Corrosion on pipes

[Obliviontoad]

It has become obvious to me that the "cleaning off" of whatever rust or corrosion inhibitor on the pipes of my bike was not done properly. It was likely attempted, as I can see rag marks, and some of the pipes are less discolored than others. However, the rest look like I have 5 years of surface corrosion and spotting. Personally, don't care. I may attempt to clean it, buti t may help perpetuate the "Restored vintage bike" myth.

[redReno_imp]

I used Simichrome blue away, #0000 Steel wool and a polishing rag and it worked GREAT to get the spotting and blue off! Maybe even TOO great haha. If you like the bronze color on the pipes then I don't recommend trying to get the spotting and bluing off (I think it doesn't look bad and almost liked them, I know some on UK forum like having the bluing because it shows they ride the bike hard) . I had quite a bit of spotting on mine and don't mind losing the bronze color. I'm taking a break and haven't decided if I want to do the bottom portion of the pipes or leave that part bronze.

Here are some before and after pics.

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo1_zps45654e48.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo2_zpsb058c19b.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo3_zps5382f5af.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo4_zps1c0801c9.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo5_zps30754d6d.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo6_zpsd37c5638.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo7_zps91f86806.jpg.html]

You can really tell the loss of bronze in these next two. The pipe on the far left wasn't that bad and I saved for last.

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo8_zps5232234c.jpg.html]

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/photo9_zps895a042b.jpg.html]

[Michael252_imp]

Riding since 1974, and after about 10 different bikes over the years, I have never done anything to get rid of the staining on the pipes. So my question is...once cleaned and polished, how long will they stay shiny? Is it something you need to repeat every week? Month? Never?

[redReno_imp]

As I was doing it I wondered too, am I going to do this again??? I don't know, it wasn't that hard and didn't take long. I'll post how they get after a few 100 or so miles.
I know the blueing and spotting doesn't happen to everyone though.

[thumper_imp]

Thanks for the pics redReno. Simichrome is on the shopping list!!

[ron1100_imp]

Thanks for the info redReno. I too will be curious on how long it takes to turn colors.

[redReno_imp]

Thanks for the pics redReno. Simichrome is on the shopping list!!

I wanna say the steel wool is what really did the trick, I tried it by itself and it kinda worked, maybe any polish and the #0000 will work just as good.

I used the this Simichrome Blue Away which I got for $18 on amazon.

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/41F9ZbTcKL_SY445__zps04d3c664.jpg.html]
I found this pic when I was looking up crashbars.

[url=http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/red_VIII/media/1317017597618L_zps266bf1d0.jpg.html]

[redReno_imp]

Check this out!!!!
The gold is back and is uniform with the bottom part of the pipes that I didn't touch while trying to remove the spotting.

This is them at about 4 minutes after firing her up.


[url=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/gold1u.jpg/]



And this is them after riding about 12 miles.



[url=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/gold2qh.jpg/]


I'm glad to see them gold, I'd have to say the pipes are my favorite part about the appearance of the CB1100.
...I was a little bummed and thought I had polished them silver for good haha

[thumper_imp]

redReno--

I'm still awaiting my bike's return from Bazzaz, and it looks like I won't get it until next Friday at the earliest (they're waiting on one more of two connectors to arrive). One of my biggest hopes in getting the bike back with a fuel controller installed is for the mixture to become richer at the bottom and midrange, thereby decreasing the burn temperatures (read: stop the bronzing/blueing of the pipes).

I remember my old '82 GS750's headers were always chromed, and never did bronze/blue. I'll keep everyone apprised when I finally get the bike back.

[oldyaler_imp]

redReno--

I'm still awaiting my bike's return from Bazzaz, and it looks like I won't get it until next Friday at the earliest (they're waiting on one more of two connectors to arrive). One of my biggest hopes in getting the bike back with a fuel controller installed is for the mixture to become richer at the bottom and midrange, thereby decreasing the burn temperatures (read: stop the bronzing/blueing of the pipes).

I remember my old '82 GS750's headers were always chromed, and never did bronze/blue. I'll keep everyone apprised when I finally get the bike back.

I don't know if they did it in the 80s but in the 70s they used double walled header pipes so the heat wouldn't affect the chrome.