wonder wheels on exhaust

[ktmmark]

Was cleaning my wheels & noticed some wonder wheels cleaning fluid had splashed on to my exhaust. cleaned it off & the exhaust was like new where it had splashed (its an acid based cleaner) used it on the rest of the exhaust which was a straw colour & brown bits & its come up a treat
but do not use on chrome or plated surfaces

 

[wut]

Whatever you do now - do NOT use Autosol or anything similar on the exhausts. I treated mine with Wonderwheels (actually a Halfords ownbrand which contains the same acid) and they looked good but still had a few light brown marks near the cylinder head. I used Autosol on one side only (got tired of polishing!) and within a week that exhaust had turned a dark and ugly brown. Reapplied the Wonderwheels and they look great again and appear to stay shiny for quite some time.

Walter

 

[BTBR]

Was cleaning my wheels & noticed some wonder wheels cleaning fluid had splashed on to my exhaust. cleaned it off & the exhaust was like new where it had splashed (its an acid based cleaner) used it on the rest of the exhaust which was a straw colour & brown bits & its come up a treat
but do not use on chrome or plated surfaces

Very interesting post this......I can see a trip to Halfords is in order then!

My odd coloured down pipes do look very wierd I have to say, at least I can get them back to how they should be now?

Good tip, cheers

BTBR

 

[andy1200]

Spect the exhaust will go back to normal after a few miles.

But how do you manage to keep everything so clean? Looks like new.

 

[TheJoker]

Very interesting indeed!

How did you apply said product to the exhaust? (Sponge, cloth, spray, etc..?)

Apart from the name (Wonder Wheels), what should we be looking for (jar, spray, tin, tube)? And, what's the price difference between Halfords brand, and Wonder Wheels? And, and and... erhmm... umm What's the Halfords one called?

Many questions

Thanks!

 

[JayGee]

I use wonder wheels and then polish with autosol, this gets them nearly like new. I've seen other posts saying use Shiny Sinks (some sort of stainless steel sink cleaner). I think Wonder Wheels is weak acid (not sure what type). I only clean the headers every month or so and they soon go back to shiny golden and the start turning browner by the day. Just one short ride starts them going brown so I know I'm just wasting my time but they look a bit crappy all dull brown.
The picture of KTMMARKs bike looks better than new, how do you get iot so clean?

 

[wut]

Next time do not use any other cleaning product besides the wheel cleaner. You will find that the pipes stay shiny far longer and do not go dark brown nearly as quickly.

When I was at Halfords I compared the various wheel cleaners and they all appeared to contain the same acid - went for the cheapest option and it works. I apply the acid with a thick brush which soaks up the acid and does not "dribble" - don't want to get the stuff on any other parts.

After a few months the pipes/collector box under the engine started turning yellow (could have been the ACF50!?) - one application of the wheel cleaner and they look like new.

Walter

 

[Deadskin]

Whatever you do now - do NOT use Autosol or anything similar on the exhausts. I treated mine with Wonderwheels (actually a Halfords ownbrand which contains the same acid) and they looked good but still had a few light brown marks near the cylinder head. I used Autosol on one side only (got tired of polishing!) and within a week that exhaust had turned a dark and ugly brown. Reapplied the Wonderwheels and they look great again and appear to stay shiny for quite some time.

Walter

This happened on my 1150 nice and shiney then dull brown,
on the 1200 it still goes goldish but stays shiney.
Perhaps a different grade of SS

 

[Tim Cullis]

Great tip, thanks ktmmark.

The golden parts (collector box whatever) turned silver almost instantly. The headers are a great improvement--less brownish and showing bits of silver. I will try a few more applications over the next few days.

Tim

 

[GlynnJ]

I used to do the same on my old Bandit. Works a treat.

However, if the 1150 pipes are stainless steel, why are mine going rusty?

GJ

 

[ktmmark]

The wonder wheels has a brush in the kit to apply the fluid . the only bit i put any effort in to at all was the headers which i used a bit of worn scotchbrit .the hole job took 10 min max

 

[MikeP]

However, if the 1150 pipes are stainless steel, why are mine going rusty?

GJ

That'll be the 'steel' bit.

I'll bet the 'stainless' bit is still shiney!

 

[GlynnJ]

That'll be the 'steel' bit.

I'll bet the 'stainless' bit is still shiney!

Yes, shiny brown!

 

[GrinningGSer]

FWIW
I purchased 5L of Wonder Wheels fron Costco Reading, about 2yrs ago and still have lots left and I believe it was about £8, which is excellent value

 

[Tobers]

Bought some today and did the exhaust thing. Quite amazing - all nice & silver now. Top tip!

 

[BTBR]

Bought some today and did the exhaust thing. Quite amazing - all nice & silver now. Top tip!

Looks like the shares in Wonder Wheels will rocket now, I bought some day as well and did mine to

BTBR

 

[blackburnlee]

Cracking tip. Tried it this morning and it comes up a treat. Tried it on my 1100S and they've come up pretty well too.

 

[Skippy]

Burnt a hole through !!!

Only kidding. Did mine this morning too.

I have a very good excuse for not being out there riding. What about you lot?? Mmmmmm? well? No, I thought not!

There will be a whole lot of trouble if we find that it does ruin the exhaust though.

Skippy.

 

[blackburnlee]

Yep, good point that. Looks as though it'll be wise to use it occasionally only...