Cleaning/polishing the exhaust

[JPHDT]

I would be skeptical using steel wool.

I am only using steel Wool grade 000 and a good layer of WD40 to remove anything melted on exhaust. WD40 prevents formation of scratches while very fine steel wool removes plastic, tar, burnt oil.... I started to do that on my young 21 years old HD mostly riding close to ocean. Try this tip and you will be surprised.

I try to avoid use of chemical, and abrasive paste which does the job. But as soon as you start with chemical you have to go on polishing very often.

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

General recommendation with stainless steel headers, pipes and mufflers. DON'T TOUCH THEM WITH YOU HAND (SKIN). If you do, rub them down with alcohol on a clean rag to remove the body oils BEFORE STARTING. Don't let the body oils get heated up on the pipes.

 

[maurice]

I am only using steel Wool grade 000 and a good layer of WD40 to remove anything melted on exhaust. WD40 prevents formation of scratches while very fine steel wool removes plastic, tar, burnt oil.... I started to do that on my young 21 years old HD mostly riding close to ocean. Try this tip and you will be surprised.

I try to avoid use of chemical, and abrasive paste which does the job. But as soon as you start with chemical you have to go on polishing very often.

Sounds good. I used to use 000 also but without wd40 on chrome. Had faint lines in sunlight, not the same. Wd probably would have prevented that reducing abrasiveness.

 

[mando]

I get a black spot (rubber?) on there frequently, maybe from my boot when getting off or so, I don't know but I use a cloth with aceton when the exhaust is still hot/warm, works fine!

 

[zenbiker]

I am only using steel Wool grade 000 and a good layer of WD40 to remove anything melted on exhaust. WD40 prevents formation of scratches while very fine steel wool removes plastic, tar, burnt oil.... I started to do that on my young 21 years old HD mostly riding close to ocean. Try this tip and you will be surprised.

I try to avoid use of chemical, and abrasive paste which does the job. But as soon as you start with chemical you have to go on polishing very often.

Using ANY abrasive will change the look of the satin finish on the headers. Very tricky to remove burnt on crap without changing the finish.. I keep getting burnt on black crap on the headers and am beginning to think the culprit may be burnt on overspray from the 'ceramic" sprays that I use and burn on when the headers heat up.

 

[Dr.D]

I think most of the stains I get on mt headers ar burnt bug guts. It will come off with a chrome polish of multiple applications with considerable effort but it will not damage the finish.

 

[maurice]

A few have suggested easy off oven cleaner. I assume this does not change metal appearance?

 

[DHarvey]

Using ANY abrasive will change the look of the satin finish on the headers. Very tricky to remove burnt on crap without changing the finish.. I keep getting burnt on black crap on the headers and am beginning to think the culprit may be burnt on overspray from the 'ceramic" sprays that I use and burn on when the headers heat up.

Or just adopt my motto which is best summed up as " I bought my bike to ride, not to shine". Wifey says I'm not 'bike worthy' because of it..but what the hell does she know!

 

[zenbiker]

A few have suggested easy off oven cleaner. I assume this does not change metal appearance?

Easy Off will not affect the metal at all!

 

[zenbiker]

Or just adopt my motto which is best summed up as " I bought my bike to ride, not to shine". Wifey says I'm not 'bike worthy' because of it..but what the hell does she know!

You are not!...Your wife is correct!