Tips for Cleaning My Dirty Headers?

[ATFIII]

Hey gents,
I do realise that there is a thread for cleaning XB headers, but I have yet to see anyone with an 1125 brush theirs up. I have an area on my headers where my rain suit melted onto them when I layed my bike down (absolutely no damage to the bike, only my header has melted plastic on it, and my pride has been attacked). If you have any ideas on how to remove this mess, or how to just take the headers off of an 1125 series bike, It would be greatly appreciated!

 

[fakameanrepresent]

scrub pad?

 

[ATFIII]

scrub pad?

Do I just scuff up the entire exhaust to make it uniform, or do I need WD40 like others said about the XBs?

 

[oh9bolt]

Use a low grit sand paper first then use a green scotch brite pad metal polish. Basically the same as the xb header cleaning.

 

[ATFIII]

Thanks! Any idea on a particular grit? Just would like to know what to buy before I have to run back home to ask.

 

[oh9bolt]

At advance,pepboys those type of stores they have assorted grit sand paper packs, get the 220,300,400 pack. Spray the pipe with wd40 as you are doing the scotch brite.

 

[50dro]

Scotch-brite & WD40! It's actually a lot easier than you might think. Here's a Link

The result is sort of gold-ish...Looks like this:

 

[ATFIII]

Good deal, thanks!

 

[dave_xb12r]

Yeah, I actually scuff mine up about once a month. It seems like this salty coastal air crusts up on them fast, so I keep them clean.

 

[ATFIII]

Okay, i'm doing it now. So i spray on the WD before I scuff? I figure the answer is yes so i dont scratch the pipes.

 

[freight dog]

You were asking about header removal. The front is pretty easy but the rear is a complete PITA requiring engine rotation, which requires disassembling half the bike and even then, it is REALLY tight to get some of the header bolts. Again a complete PITA. Not something I would do again unless I was doing it anyway to check the valves.

The pipes are all stainless so they look great polished.

 

[50dro]

Okay, i'm doing it now. So i spray on the WD before I scuff? I figure the answer is yes so i dont scratch the pipes.

Spay the WD40 directly on the Scotch Brite pad and go at it! I usually finish mine up with some metal polish (Wicked metal Polish is my preference). Don't be alarmed when you see a little smoke come off the pipes the first time you start it.

 

[Loki]

Spent two hours. TWO. Polishing my headers with 400grit, wd-40, dremal with scotch brite, and normal scotch and this is all i was able to get. What am i doing wrong?

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q4/
my_own_chat_name/0928111607.jpg

 

[WALLSXB]

Looks like it used to be wrapped ! WD-40 and scotchbrite pad works wonders.

 

[dave_xb12r]

Thats why i highly recomend not wrapping your header. But whats done is done.

400 is pretty abrasive. Step up to 600, then 800, then 1000, and so on. You'll get, try metal polish too.

 

[oh9bolt]

My pipes were wrapped before my accident I took the wrap off because it was ruined. My pipes looked almost that bad when I started but all of it sanded right out. I didn't spray the wrap with black silicone, did you?

 

[dave_xb12r]

Also, those lines that you're seeing are hot and cold spots caused my different thicknesses in insulation. They SHOULD slowly disappear as you ride and heat those naked pipes up.

 

[Loki]

The last picture is suppose to be the damaged wrap. And yes i did high temp the wrap when it was on the bike.

I mainly want to know how to get the spots out. I plan on wrapping them again this winter so they dont have to be super shiny.

 

[freight dog]

Why I am not a fan of wrapped pipes. I know its cheaper than ceramic but, damn! In a few years you will need new pipes, or you could just do something like this...

 

[RT Performance]

get some emery paper (cloth sand paper)
i use like a 80 grit first. (lowes and home depot sell it in the plumbing isle)
it is like an inch wide and 6 or so inches long wrap it around the tube and saw it back and fourth.
Then hit it with a scotch bright pad.
then polish with some mothers mag polish.
this is fast and gives great results.