[HellBoy]

I noticed a few little chips on my front fender and thought it was from road rocks, then I noticed a few more in the same place. It was my guardian bell given to me by a friend hitting my front fender when I hit the deeper potholes. How best can I fix these little dings? They total about a dozen, in a 3" area. I have Vivid Black paint on my Sportster.

[Lucifer]

You can go to HD and get a little bottle of touch up paint that will say Vivid Black(Most Expensive) on it or you cant get a bottle of black fingernail polish(Cheapest) or go to auto supply and see if they have a bottle of black touch up paint(Middle). There are only two types of Black paint, Shiny and Flat.

[SPORSTERBOY]

First I'd Move The Bell To The Frame, There Is A Nice Hole Right In Front At The Bottom, I Usually Hang My Padlock There, Got A Keychain One Time That Kept Swinging Back And Forth That Scracted And Dinged The Rocker Box, So I Would Watch Out For That One Too. Depending On How Bad The Scratches Are You Might Be Able To Get Some Of That Stuff They Sell For Cars And Buff Them Out. Think It's Called Scratch Away.

[HellBoy]

I know of the Vivid black touch up paint, thanks Lucifer. I wish I'd noticed that little hole you mentioned earlier Sportsterboy. I just saw it last night and it makes much more sense. Unfortunately these aren't the usual scrape type scratches, it's like someone took a small flat head screwdriver and tapped or chiseled several dings the size of the tip of the screwdriver.

I'll eventually check with some car paint experts. They probably know how best to touch it up and blend it in. I wanted to check with the guys here first, so I can be at least somewhat informed.

I'm not superstitious, but since the bell was a gift I wanted to honor the thought of my friend by hanging it.

[Lucifer]

If the scratches look white then it didn't go thru the clearcoat . If so then all you gotta do is buff it out like Sportsterboy says. Go to a bodyshop and the guys there will tell you for sure what you gotta do.
My tanks are Vivid black(only HD part left) too and had a chip in them. A nice little Goth girl was kind enuf to loan me her black fingernail polish and now you gotta eyeball it real close to try to find the chip.

[SPORSTERBOY]

MY PAINT IS WAL-MART GLOSSY BLACK, GET A SCRATCH AND JUST GIVE IT ANOTHER 89 CENT SPRAY JOB

[chucktx]

hellboy, if you can post a pic...i will help ya with the repair.........but black fingernail polish, done lightly, will work. dont try to cover the marks in one application....build it. but, if ya post pic or two, we may be able to get it like new without the body shop expense!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HellBoy]

I'll try to post a picture in the next day or two.
"Nice little Goth girl" eh Lucifer

[Lucifer]

Heh, Ya it's really mine, I look really good wit black nails n red eyes.

[Lucifer]

BTW; Did ya get a set of baffles for your straight pipes yet?

[HellBoy]

I did. It's been interesting. I was worried I'd lose too much volume, but the parts guy at Harley had the mechanic cut the Vance & Hines baffles to keep most of the sound. It worked beautifully. The back pressure gave me smoother and stronger low gears, never stalling. The combination of drag pipes and baffles is plenty loud, but I can dial it back just enough when passing cops or neighbors by using the throttle gently. It really kicks ass now, performs well and keeps me just under the "let's stop that guy" radar.