Discolored pipes

[zippooriginal_imp]

Has anyone used "Simichrome" on the headers, and to what effect?

 

[Gumby 1100_imp]

If it is anything like Autosol Metal Polish, then is it very effective provided you invest the time and effort required with typical paste polishes...they will return your pipes to an original silvery lustre, but only briefly...your CB's stainless steel headers will just start to "bronze" the next time you use your bike.

I prefer something quicker and easier like Optiglanz since it is a losing proposition to keep the CB's headers "silvery".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Optiglanz-S...xhaust-Pipe-Bluing-250ml-Bottle-/251939237636

It is more expensive, but you only need a little. I apply a small amount to a scouring pad and apply it directly to the pipes...that way there is no waste or overspray. 3 minutes work and you are done! The last time I used Autosol on my pipes it took a good 40 minutes or more to get the same results...and, as I wrote earlier...they will just start "bronzing" again with your next ride...

 

[zippooriginal_imp]

Thanks much for the advice. I expect the simichrome would work very much like Autosol with the same amount of time required. I'll give the Optiglanz a try.

 

[uscgmac_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[ChipBeck_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

 

[clearviewx]

well done ChipBeck

 

[LongRanger_imp]

Purty!

 

[VicsCB1100_imp]

Has anyone used "Simichrome" on the headers, and to what effect?

I have used Autosol, Optiglanz and Mothers mag wheel polish and all will make the pipes shine again with varying levels of effort and frequency. However since using Optiglanz the bronzing and ugly brown spots seemed to re appear more quickly?

The problem looks like a thin veneer of surface oxidation or rust forming on the stainless over a period of a week or two even forming whilst left in the garage unused after a ride. Stainless steel can still show oxidation depending on the mix of metals, minerals, finish etc in the final product.

I recall reading in another post another rider using WD40 with some success. So over the last month I have simply sprayed WD on the pipes after each ride when the pipes are cool. I wipe the excess off with the same cloth that is now wet with WD and leaves a thin film. Takes 30 seconds and an easy task.

The result so far is only light bronzing and no brown spots after a month, around 6 rides and 800 klms. Never been able to achieve this before.

I cant afford any fancy coatings and have a cupboard full of expensive metal polishes left. So I will keep using elbow grease for now and buy some more WD40. I hope that the new method keeps extending the period between polishing. Hopefully reducing the effort needed as well.

The pipes are a beatiful feature and many riders come up to admire the CB every time I park at the local gathering spot down the coast. Even old timers sometimes ask about my restoration or have never seen a CB1100 before as we have very few in Australia.

The only other CB I have seen on the road was Pterodactyl's when we caught up for a ride about 12 months ago. I have been unable to ride since then due to an injury and am just getting back in the saddle. At one stage it looked like riding was out for good.

I am enjoying riding and polishing the toy once again. The extra time and effort with the WD40 on the pipes is another excuse to go out to the garage, admire the CB and escape the household chores.

 

[uscgmac_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a14.jpg.html] My point exactly, you didn't solve the problem or clean or remove the bronzing of the original finish, you coated over the original finish with a ceramic coating. Same as having the original pipe chromed or dipped with some other coating just covering what's already there. It looks great but I'm sure comes with a pretty price tag. You could also just get a full aftermarket exhaust but I don't think that was the original question. So what can we do to restore the original finish of the head pipe, a lot of elbow work with little results. Just ride and enjoy or have them coated or replace.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

 

[ChipBeck_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a14.jpg.html] My point exactly, you didn't solve the problem or clean or remove the bronzing of the original finish, you coated over the original finish with a ceramic coating. Same as having the original pipe chromed or dipped with some other coating just covering what's already there. It looks great but I'm sure comes with a pretty price tag. You could also just get a full aftermarket exhaust but I don't think that was the original question. So what can we do to restore the original finish of the head pipe, a lot of elbow work with little results. Just ride and enjoy or have them coated or replace.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

Gentlemen,

Well, if your objective is to do away with the bronze pipes so that the stock header is bright silver to match the muffler then I did solve the problem for $165 (a ton cheaper than any aftermarket header) plus the time it takes to remove the header and ship it. The original header as the bike is delivered new is already bronze and it gets more so after several heat cycles. The original question wasn't "What can we do to restore the original finish of the head pipe", the original post asked, "Has anyone used "Semichrome" on the headers, and to what effect?" I don't think the original question was asked because zippooriginal was thrilled with the original finish but perhaps I'm all wet here. So if a member doesn't want bronze pipes and finds them unsightly as I do then here is a relatively cheap and permanent solution. Polishing the header is only a solution if you never start the bike again. So unless one can change the characteristic of stainless steel to turn bronze when it gets hot that leaves coating to solve the problem of bronzing. Cheers.

Chip

 

[BayAreaRick_imp]

^^^
My (personal) opinion - I like Chip's 'bright-silver' pipes and if it makes it FAR EASIER to keep them that way, it's money well spent. Over time the hours will add-up, when you could be riding!

 

[uscgmac_imp]

I agree. I think the only real solution is to have them coated and in my opinion it looks really good. And true, the original question was about semichrome. I was kind of saying that cleaning and polishing solutions is more of a headache and not really worth the time and effort. Like you said Chip, not much you can do to change the characteristics of stainless. Unless you remove them, ship out and have coated. Propably the best option for the money unless you can live with the natural discoloration. I think we are saying the same thing just in different ways. All good.

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

 

[rodsmith123_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a14.jpg.html]
Chip,

Where did you get your coating done. We have a location 4 hours away in North Carolina. Do they have other locations or did you ship yours to NC?

Rod

 

[ryanschillinger_imp]

I've just accepted the discoloration. I polished them not long after buying the bike, and they looked great. For about 2 rides.

 

[RedWinger_imp]

I would spend less time with the header pipe and more time riding. The bronzing of the pipe is just an excepted effect. You just get used to it and move on. Gives the bike character and not much you can really do about it.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

Not so but Semichrome is not the answer. Semichrome will shine your pipes back up but the first time you ride it they will be bronze again. Real chrome will "rainbow" near the engine where the pipes get hottest. The answer is Jet-Hot polished finish. My 2013 CB1100 header has had this finish for a year and countless rides and they are still a bright shiny silver that looks like chrome or polished stainless. This is the only lasting solution to bronze pipes. Cheers.

Chip

[url=http://s288.photobucket.com/user/chipbeck/media/Mod%20a14.jpg.html]
Mine are filthy looking from bronzing/browning and have been just accepting fate. But the Hot Jet treatment is always in the back of my mind, especially at under $200. Is there a point where the headers are beyond the scope of Hot Jet? Can you just Hot Jet-away the bad colors? Or does it require additional expense to, I dunno, sandblast it first?

 

[4 Paws_imp]

I've been using the WD-40 "polish" on my Ural for the past four or five years. Does leave a "different" patina on the stainless. I've been wiping the whole bike down with WD-40 after riding and cleaning based upon an old timers recommendations, Ural metallurgy isn't exactly up to Honda standards. Ural is a strange beast.
I used semichrome several decades ago on the cases of my first four cylinder Honda, a CB550, with decent results. Short lived though. Lots of elbow grease.
On headers, my opinion is that any results from using semi-chrome or other polishes would be very short lived and I definitely won't use WD-40 as a metal polish on this bike.
I believe Chip has an excellent and cost effective remedy for the heat induced dis-coloration, if it bothers you.