Header Discoloration

[Gingersdaddy_imp]

My dealer contacted the Honda Rep and was told to use Scotch Brite to try and remove the discoloration. The headers are stainless steel. I went to Walgreens and found the product and the back of the package says it can be used on SS. I have not tried it yet but will post later on the results.

Use the Scotch Brite lightly!! Then I used the Mothers Mag polish. Worked great with only a little elbow grease. It took care of the spots and the pipes look great. I haven't riden in the rain and have put around 2000 miles on and the pipes still look pretty good. P.S. Do not let the bike sit and idle for long periods of time, remmber she's air cooled. I had posted a thread with pictures on it when I did mine, but I can't find it now.

[The Spaceman_imp]

I have a new technique now. It takes about an hour:

Start with the Muhfuh's Mag polish. I spooge some product on the pipe, wrap a strip of tee short twice around, then pull back and forth while sliding the rag up and down. That takes the top layer of crap off.

Next is a Dremel at half speed with a metal polishing biscuit. That takes the liver spots off and starts to shine the metal.

Last is Semichrome with a rag. That evens up the shine from the Dremel, and the Semichrome leaves a protective coating.

Its a job no doubt, nut the last time I did it it looked good for a couple months. We're in the rainy season now so that may not be the case this time.

[shdwghst457_imp]

Elipten have you tried the optiglanz yet?

[Elipten_imp]

Not yet, you can come over and try it.


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[1100rider_imp]

I tried the scotch brite pad yesterday and it did nothing. I then tried a little semichrome polish on a small area and it did shine the header but did not remove the spotting. I will just live with it I guess.

[Dengie Boy_imp]

After the Peek metal polish I usually use for chrome, aluminium and st/steel did not even touch this corrosion I went for it with 1000 grade wet and dry. I then polished it with the Peek (same as Solvol Autosol) and got a good result. Trouble is 500 miles later it now looks as it did.
I have had stainless exhaust headers on bikes before and they have never done this, so I am now pretty convinced that the PAIR valve is the culprit.

Cheers
Dengie

[Elipten_imp]

Live test of Optiglanz today. Kevin came over and used it on his bike today. He has not cleaned the bike since purchase.

One wipe with the Optiglanz and like magic the color changes and the red rag turned blue. A few more wipes and it is amazing. There are still some brown spots left and I thing some other polish would do the trick, but for a no elbow grease, no time great cleaning this stuff really does work.

I'm not easily impressed, but this was like the old late night Tarnix commercials from the 1980's.

Here is a picture of the one manifold on the right after the first wipe.

We will see how long it lasts

[shdwghst457_imp]

Yes it was pretty spectacularly effective. Discoloration just faded away! Also washed and waxed it for the first time to make it look showroom-nice again. We went inside to spec out a potentially better bike for my wife when I got a call that caused me to rush out urgently, and the newly washed bike had gotten rained on when we weren't looking!

[the Ferret]

Live test of Optiglanz today. Kevin came over and used it on his bike today. He has not cleaned the bike since purchase.

One wipe with the Optiglanz and like magic the color changes and the red rag turned blue. A few more wipes and it is amazing. There are still some brown spots left and I thing some other polish would do the trick, but for a no elbow grease, no time great cleaning this stuff really does work.

I'm not easily impressed, but this was like the old late night Tarnix commercials from the 1980's.

Here is a picture of the one manifold on the right after the first wipe.

We will see how long it lasts

That is pretty amazing! Be sure and let everyone know how it lasts.

[Elipten_imp]

I was told by my Honda dealer that they had a tech bulletin on the need to clean the header to remove the Cosmoline. So those getting new bike may want to check at pickup but probably to late as I suspect if dealer ran engine it burned the Cosmoline and I suspect that crests the spots everyone talks about.

Interesting thing is my 1990 BMW K75RT has a stainless exhaust system and has never been cleaned except for car washing soap. Other than age and the blue tint from heat it is shinny , not like chrome but not like the Honda brown. I suspect ferrous stainless rather than nickel stainless. Any one test with a magnet? I will do it later.


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