Very stained exhaust

[Nimrod11]

Guys,

Wanted to check if anyone has had the same problem as I: my exhaust muffler is very very stained. It was like that when I got it and I thought it wouldn't worry me but it does.

It's a dark stain, almost as if it were burned. Looks a little like drops, like it was in the rain, perhaps when hot.

I wondered if it would be worth chroming, but I don't think it would work due to the material. Would polishing work? Or do you guys think I would just be better off changing the thing? It seems to be fine in terms of function. It just looks bad.

Thanks for your ideas!

Cheers,
John

[TigerTrax]

If your exhaust is stainless steel.....
Sounds pretty dirty... if so... first use a sponge or terry cloth with
PAINT THINNER or charcoal lighter to get alot of the crud off. Soak it pretty good and see if that is helping. You want something that has a little
oil film to it.

You can use TOILET BOWL cleaner that is about 16% Hydrogen Chloride...
for final clean up ( I use on stainless steel fry pans all the time ).

Take the exhaust off so you can work on it.

DO NOT USE a wire pad ... use a non scratch 3M type pad.

Start on the backside as a test.

[Stretch]

DO NOT USE a wire pad ... use a non scratch 3M type pad.

Start on the backside as a test.

Not to be confused with a 3M ScotchBrite pad, which will scour your pipe like sandpaper...

[Nimrod11]

Thanks for the inputs.

Not sure if it is dirty, looks quite stained to me, although I must confess that my bike is undergoing a scientific experiment and I am not allowed to wash it...  :P

I'll try your ideas. But I think chroming is out of the question, right?

[Sin_Tiger]

But I think chroming is out of the question, right?

Isn't it stainless? I thought Hinkley Triumphs were all stainless, try a magnet on it, if it doesn't stick it's 316 grade or close, if it sticks just a little it's 304 or close, in which case it should polish up OK.

Common thing with stains like that is putting a cheap cover on while it's still hot and the plastic melts onto the pipe leaving a stain.

[EvilBetty]

+1 on the toilet bowl cleaner.  

Wal-Mart had a cheap house brand (under $2) that was very high in HCL.  I put it on with a small sponge and it erased all of the browning, staining, and colorization marks from the can to the 3-1.  Looks brand new.  All except a couple of places on the front of the bike were some Kansas mud has decided to stick for all time.  It may have won the battle but it hasn't won the ware!   :twisted:

[EvilBetty]

Don't have great pictures of it, but you should be able to see the big difference in the collector pipes.

Before...





And After...

[Nimrod11]

Haven't done anything yet but got a picture to help show the problem.

[EvilBetty]

Rubber gloves for chemical use, a rag or sponge, and a cheep bottle of toilet bowl cleaner should clean that right up.  I don't remember having to scrub anything, just wipe on and rinse off.

If that doesn't work some people opt to use chrome polish and elbow grease.

[Nimrod11]

Guys,

Thanks for the tips and sorry if I'm being thick here, but just want to be sure. One problem is that I don live in the US so am not sure if I can get the same stuff as you.

Just stopped at the supermarket now and found a toilet cleaner that had 2.5% Sodium Hypochlorite in it. Is this the same as you mean? I know it is not the same thing as HCL (hydrochloric acid) but this last one seems strange to use in a bathroom. Bleach (ClNaO) is much more common. However, I always knew also that this stuff should be kept away from cars as it is a strong oxidizer. In the old days, when we used liquid chlorine for swimming pools, this stuff was terrible to carry in you car.

I don think you mean ClNaO, do you?

Thanks again!

[EvilBetty]

Mine has 20% Hydrogen Chloride.  You don't want to get it on anything but the exhaust, but if you do, just rinse it off right away.

[Nimrod11]

Is it too much trouble to take the muffler off? Then it could be easier to work on it. Just don't want to create too much work just to clean it up a little.

[EvilBetty]

No it's not too bad at all.  I can't remember the sizes, but one socket to loosen the lower clamp, then a socket and wrench to release the exhaust hanger from the bike.  

Just make sure you pay attention to what washers and grommets come off from which place.  

There is a nice vibration isolator built into that exhaust hanger. that has a grommet that runs through the bracket and met on the other side by a rubber ring.  On top of that a washer.

[TigerTrax]

Hey Nimrod....
TAke the exhaust off the bike.

Pull the bags

Unbolt the clamp on the exhaust pipe as it turns up to the muff

unbolt under the muff at the fender....

To remove.... swing the muff outward as you are lifting.

While it's out .... clean up the end....

To re-install .... insert twist & push.

You probably won't hear a scream!
Does this sound porno or what!??

[Nimrod11]

Well, first the good news? taking the exhaust off was very easy. Just two bolts and a wiggle.

Now the bad news: it seems impossible to buy anything here with HCL acid in it. No toilet cleaners have it and you just can`t buy it anywhere. You used to be able to buy it, but now it seems you can't. So I bought a couple of products that claimed to be heavy duty acid stone and ceramic cleaner - but only said it didn't have HCL it it (sounds like the SNL ad "This is not yoghurt").

Used the stuff and not much happened, just perhaps slightly clearer with a few shiny spots.

Problem is that I can't buy this stuff in the US and bring it back as airlines would kill me.

Loosing hope...