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Cleaning Chrome Headers - Printable Version

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Cleaning Chrome Headers - DAC - 04-23-2014

I've already got some bug guts on the chrome headers of the Deluxe. I spot cleaned a bit of it with Original Bike Spirits and it worked fine. Before I go at the rest of the pipes, I want to know from more experienced members if that's okay. This is the first bike I've had with chrome header pipes and I don't want to do something that will discolor them when they heat up.

Thanks!


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - avsbezzy_imp - 04-23-2014

Goof off will take everything off your headers. Just do it in a well ventilated area..or outside.


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - SUPERCRUZ_imp - 04-27-2014

My suggestion for chrome would be the following:

1. Car wash soap and water on cool pipes. Never attempt to clean them while hot.
2. S100 Bike Cleaner
3. WD 40 and a soft cloth
4. SemiChrome Metal Polish


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - GoldOxide_imp - 02-09-2019

The suggestions will work well for materials that haven't fundamentally changed due to the extreme baking from the exhaust heat.

After that, you may need other "ointments", and a bit of elbow grease. Try to avoid abrasives, however if need be, some have successfully used steel wool grade #0000, I think with a lubricant like WD-40.

I have routinely had success using Peek, available almost anywhere - at least in Canada.



It happens to also polish stainless steel headers, but would not be my #1 go to product to start that exercise. In this case, I would use Peek as the finisher product.


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - peterbaron - 02-09-2019

(02-09-2019, 02:26 AM)GoldOxide_imp Wrote: The suggestions will work well for materials that haven't fundamentally changed due to the extreme baking from the exhaust heat.

After that, you may need other "ointments", and a bit of elbow grease. Try to avoid abrasives, however if need be, some have successfully used steel wool grade #0000, I think with a lubricant like WD-40.

I have routinely had success using Peek, available almost anywhere - at least in Canada.



It happens to also polish stainless steel headers, but would not be my #1 go to product to start that exercise. In this case, I would use Peek as the finisher product.

GO, thanks, you are hired to clean mine = coffee&donuts included Tongue


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - GoldOxide_imp - 02-09-2019

(02-09-2019, 02:30 AM)peterbaron_imp Wrote:
(02-09-2019, 02:26 AM)GoldOxide_imp Wrote: The suggestions will work well for materials that haven't fundamentally changed due to the extreme baking from the exhaust heat.

After that, you may need other "ointments", and a bit of elbow grease. Try to avoid abrasives, however if need be, some have successfully used steel wool grade #0000, I think with a lubricant like WD-40.

I have routinely had success using Peek, available almost anywhere - at least in Canada.



It happens to also polish stainless steel headers, but would not be my #1 go to product to start that exercise. In this case, I would use Peek as the finisher product.

GO, thanks, you are hired to clean mine = coffee&donuts included Tongue

GO, thanks, you are hired to clean mine = coffee & donuts included Tongue
lol - I actually hate cleaning the boogers. I like looking at shiny "chrome", but have no patience otherwise. Anything to help reduce the labour for interested CB owners elsewhere. Mmmm, doe-noughts, hulllll-uuuu-ggttthhh.


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - alprider - 02-09-2019

often i control after every ride my headers....how many bodys ect i have catch....and minimum after the second ride i clean it....bcos so more backed so more problems after......in the past i used often only simple windowscleaner and after a chromepolisher....

today i use "vulcanet"...cleaning and polish in one step...without water....

the whole bike.....for the normal street-dirt


RE: Cleaning Chrome Headers - Nortoon_imp - 02-09-2019

Honda spray Cleaner and Polish will clean the worst of them off.

For the ones that are shellac, I use Autosol chrome polish and an old sock. Lay a line of Autosol down the header, and spread it around with the sock. Then wrap the sock around the header twice, and pull it back and forth. This is something I have used on headers since the 60s. It's as mean as it smells, so nitrile gloves are a good idea.

Walmart sell these gloves at a reasonable price. Pick up some baby powder while you are there. Dusting your hands with it makes it easy to get the gloves on and off.