Best way to clean exhaust headers?

[mr_magicfingers]

I have a remus Y-piece and standard bmw silencer and they look fine, but the headers are pretty grubby and, in my ongoing process to clean up the bike I'm wondering how best to clean the exhaust headers which, on my bike are, presumably, original and looking pretty manky. Wondering what the best way to clean them is. Wire brush, some magic cleaner, rag and solvol and lots of elbow grease. Take them off and find someone with a buffing wheel?

Are the headers stainless?

Cheers,

Justin.

 

[Butchersdog]

I use 600 grade wet and dry does the trick. mine are stainless yours prob too.

 

[Marks adventure]

I used Autosol and some fine wire wool, brought them up great and looked fantastic until you use it and then they go all dull again

 

[tazo2675]

.

Wet n dry worked for me +1

 

[JoeC]

Justin
If you are not sure what to clean your pipes with, if you want, I will bring mine round and you can practice on them

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Justin
If you are not sure what to clean your pipes with, if you want, I will bring mine round and you can practice on them

Thanks Joe, I'll bear your kind offer in mind

Looks like wet and dry is the way to go. Will wait for a spare day and get scrubbing.

Cheers.

J.

 

[Wrigsby1]

If I remeber correctly they are average stainless covered in chrome. The corrosion is the chrome corroding and then allowing the "average" stainless to corrode also. That is why they look rusty (chrome) and then are hard to clean up afterwards.

I usually use a wirebrush drill bit, but now employ black VHT paint to "enhance" the bike. As with many of the later stainless based BM exhausts they are hard to break and hard to keep clean. Better than a rusty 'onda though (VFR, Pan's etc, etc)

 

[Timolgra]

Wire wool and loads of Solvol Autosol, then Solvol with a rag.

 

[twizzle]

+1 went from dirty brown and lumpy to smooth and shiny......although i kicked off with wonder wheels to breakdown baked on road dirt..... then WireWool Autosol... for the final polish i wrapped a rag once around the header and pulled it back and forth quickly..... voila!

Wire wool and loads of Solvol Autosol, then Solvol with a rag.

 

[ukaluk]

cheap and cheerfull

autosol and any brown cardboard is great. the cardboard must be a little abrasive got the tip off my neighbour who hast a very shiny triumpth america and his always looked mint so i asked him and thats what he told me and have not looked back sinse

cheap and cheer full he also uses brasso if hes run out of autosol and thats nearly as good
\
Al

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Autosol and Elbow Greese