How do i best clean up my exhaust headers etc?

[JohnnyBoxer]

MbW told me that they don't use stainless fasteners on their bikes, because it unecological man.

However, a massive chinese cadnium plating plant is quite all right

Me thinks they're really talking bollox to people who don't know their arse from their elbow. I don't think it would be too much of a price difference making them out of Ti by the time they've polished and plated stainless.

Agreed.....................just what I was told by the experts in chrome plating, they couldn't fathom it out either

 

[MikeP]

Guys, I have my GS in bits in the garage, I have the brass wheels and have tentaively started on the pipes, can I do them all over, it does initially appear to scratch? my pipes are in quite a bad state, with rust and grime etc.

Yes do them all over. The scratches will polish out. The more you use the brass brush the more it will soften and scratch less.

 

[Styve100]

thanks mike

 

[Vern]

Aren't you just polishing the chrome off these pipes?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Aren't you just polishing the chrome off these pipes?

That's what the metallurgy expert told me...................which was NOT the best way forward

Ceramics...............Mine are done and awaiting redelivery from Warrington - cost £104, incl Vat

Will post pics later in the week

 

[brian tyrer]

down pipes

Johnny Boxer
would be interested to see the result ,sounds a decent price , especially as it's 15 miles from home


Brian..

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Johnny Boxer
would be interested to see the result ,sounds a decent price , especially as it's 15 miles from home


Brian..

A full report will follow in next few days

 

[gabriel_gs]

Am looking forward to seeing them - thinking of doing the same thing!

 

[Andy Hird]

A full report will follow in next few days

Looking forward to seeing the report JB

Mine are getting picked up by courier tomorrow to get ceramic coated. You sold me on the idea after our conversation earlier this week, cheers Buddy

Andy

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Really ?
Discoloured headers ?
Get therapy or do some charity work.
You guys have got WAY too much time on your hands.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Initial report here

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260203

 

[MikeP]

Really ?
Discoloured headers ?
Get therapy or do some charity work.
You guys have got WAY too much time on your hands.

You are possibly correct but then I'd rather clean my headers once in a while as opposed to reading and replying to threads on topics that don't interest me. I find polishing the headers therapeutic. It certainly stops me wasting my time on topics I have no interest in.

 

[gabriel_gs]

'Too much time on our hands'?

Dunno what you mean - it's not like we're wasting time replying to threads we've no interest in or anything...

 

[Packer]

Why not just take them to be bead blasted?

I don't think that all 1150's headers were chromed. I'm certain that my '03 1150 aren't.

Just seems like low grade stainless, probably the stainless properties are compromised to get better resistance to cracking/fatigue etc.

 

[metropolis2k]

Why not just take them to be bead blasted?

I don't think that all 1150's headers were chromed. I'm certain that my '03 1150 aren't.

Just seems like low grade stainless, probably the stainless properties are compromised to get better resistance to cracking/fatigue etc.

I was told by a few people when I was looking for one that they aren't all chromed. Mine definitely aren't.

 

[oldnfat]

I have used optiglanz..spray on stuff from Hein Gericke....amazing stuff...takes any browned pipes back to shiny after a couple of minutes application....rare that you find a product that does what it say on the tin...it's in their catalogue on the web if any one is interested.

 

[Styve100]

Started cleaning mine up today, off the bike, discovered, the wire wheel I was using was brass coloured hard steel!
Brass wheel brushes are hard to find it seems.
It does appear to have scratched sure enough but my pipes are in a bad way, if they were chromed, they aren't now...

 

[MikeP]

Started cleaning mine up today, off the bike, discovered, the wire wheel I was using was brass coloured hard steel!
Brass wheel brushes are hard to find it seems.
It does appear to have scratched sure enough but my pipes are in a bad way, if they were chromed, they aren't now...

Years ago I did some R80/7 headers with a steel brush. The scratches will come out, use varying grades of wet & dry before steel wool and Brasso/Solvol,

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I humbly withdraw my earlier comment about wasting your time cleaning headers.
Must admit I did imagine you were referring to some slight blue-ing or minor discoloration not the mangy bit of scrap iron we see above.

Wow - That is some transformation.

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

I humbly withdraw my earlier comment about wasting your time cleaning headers.
Must admit I did imagine you were referring to some slight blue-ing or minor discoloration not the mangy bit of scrap iron we see above.

Wow - That is some transformation.

Penny.
Dropped.