Cleaning Downpipes?

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Hi,

I have loads of dark brown crapola on my downpipes, which needs cleaning... Anyone got any suggestions? It's a stock CG125 so I believe it's chrome plated mild steel.

Thanks,

T

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Why does it need cleaning?

JeffT · Crazy Courier Joined: 05 May 2004 Karma :

I find autosol on warm downpipes is the best way.
Brings my dull brown downpipes back to their original shiney niceness!

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

I asked this a while ago (still haven't got around to it) and a few people replied.

One was to get fine wet 'n' dry and go for gold on it, another was autosol, I think.

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Why?

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Why?

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

To pay for a GS500E and my DAS Wink

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

Good boy

.

Nath · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

That's what I thought, it's only a thing plating isn't it?

I've used autosol on it before and it's been fine (On the end can) but there's a LARGE buildup of shit on the pipes.

Sephiroth · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Karma :

I was told Rolling Eyes

.

Giev it a go, I couldn't find any Autosol down Halfords Sad

.

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Nath · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Karma :

Even the most fine wet and dry will tarnish and scratch your chrome. If the the exhaust pipe is really mucky then clean it as you would any other part of the bike, if the dirt doesn't want to shift then a green scourer pad thing should do it (don't go overboard though as it will scratch the chrome).

When it is clean, it is up to you whether or not you want to polish it (with autosol).
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Rookie · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Karma :

craigs23 recommended the wet 'n' dry method, and we all know he has the best looking downpipes on here. I'm going to try it, but I've found Autosol and a drill with a buffing pad has worked OK, though it takes ages.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Toby, Toby, Toby, we all know what's going to happen. Firstly, a trip to Halfords to buy Autosol will end in the purchase of a comprehensive set of polishing mops and a drill with which to power them. You'll remove the downpipes in order to do a better job and there'll be some kind of gasket/exhaust stud/wobbly fitting clamp thing disaster which will see a dozen tear-stained posts before another hundred quid is haemorraged from your bank account in order to repair it.

Lets sleeping dogs lie and mucky downpipes remain that way.

Simple · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Karma :

I angle grind mine back to bare metal removing all rust, then prime and spray twice before putting back on the bike.

However mine were never chromed,

A try some autosol on them applied using an old shirt or similar (reducing cost) avoid buttons and zips Razz

B if the tarnishing has eaten into the chrome, then you're not going to win, you can either remove the chrome with a £15 angle grinder from a car boot ( I would) and spray the exhaust with exhaust paint £6 a can, and the primer £4 a can.

C or you could contact a breaker, I think for that amount (£25) you could get an exhaust form a CG?

D or... save your money and do your test, sell the bike and get a bike with stainless pipes Laughing

Simple
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veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

Chrome plating is a different kettle of fish in comparison to bare metal.

What kind of degredation are you referring to? Has the chrome come away, or just become disfigured with surface rust? Localised polishing might work, but I'm not sure whether Autosol would be man enough to shift serious rusting.

ZRX61 · Victor Meldrew Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :

Good fucking grief, this is certainly the place for advice on how to fuck up the finish. Rolling Eyes

Take the pipe off, spray it with oven cleaner, rinse & repeat.

veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

zaknafien · Joined: 25 Mar 2002 Karma :

nick.h · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Sep 2004 Karma :

I will be attempting my downpipes tommorrow, when the pipes come off, to service the bike.

I have prepared in getting some autosol (from halfords!), works well from the little bit i did earlier..

Pictures shall be posted, if its any good.

Nick
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veeeffarr · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

Mine's currently sat in the garden, covered in oven cleaner.

Doesn't seem to be an exhaust gasket in there
https://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/th0r0n/NoGasket.jpg

Can
https://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/th0r0n/Can.jpg

Pipe
https://s66.photobucket.com/albums/h277/th0r0n/Pipe.jpg