbing. Use your hand across the panel once it has been thoroughly rinsed.

Once it is scratched, I would follow procedures for "aircraft windshield" care.

 

[Roadworthy]

You can try blowing any dust off with compressed air. Left on the plastic the dust will scratch it if wiped off. I think they use a fairly soft plastic.

 

[rademamj1]

I have a cab tractor, and so it gets dirty far less than an open station tractor. So only once a year I do this. Wash it down with a hose throughly, followed up with windex spray window cleaner. I wipe it down throughly with about 1/3 roll of paper towel, but it looks like brand new after this 2-step cleaning process.

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[dsc440]

Always wet it down B4 , it will soften any dirt - if you do get scratches, Mothers & Meguiars etc. have very good plastic cleaners & polishes that will clean it very good and make it look nice again - dampen a soft cloth or sponge , wringe it out good and put a few drops of polish on cloth , spread out even and keep rubbing, it will dry up but flip to clean area of cloth and begin to use less pressure, last is a new dry cloth to lightly buff - It can make plastic like new clarity , if it's really bad, go over a couple times B4 you go to the final details & buffing w/ clean dry , soft cloth ! Done many windows , dash boards , flashlight lens ! Etc. Good luck !

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[KubotaL185DT]

Only one chemical - water. Lots of water. Dirt on the panel is what scratches it.

No rubbing. Use your hand across the panel once it has been thoroughly rinsed.

Once it is scratched, I would follow procedures for "aircraft windshield" care.

I don't want to use lots of water as the Instrument panel (Clear plastic" cover is separated from dash see https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32523

 

[KubotaL185DT]

I ended up placing damp paper towels on the clear plastic Instrument panel cover, I just gently dabbed them on the panel then removed this helped to remove some of the thick dried dust (dirt) from the panel I repeated a few times then soak the paper towels in a soapy solution and rung it out so no water would run off repeated placing towel on screen to finish removing dirt. Finished up with a damp microsoft towel and dryed with a dry microsoft towel. Seems to have worked out ok.

 

[GeoHorn]

I just wipe mine down with a wet rag, plain and simple. If you got some crud on it you could use some all purpose cleaner, then follow up with windex or something to make it all purty again.

NO WINDEX!

Most Windex products contain Ammonia! Which will quickly CRAZE and TURN FOGGY and RUIN your plastic instrument panel lenses. (It may also be a reason many automobile headlight lenses are ruined/foggy, because many people and car-washes use Windex on them.)

If you use any “window cleaner”product... BE CERTAIN it states to be safe for plastics and acrylics. Aircraft window cleaning products like “Prist” and “Meguires” etc are safe for plastics. Lemon Pledge furniture polish is used by many airplane owners (but not me) who claim it does a good job, but their primary purpose is to remove bugs, not common dirt.

Use a damp cloth and use only VERTICAL strokes to clean any lens. Why? Because vertical strokes will not cause circular scratches which will eventually cause GLARE in some lighting.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mondo]

I use PLEXUS for all plastic. Its a spray cleaner, protectant and polish. I used it when I was working at a hockey rink on the plexiglass and lexan boards to remove fine scratches and puck marks. used it for face shield and protective goggles. . Fantastic product. Rather expensive but worth the price. Has many uses also. I use it around the house for things like counter tops and any laminate material. Water beads up on it like car wax.
Another great product is NOVUS. They have many levels of cleaners and polish. They are numbered 1,2,3 depending on the severity of the scratch from deep to fine

www.novuspolish.com

www.plexusplasticcleaner.com

 

[Captain13]

I use PLEXUS for all plastic. Its a spray cleaner, protectant and polish. I used it when I was working at a hockey rink on the plexiglass and lexan boards to remove fine scratches and puck marks. used it for face shield and protective goggles. . Fantastic product. Rather expensive but worth the price. Has many uses also. I use it around the house for things like counter tops and any laminate material. Water beads up on it like car wax.
Another great product is NOVUS. They have many levels of cleaners and polish. They are numbered 1,2,3 depending on the severity of the scratch from deep to fine

www.novuspolish.com

www.plexusplasticcleaner.com

+1 on the Plexus. Plexus is the best. It cleans and seals the surface. I use it on my polycarbonate motorcycle windshield, truck headlights, instrument panels. Also, you should use microfiber clothes to do the cleaning.

 

[Mondo]

ditto on the microfiber. Don't use paper towel it will scratch the heck out of it