Header Pipe Angst

a tad annoying when trying to keep the bike looking as good as you can.....is it discolouration or physical pitting ?....both sides ?? really shouldn't have pitted....had problems with my 2004 bonnie pipes discolouring but not pitting.....

 

I would get that sorted before the pitting got to bad, some people wrap the pipes but I wonder if you could get then Nickel plated or chromed [your preference] at a quality platers it must be cheaper than replacement and to have it happen again if you had original polished steel

https://dougtaylor.co.uk/chrome-plating-london/

https://www.londonchroming.co.uk/

 

Doug Taylor is a great place for chroming but he is down here in bumpkin land, near Weston On The Mud. Not sure why they say "chrome-plating-london", i shall have to ask next time i see them at a show.

As to wrapping i wonder if all that will do is hide the problem and possibly make the corrosion worse as the wrap will retain moisture. I have seen a few wraps removed from cars after a few years and the down pipes were in a right state.

 

It's hard to tell from the picture. Get some solvol autosol and a piece of tea towel and give a small area a good rub. If it's discolouration you will soon find out.

 

If they are stainless steel it should be easy to get them back.

 

If they're chromed (they LOOK more like stainless to me ... but that's just my opinion and we all know what opinions equate to!) then I'd suggest using BELGOM ALU rather than Solvol. Solvol paste is a lot more abrasive than Belgom. Test on a small area first, though. If they ARE stainless and you want something a little more aggressive that shouldn't leave heavy abrasion marks try this ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronseal-32622-Colron-Steel-Wool/dp/B003YGOGGQ

... it's a polishing grade wire wool. If you've got a Homebase nearby they usually stock it and, last time I bought some (it's great for denibbing varnish), it was a lot less than the £12.99 on Amazon! Do make sure you're getting 'FIVE O' grade, though - anything less is probably too abrasive!

Good luck - hope you get it sorted - that's a ha'porth of tar at the moment!

 

solvol and really crumpled old newspaper...that should take care of discolouration... i wouldn't wrap them it would spoil the looks of a lovely bike

 

I have a similar problem on the Speed Twin pipes which definitely are stainless and the clue is in the name 'less'. The pitting seems to propagate along the welds where the tube has been joined along its length. I used an 800 grit wet and dry to flatten the seams and restore the brushed finish once in a while.

 

As has already been said, its discolouration and will polish out, but afterwards you will probably need to use some scotch brite to re-establish the brushed finish.

 

If you want to go down the exhaust wrap route then I can recommend the DEI brand Titanium wrap. After 3 years on an S40, it is as shiny and beautiful as the day I put it on, as opposed to the white crappy wrap that is currently on my Street Twin.

 

That's a great job well done and only 20 mins job's a good-un

 

Nice job and an easy one too