I got them off!

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

Finally plucked up the courage to unwind them there header pipe nuts to take the pipes off for a clean... fook me that was stressful.

The studs didn't snap and seemed in decent nick once exposed and brushed down.

The pipes were shocking when I started, thick black crud from 5 years of riding without cleaning to a shine. Badly corroded it appeared at the link pipe too (or so it appeared!)

What a result, but cant lift my arms up now.

 

[bobsnew]

well done

They look fab, well done, i haven't plucked the courage yet so still self harming my fingers trying to clean beyond the bash plate.

 

[Dave78]

Is that your blood on the floor by them??

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

man its worth doing it, if only once every few years. It has took years off the appearance of the bike.

It was my heart bleeding at the thought of putting sandpaper and a brass brush cup in a power drill to them that stained the floor.
Youve seen nothing loke my face when i had finished with the 120 wet and dry, it looked sh1t. I shat my pants. Utterly destroyed the pipe surface.

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

cross brace and fork ends next
does anyone know what the colour is or an equivalent they have had success with?

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

They look great I've messed about with the ones on mine just with polishing mop on drill with them in situ, but didn't make much of an impression.... so what was the procedure you used to get that result??

 

[wackyone]

Yeh please tell, what happened after the 120 wet and dry ?
Its my next job

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

are you sitting down...?

 

[wackyone]

Yep

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

Step One:
Take the bl00dy things off. Hold your breath and pray the studs dont fail you. Dont do this if you think they may break. Simples.
Step Two:
I dismantled the headers and went looking for a piece of plasterboard to protect the pipes while i was flailing around with them on the floor (cleaning them).
Step Three:
DEEP BREATH. I used 120 grade wet and dry with WD40 and just got stuck in. Made a right mess, took about 20 minutes per section. Wiped them down after with a cotton cloth and more WD40.
Step Four:
AAAAARGH they look like they have been dragged down the road behind a car.
Step Five:
Recover from the shock of step four above.
Step SIx:
180 Grade wet and dry, lots of WD40 and lots of polishing, rubbing, you name it try it. Just get them rubbed.
Step Seven:
400 grade Wet and Dry wit LOTS of WD40. Give it some elbow. Dont panic, well ok PANIC - they will still look terrible, In fact you may need to go to the toilet.
Step Eight:
Get a brass cup brush onto your slow speed electric drill. Clean up all the craggy bits and welded joints. So the same with the brackets, the steel comes up nice and clean - they areent stainless but they still come up lovely. NO WD40 here.
Step Eight: yes they still look terrible - MORE PANIC
Step Nine:
Copius amounts of metal polish like autosol metal polish paste in a tube.
Step Ten:
Loads of BRASSO WADDING polish - all of it and lots everywhere. Keep cleaning and polishing. Use loads. Then hit it with loads of brasso.
Then polish dry and clean with cotton cloths and the pipes will be sparkly lovely bright and clean.

This is just the way I did it, dont try this at home folks, you will destroy your exhaust and want to sue. SO DONT DO WHAT I SAY.

 

[wackyone]

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Seems straight forward enough I was thinking of maybe boil for one hour in concentrated sulphuric acid bath... that should freshen them up, but I'll give your method a go first

 

[Canuck]

Best instructions I think I have ever read...

 

[davegs]

New career?

If you fancy a change of occupation you'd get lots of jobs from here!!

 

[phooey]

Best instructions I think I have ever read...

Funniest

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

why thank you

it wasnt funny doing it, I can promise you

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

They look fantastic Michael. You should now get yourself a fender extender!

 

[Uncle Crumpet]

Gasket removal pad (that green pot scourer shit) attached to die grinder,10 minutes work,finish up with that American purple polish stuff on a rag, job done.

 

[MikeP]

This is just the way I did it, dont try this at home folks, you will destroy your exhaust and want to sue. SO DONT DO WHAT I SAY.

I agree.

Start with the brass-wire brush, then use various grades of wet & dry but with soapy water not WD40 (as the latter will just clog the paper sooner. The idea of the "wet" in wet & dry is that the "wet" carries away the crap. It isn't to lubricate - think about it; you want the paper to abrade the surface not slide over it).

Finish with the metal polish of your choice (they're all much of a muchness).

One hour's work at most:

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

i didnt find a difference between soap or wd40
i refurbish vintage bicycle parts and neither beats either for me

like the sound of the scouring pad mind