Need some advice on cleaning exhaust

MotoDuc · Feb 21, 2006

I pulled my headers off last night because they have gotten pretty dirty over the years and I'd like to get them back to their original stainless steel color. I have Termi high pipes on the bike and attempted to clean the S-pipe that go to the cans last summer. THey looked great after scrubbing them with a 3M scouring pad and some WD-40, but they got some slight surface rust some after from moisture in the air. They never did that before so i wonder if there's some coating on the pipes from the factory that I took off. I don't want to have this happen on the headers as well, but also don't want them looking so dark/dirty. Anybody have some experience in cleaning the headers?

j.davis · Feb 21, 2006

http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/index.php/topic,8550.0.html

jD

T. J. Fejka · Feb 21, 2006

If you just want to make it look like it did originally...Zephyer Pro 40 Perfection. My stainless head and "S" pipes have a somewhat coarse shot peened finish, you will never get a shiny, mirror-like finish without major polishing with abrasive wheels. Like I'd start with a 120 grit flap wheel if I were trying to get below the rough shot peened finish and proceed to finer grit abrasives on various wheels (beyond the scope of this post...polishing stainless steel is a lot of work due to it's hardness and wow! can you get burned too...it holds the heat like aluminum or steel never could!). But if a mirror finish is not your intended goal, the Zephyer will amaze you with what it does for stainless. It says it is for all metals but really didn't thrill me on aluminum however I use nothing but on stainless.

jambx · Feb 23, 2006

8 degrees last weekend and I was looked for something to do .... would you believe I said the same thing - after 14,000 miles my pipes look like @$$. So I proceeded to take them off and use dico wheels from Sears (course and fine) on a variable speed drill. For lubricant I used a auto compound (just to help it along). I wrapped the pipes with a towel and locked the pieces into the vise. I ran the wheels over it (Course first then fine), two hours later - all of the scale was off (although some pitting was still present) and the pipes are now shiny and I have to say much much better. Not new mind you but, presentable.

I only took pictures of my "slip on" pre- pipes (before and after) however the downpipes (headers) were just as bad.

Good Luck,

~jim

sjjkennedy · Feb 23, 2006

Guys, Check out the following link; http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp it may prevent you having to take anything abrasive to your pipes.

I use Autosol on my Scorpions - works a treat! [thumbsup]

hiero · Feb 23, 2006

sjjkennedy said:
Guys, Check out the following link; http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp it may prevent you having to take anything abrasive to your pipes.

I use Autosol on my Scorpions - works a treat! [thumbsup]

that's badass sjj! I can see it going wrong VERY quickly, but it should work really well if done correctly [thumbsup]

Capo · Feb 23, 2006

I sent mine out to a metal polishing company, came back looking like chrome.

Need some advice on cleaning exhaust

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