Yellowing (discoloration) of plastic flywheel cover.

[Joebarbs]

I just bought a used model D And the flywheel plastic cover is very discolored yellow-ish. Does anyone know of any way to get this looking back to its original color I assume it’s Sun damage.

[Carl Watts]

Its a big problem over here, pretty sure its caused by UV damage from the Sun.

I believe the problem is exacerbated by the level of fire retardant in the plastic.

My washing machine has gone from white to yellow and they even had a recall over here years ago on the HPM light switch covers than went the same way. Certain plastics not designed for our UV levels eventually fall to bits or go brittle and break.

You could possibly use some automotive cut and polish paste, that is what we have to use on the once were clear plastic automotive headlights, it just cuts off the dead layer without scratching. The move from glass was not good for us.

Thankfully Concept 2 has released the BLACK version which is great news for us.

Personally if it bothered me I would just replace the two sides of the fan cover with the new black version.