Cleaning exhaust headers

[Count Steer]

Get some stainless studs and nuts while you are in there.

How would I get the studs out? The nuts are obvious - I can see those (not taken the headers off yet).

If you get more than 3 out complete, ie not snapped, I'll be very impressed. Best of luck!

Yup. Although some of the studs may come out before the nut budges. Lashings of penetrating oil and a not too powerful rattle gun methinks. (Although I'd be tempted to clean it all in situ!)

[Yorick]

Ignore the studs. They'll just go shitty again in 2 weeks.

[Yorick]

FFS. These maniacs will have you polishing the tyres and locking the chain clean with your tongue.

If it looks OK from 10 feet away, that's good enough.

[Trinity765]

I haven't had much time to work on my bike today but I have been busy clearing out the garage and now have plenty of room to move around in there and work in it day or night, rain or shine

The nuts from the two outside headers loosened very easily. The nuts from the central header are corroded. One so much that I can't even get the socket on it. Rather than be a complete twit and get into more trouble I may phone the local bike mechanics/buddies who are only round the corner and see what they say. I'm sure they'll be delighted but they do have proper tools

[Yorick]

I haven't had much time to work on my bike today but I have been busy clearing out the garage and now have plenty of room to move around in there and work in it day or night, rain or shine

The nuts from the two outside headers loosened very easily. The nuts from the central header are corroded. One so much that I can't even get the socket on it. Rather than be a complete twit and get into more trouble I may phone the local bike mechanics/buddies who are only round the corner and see what they say. I'm sure they'll be delighted but they do have proper tools

I lie awake at night wondering if my nuts are rusty

[Trinity765]

I haven't had much time to work on my bike today but I have been busy clearing out the garage and now have plenty of room to move around in there and work in it day or night, rain or shine

The nuts from the two outside headers loosened very easily. The nuts from the central header are corroded. One so much that I can't even get the socket on it. Rather than be a complete twit and get into more trouble I may phone the local bike mechanics/buddies who are only round the corner and see what they say. I'm sure they'll be delighted but they do have proper tools

I lie awake at night wondering if my nuts are rusty

Maybe your local pharmacist can help you with that - more penetrating oil?

[The Spin Doctor]

I lie awake at night wondering if my nuts are rusty

Maybe your local pharmacist can help you with that - more penetrating oil?

One quick wrench to the left and right should sort them.

[Yorick]

I haven't had much time to work on my bike today but I have been busy clearing out the garage and now have plenty of room to move around in there and work in it day or night, rain or shine

The nuts from the two outside headers loosened very easily. The nuts from the central header are corroded. One so much that I can't even get the socket on it. Rather than be a complete twit and get into more trouble I may phone the local bike mechanics/buddies who are only round the corner and see what they say. I'm sure they'll be delighted but they do have proper tools

I lie awake at night wondering if my nuts are rusty

Maybe your local pharmacist can help you with that - more penetrating oil?

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[Mr. Dazzle]

I lie awake at night wondering if my nuts are rusty

Maybe your local pharmacist can help you with that - more penetrating oil?

One quick wrench to the left and right should sort them.

Better hope so, otherwise its time for the blowtorch.

[Couchy]

Is that a street triple ? Assume one of the original 2009 ones ? Still that’s a lot of corrosion for a 13 year old bike. Hopefully they’ll all come off though

[weeksy]

Weeksy will have a heart attack when he sees that.

It's not making me smile that's for sure.!

However, it been used lots and lots, which does make me smile

[Druid]

I've got a 12 year old Speed Triple with exhausts that look like that. My engine is much cleaner though

[Trinity765]

Is that a street triple ? Assume one of the original 2009 ones ? Still that’s a lot of corrosion for a 13 year old bike. Hopefully they’ll all come off though

It's three years old, almost to the day and has been garaged overnight. Pre getting the CRV a year ago, I rode all weathers.




I've just been to see my local rufty tufty biker mechanics (who were sporting new Snapon overalls ) and they said "Get a decent six sided socket and heat the nut until it glows red". So I'll be trying that - off to Halfords later.

[Couchy]

Is that a street triple ? Assume one of the original 2009 ones ? Still that’s a lot of corrosion for a 13 year old bike. Hopefully they’ll all come off though

It's three years old, almost to the day and has been garaged overnight. Pre getting the CRV a year ago, I rode all weathers.
I've just been to see my local rufty tufty biker mechanics (who were sporting new Snapon overalls ) and they said "Get a decent six sided socket and heat the nut until it glows red". So I'll be trying that - off to Halfords later.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Let's hope the fire brigade get there in time, obviously I haven't read 3 pages of drivel about taking an exhaust off, but why can't you leave the exhaust on the bike to clean it?

[Yorick]

Let's hope the fire brigade get there in time, obviously I haven't read 3 pages of drivel about taking an exhaust off, but why can't you leave the exhaust on the bike to clean it?

Never ever cleaned any exhaust pipes. What's the point?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Let's hope the fire brigade get there in time, obviously I haven't read 3 pages of drivel about taking an exhaust off, but why can't you leave the exhaust on the bike to clean it?

Never ever cleaned any exhaust pipes. What's the point?

TBH that's my logic, I'll give them a good squirt with WD40 before I put the bike away if I've been out in the wet or washed the bike, but that's about it.

[Yorick]

Let's hope the fire brigade get there in time, obviously I haven't read 3 pages of drivel about taking an exhaust off, but why can't you leave the exhaust on the bike to clean it?

Never ever cleaned any exhaust pipes. What's the point?

TBH that's my logic, I'll give them a good squirt with WD40 before I put the bike away if I've been out in the wet or washed the bike, but that's about it.

I can't see mine. Don't care. Same as the car.

[Trinity765]

Let's hope the fire brigade get there in time, obviously I haven't read 3 pages of drivel about taking an exhaust off, but why can't you leave the exhaust on the bike to clean it?

I could - totally agree. At this point I could just throw some Harpic at it and be done.

I'm not going anywhere on the bike for a while. I've got the use of a decent garage with power and lighting and I'm bored. This may be the only time I ever remove headers and I will earn some spannering bonus points. I'll be able to stand around in biker meeting places saying "Oh yeah, been there, done that. Yeah, rusty nuts and proper sockets". I'm also giving the radiator a good clean which can't be done when it's on the bike - not with the GTG stuff though.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I think I'd be going for something with less potential for disaster than taking the exhaust headers off, if you snap a stud you'll probably have to take the engine out to get the old snapped off stud removed.

But if you're going to continue, and I think you will, good quality 6 sided socket, loads of penetrating oil (the WD40 brand penetrating oil is good) allow it to soak at least overnight, then warm the engine up and try undoing the stuck nuts with the engine still hot. If you feel the socket slipping, stop and take it round the corner