Author Topic: exhaust pipe discoloration (Read 5305 times)

fritobandito · « **on:** January 08, 2006, 10:59:28 PM »

Since I'm relatively new here, I wonder if you guys have ever discussed any possible treatments to the down-pipes to prevent them from turning gold. I'm in the process of cleaning my ugly, dirty, discolored old pipes up so they look new again. I really hate the idea of all my work going to waste after riding it a few times and they turn gold again. Thanks for any ideas

.

mike · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2006, 11:46:56 PM »

You can't avoid the gold turn... It's a unavoidable characteristic of stainlesss and heat.. It'll look good when you polish it, but 1s ride will turn them gold with heat.

You can keep them clean and shiny with polish, I've always favored "Magic Mix Metal Polish'. Dale sells it http://www.holeshot.com/old/chemicals/detail_prods.html
pics--- http://www.speedpartz.com/magicmix_atwork.htm

Others like mother's, brasso and various metal polish products... Main thing is don't let them go to the dogs, once you let them go, they'll turn to crap road grime color permanently...

The only thing you can do to get rid of the gold condition permanently, is buy aftermarket headers... like silver ceramic coated headers. $$$$$

PaulVS · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2006, 11:54:07 PM »

"Flitz" is supposedly the best stuff to shine them up AND keep them from discoloring again for awhile. It ain't cheap though.

www.flitz.com

JayRo · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2006, 11:54:29 PM »

I had a mechanic at the local shop tell me that if you take your pipes off and coat the inside with oil, then reinstall them and let it run for a while, it will minimize the discoloration. The theory being that the soot that is created when the oil is burnt off has some insulation value. I don't know if it actually works or not but that is what I was told.

Jason

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2006, 09:34:51 AM »

I like the gold color. It's way better than the black and blue on chromed pipes.

Don't let it bug you. I mean, they're not chromed pipes, so they look different. Doesn't really matter, does it?

Daytona · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:09:59 AM »

Hey... This sounds odd but it works for me! Like it's been said they won't ever look like chrome but after i got mine polished halfA$$ all i've ever done is used Armoral which is the only thing i use on the entire bike... Cut in half w/water, drown the entire bike with it, let it dry to sticky and buff... It will soften any thing that has gotten hardened on the chrome or plastic.. Bugs, the roadkill racoon U didn't see in time to avoid and is now overdone on the pipes! Makes the headers look great!! This 98 B12 with 36k is parked in the shade but in some dirty conditions at work it has never seen wax, only the mix! No plastic or hose deterioration, seat (OEM) still great.. Chrome parts are as you see and it needed a bath! DON'T GET IT OR ANY STUFF LIKE THIS ON THE BRAKE ROTORS!!! A pic or two if U want

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3285/picture0681og2iv23xy.jpg

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #6 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:19:32 AM »

Quote from: "daytona"

...Cut in half w/water, drown the entire bike with it, let it dry to sticky and buff..

You use ArmorAll on your paint?

Daytona · « **Reply #7 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:26:08 AM »

Yep on all of the bike! Don't do it in the sun! Why is it Taboo? Don't let my Bandit know! Always have and will from now on! Never had it mess up anything!

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #8 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:34:08 AM »

Quote from: "daytona"

Yep on all of the bike! Don't do it in the sun! Why is it Taboo? Don't let my Bandit know! Always have and will from now on! Never had it mess up anything!

I'm not criticising, just surprised. I mean, it's a vinyl protectant. Obviously I don't have a bottle of it here at work with me, but I thought there were warnings against using it on painted surfaces? Interesting.

Daytona · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2006, 11:47:09 AM »

Your rite it does say somthing like that! Hey your on the net!! no need to move off the seat!!! http://www.armorall.com/faq/pages/protectant.html#faqtop
Hey if you have a bit in a bottle,reg stuff! cut it about half and try it on your cold headers! if you aren't amazed how good they look after it sit's for a while and a bit of wiping/buffing, I'll buff em to like new the next time i'm over @ your place!!! LOL

Desolation Angel · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:07:03 PM »

Quote from: "daytona"

Your rite it does say somthing like that! Hey your on the net!! no need to move off the seat!!! http://www.armorall.com/faq/pages/protectant.html#faqtop
Hey if you have a bit in a bottle,reg stuff! cut it about half and try it on your cold headers! if you aren't amazed how good they look after it sit's for a while and a bit of wiping/buffing, I'll buff em to like new the next time i'm over @ your place!!! LOL

Now that is a tempting offer!

Daytona · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:09:09 PM »

You got me I'm just tryin to get more post's.. But you own the biz i take it? When i had a screen in front of me @ the job, i wouldn't dare say this (I'm not criticising, just surprised. I mean, it's a vinyl protectant. Obviously I don't have a bottle of it here at work with me,) But in all honesty try this cut mix on the eng,pipes,plastic,rubber.. That is about all of the bike! If you use a degunker spray to clean the eng etc and don't like the white stuff it leaves! Just spray this everywhere let it dry on its own..

mike · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:43:35 PM »

I used protectant (armor all type-think it was son of a gun) on an '85 Honda V65 one time in college. Man, first time I hit the gas hard, I almost slid right off the back. I have a gel seat on the B12, the seat is more of a saddle, so I doubt it would happen on it.. But, ayyyee, that v65 scared the piss out of me when that happened.

Here's a pic of my stock headers using Majic Mix Metal Polish:
Gold still, but clean and shiny :)

Daytona · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2006, 12:57:09 PM »

The elbow grease shows on those Mike! Nice pipes/Bike! The first time i polished my headers, they were almost copper colored... I used some stuff in a tube from Germany. It's name i can't remember,couldn't say it or spell it anyway!!! It use-ta-be sold in a Scotties hardware here in Fl.. Wasn't cheap about $12.00 a tube and that's years ago, an old nylon stocking wrapped around a couple of times with a dab of that and you would see results immediately.

http://doityourself.com/clean/stainlesssteel.htm
Club Soda: Remove streaks or heat stains from stainless steel by rubbing with club soda.

fritobandito · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2006, 03:42:26 PM »

Hey, thanks for all the posts. I don't really mind a little gold"ish" color, but would prefer absolute bright shiney silver steel color since I have a silver bike. But hey, like he said, it beats the black and blue that happens on chrome. But that can be cleaned up with blue buster too. Been there done that. My headers where at the point of being permanently ugly from road grime. The only way to clean them up was to sand them down starting with 80 grit and working up to 400 grit and then 0000 steel wool. I still want to polish with a metal polish of some kind. I like the mothers myself. But, they're are looking really good now. But, MAN are my arms sore!