Cleaning exhaust headers

[weeksy]

Getting there. I whish I'd have taken a before pic.

Theraputic isn't it and actually enjoyable seeing results.

[Trinity765]

Getting there. I whish I'd have taken a before pic.

Theraputic isn't it and actually enjoyable seeing results.

Yes, but you see that silver bit at the top, that's where I scrubbed it with a brush - I thought a tiny bit of spray paint might get rid of it.

[weeksy]

What kind of brush?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Halfords engine paint would do it, it's brush on but doesn't seem to get brush marks.

[Trinity765]

What kind of brush?

I'm uploading pictures of brushes to Flikr now - I never saw this day coming I don't know where the hairs came from

[weeksy]

Not too bad, I'd usually have gone a bit softer, but I wouldn't have expected that to take paint off

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The curly black hairs come from the bag the nuts were in

[Trinity765]

Not too bad, I'd usually have gone a bit softer, but I wouldn't have expected that to take paint off

It's a Triumph.

[weeksy]

Not too bad, I'd usually have gone a bit softer, but I wouldn't have expected that to take paint off

It's a Triumph.

If I never wanted a triumph before this thread, you can be sure I don't want one now.

Although in its defence I don't think it's had the best chance

[Trinity765]

Not too bad, I'd usually have gone a bit softer, but I wouldn't have expected that to take paint off

It's a Triumph.

If I never wanted a triumph before this thread, you can be sure I don't want one now.

Although in its defence I don't think it's had the best chance

I have to agree. It wasn't really designed for what I've done to it (touring the UK in all weathers/seasons), I should have got a Himalayan. When it works and the roads are dry it's a cracking bike

[Taipan]

In fact, a Sharpie pen would probably have worked well enough - didn't think of that.

There was I just about to say if the rest of its alright, a sharpie is your best bet. BTW, Plasticote is very thick and you don't want to block what you've just cleaned!

[Trinity765]

In fact, a Sharpie pen would probably have worked well enough - didn't think of that.

There was I just about to say if the rest of its alright, a sharpie is your best bet. BTW, Plasticote is very thick and you don't want to block what you've just cleaned!

I also purchased masking tape

[weeksy]

Yeah instead of that i'd be just spraying the paint into the lid and using a kids paintbrush set, you can get them for about £2 in Tesco/wherever.

I usually have a touch up paint in satin, matt, gloss in the garage which makes things easier, just generic car paint things or indeed bike paint, but a simple little brush set would be just as effective.

[Taipan]

TBH I'd have let it soak in a suitable receptacle overnight, then took a jet wash to the back of it. It's rare that won't clean it out, or at least 95% of it, give or take. Bent fins can be rolled out with a toothpick. Stick it on a rad indoors until its good and warm/hot then apply a few dust coats of satin black. Job jobbed.

[weeksy]

Stick it on a rad indoors until its good and warm/hot then apply a few dust coats of satin black. Job jobbed.

The paint will go all over the walls !!!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

If a dirty radiator bothered me enough to spend that amount of time cleaning it I'd buy a brand new Chinese copy off eBay and fit that, the one I had for my CB400SF was better made than the one Honda fitted.

[Trinity765]

TBH I'd have let it soak in a suitable receptacle overnight, then took a jet wash to the back of it. It's rare that won't clean it out, or at least 95% of it, give or take. Bent fins can be rolled out with a toothpick. Stick it on a rad indoors until its good and warm/hot then apply a few dust coats of satin black. Job jobbed.

At about 85% I've put it on a shelf in the conservatory where it will be blasted by the sun if the sun comes out. Once it's dry, I may sit with it on my lap one evening and pick bits out and straighten some fins. There's a lot of small stone chips in it preventing the dusty dirt from washing out. That with some touch up paint and it will look a lot better than it did. Again, I'm sorry I didn't take a before picture but will try and find one on my phone that will give you lot an idea.

[Yorick]

Just buy a cheap radiator cover

[Yorick]

Let's make you all cry

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[Le_Fromage_Grande]

You're supposed to take dirt bikes off road