Cleaning exhaust headers.

[Deanohh_imp]

Why am I wrong on this:

the pair solenoid valve lets air into the exhaust during only a small part of engine running conditions. Since the engine usually operates without the pair valve open, anything that is going to happen or not happen to the exhaust valves, exhaust pipes, O2 sensor, catalytic converter, or muffler is going to happen anyway. Pair hose plugged or not.

I never said you were wrong. But the intake valves are also only open for "a small part of engine running conditions"--does the brevity of that part make it unimportant? That brief moment of air intake is crucial for combusting(/oxidizing) the unburnt fluorocarbons etc. before it leaves the muffler. If it remains unburnt while it's in there, it will result in carbon build-up. I've seen both air and liquid-cooled engines with carbon build-up on the valves that eventually killed the exhaust valve seals, which then leaked oil into the exhaust.
It's a relief when you find out that it's just the carbon-encrusted valve seal leaking oil (and not your cylinder rings leaking oil into the chamber), but it's still leaking oil.

I never said you were wrong. But the intake valves are also only open for "a small part of engine running conditions"--does the brevity of that part make it unimportant? That brief moment of air intake is crucial for combusting(/oxidizing) the unburnt fluorocarbons etc. before it leaves the muffler. If it remains unburnt while it's in there, it will result in carbon build-up. I've seen both air and liquid-cooled engines with carbon build-up on the valves that eventually killed the exhaust valve seals, which then leaked oil into the exhaust.
It's a relief when you find out that it's just the carbon-encrusted valve seal leaking oil (and not your cylinder rings leaking oil into the chamber), but it's still leaking oil.
I'll take your word for it on some of this but I didn't mean a brief moment of air but meant the longer periods of time that the solenoid valve in the fresh air supply line is closed during which no fresh air at all is available to the exhaust.

[Gingersdaddy_imp]

OK, The fresh air is introduced to extend the burn of the un-burnt fuel mixture that did not completely burn in the combustion process. You had a lot of this on the 80's era cars with the belt driven A.I.R. pump. It help burn the fuel off before it gets to the catalytic converter. It is totally an emission issue. Carbon build up is not seen as much with unleaded fuels of today, you still have some build up, but not as much. The valve stem oil seals are on the oil side of the combustion chamber and are not affected by carbon build up. They are affected by age, not changing your oil regularly, and seals just wear out over time. Unless, however, if your are referring to the valve seats.
Did some of you notice when you swapped out the muffler when you let off the throttle you had some cool back firing going on? When you changed out the muffler you altered the flow of the system. The pair valve was doing its job, and the un-burnt fuel was popping off in the muffler instead of being burned in the catalytic converter.
Sorry guys, I've been to school on this and use to teach it.

[calamarichris_imp]

True, they're on the oil side, but the carbon build up on the valve stem causes wear on the valve seals.
One of the worst offenders is the V-Tec VFR; those exhaust valves that sit dormant below 7000rpm? They get build-up and it kill the seals.

[GoldOxide_imp]

I find most crud klinks off with the careful use of a razor blade. Following that:

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=248&pid=229845#pid229845]STAIN-Magic by Yoshimura

[MagnaRider]

Was trying to clean my headers up last night with some different products with not much success. Is Mothers polish still the go to for this? Or am I just wasting my time as they will oxidize really quick?

[rdprdp01]

Was trying to clean my headers up last night with some different products with not much success. Is Mothers polish still the go to for this? Or am I just wasting my time as they will oxidize really quick?

My 2017 CB1100EX has a different exhaust, so I cannot speak with authority about how to clean and maintain a standard CB1100. I do know this product has helped me keep restore chrome that has seen better days.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/products/he...ish-bundle

David

[MagnaRider]

I might give that a try. I never really minded the tarnished look on the stainless-steel headers but I recently saw a cleaned exhaust and really really liked the look. Some day I would like to get an actual chrome exhaust but that's out of the budget right now as I am about to buy a second house.

[Lord Popgun]

I use a product recommended by a member. It is Autosol Bluing Remover. Made in Germany and I got mine off Amazon.

It contains hydrochloric acid so use gloves and eye protection.

I need to do mine again…

[suhawk305]

Was trying to clean my headers up last night with some different products with not much success. Is Mothers polish still the go to for this? Or am I just wasting my time as they will oxidize really quick?

On my ‘14 Standard, I used Mothers Wheel Polish to clean the header pipes. And yes, the pipes will turn a bronze color over a short period of time. Like you, I would prefer to have chrome header pipes, but I did the next best thing. I removed and shipped the header pipes (with the attached catalytic converter) to Jet-Hot for a silver ceramic coating. 
https://www.jet-hot.com
The coating is definitely not as shiny as chrome, but it does improve the looks of our blacked-out motorcycles. There is minor silver color difference when compared to the muffler. 
At five years, the ceramic coating is holding up well, with only some small road debris chips. I still use Mothers wheel polish to clean off road debris.

   

CORRECTION: The Mothers Polish is “Mag & Aluminum Polish”

[Gone in 60]

I'm one of those detail freaks who has to have everything perfect (as many of you know), so keeping my '13 headers polished is sort of a zen thing.

Once I got mine as good as they'll be, I hit them with some Blue Magic polish when they get a tinge of gold. Spending 15 minutes or so after a week's worth of riding while I'm giving the bike a detail wipe-down tends to keep them looking very nice and the black dots don't take over.