Cleaning exhaust headers

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Trinity765
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Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Trinity765 »

I've never done it because it looks like hard work so stop me from using Harpic. What's the easiest way, if there is one?
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by weeksy »

remove from bike... you can then clean engine fully too.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

Drive it to Weeksy's house and put on your best female pout :)
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Cousin Jack »

Only from Weeksy..............!

Autosol (or something similar). impregnate some strong cloth tape with it, and wrap it around and saw it too and fro. Once upon a time I used to have a source of such tape, pre-impregnated with metal polish but I very much doubt it exists today.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Bustaspoke »

As the owner of a Street Triple this subject comes up often.The Bloor Triumph downpipes seem to be made from the crappiest steel this side of China :thumbdown:
There seem to be two options,1) Harpic,but it's some kind of mild acid & you don't want it getting splashed anywhere other than the downpipes or
2) Wire wool & Autosol,I prefer option 2.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

Buy a sports bike. Don't need to clean headers or engine :D
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by dern »

Spray paint them with black UHT paint, sell, buy a clean one.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

I bet Weeksy is hovering with the ban hammer :obscene-birdiedoublered: :obscene-birdiedoublered:
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by BBB »

I bought some autosol antiblau to clean mine up on the zx6r. Was going to go the harpic route but reading around there were concerns around how the acid reacted with the stainless.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by mangocrazy »

Make the acquantance of a metal polishing company and get it done professionally every couple of years. Saves all that tedious banging of knuckles and breaking of fingernails.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Cousin Jack wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:11 pm Only from Weeksy..............!

Autosol (or something similar). impregnate some strong cloth tape with it, and wrap it around and saw it too and fro. Once upon a time I used to have a source of such tape, pre-impregnated with metal polish but I very much doubt it exists today.
Did you use the yellow or the white?
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Skub »

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:04 pm I've never done it because it looks like hard work so stop me from using Harpic. What's the easiest way, if there is one?
If it's never been done,we need pics to be suitably horrified.

All that good cleaning time wasted just riding. Sheesh. Have a word. :roll:
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Trinity765 »

weeksy wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:06 pm remove from bike... you can then clean engine fully too.
I'll have a look to see if I can do this. Seeing as I've got no urge to ride for a couple of months and I have a well lit garage here at my Mum's I feel like I have all the time in the world to do a proper job. I need to check I have the tools required - I have an Abba stand.

There's a lot of burnt on bits - I'm assuming it's road tar. Can I use something like wire wool?
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Trinity765 »

Skub wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:03 pm
Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:04 pm I've never done it because it looks like hard work so stop me from using Harpic. What's the easiest way, if there is one?
If it's never been done,we need pics to be suitably horrified.

All that good cleaning time wasted just riding. Sheesh. Have a word. :roll:
I was thinking I'd do a before and after. It's done around 30k and I've never cleaned them :shock:
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:04 pm
weeksy wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:06 pm remove from bike... you can then clean engine fully too.
I'll have a look to see if I can do this. Seeing as I've got no urge to ride for a couple of months and I have a well lit garage here at my Mum's I feel like I have all the time in the world to do a proper job. I need to check I have the tools required - I have an Abba stand.

There's a lot of burnt on bits - I'm assuming it's road tar. Can I use something like wire wool?
I still use Brillo Pads :)
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Skub »

I'd post them up under an alias,just in case Weeksy throws a rod. :thumbup:
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Trinity765 »

Yorick wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:06 pm
Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:04 pm
weeksy wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 2:06 pm remove from bike... you can then clean engine fully too.
I'll have a look to see if I can do this. Seeing as I've got no urge to ride for a couple of months and I have a well lit garage here at my Mum's I feel like I have all the time in the world to do a proper job. I need to check I have the tools required - I have an Abba stand.

There's a lot of burnt on bits - I'm assuming it's road tar. Can I use something like wire wool?
I still use Brillo Pads :)
Really or is this a cleaning brakes with WD40 comment (excuse my ignorance)? Get the worst off with a Brillo Pad and polish with Anusol? :think: ;)
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:09 pm
Yorick wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:06 pm
Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:04 pm

I'll have a look to see if I can do this. Seeing as I've got no urge to ride for a couple of months and I have a well lit garage here at my Mum's I feel like I have all the time in the world to do a proper job. I need to check I have the tools required - I have an Abba stand.

There's a lot of burnt on bits - I'm assuming it's road tar. Can I use something like wire wool?
I still use Brillo Pads :)
Really or is this a cleaning brakes with WD40 comment (excuse my ignorance)? Get the worst off with a Brillo Pad and polish with Anusol? :think: ;)
Honestly. Yes.
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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Ditchfinder »

Trinity765 wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:09 pm Really or is this a cleaning brakes with WD40 comment (excuse my ignorance)? Get the worst off with a Brillo Pad and polish with Anusol?
I'd find something other than Anusol - you'll need piles of it

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Re: Cleaning exhaust headers

Post by Yorick »

inewham wrote: Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:38 pm 1 - get an old rubber diablo
A what?