Cleaning question ...

Having finally got my bike back, I decided to make a start on giving it a good clean. Dealer had "kindly" washed it down, so at least it looked "presentable", but what I really wanted to make a start on was the downpipe of the exhaust.

To be honest, it's always been a kind of horrible sh*t-brown colour for most of the downpipe. So I ordered some "Blue Job" off t'internet and set to it on Sat afternoon. Now half the pipe has come up quite good, but the top of the pipe still feels like (and looks like) it's caked in crap. So rather than use up the small amount of remaining Blue Job, I dashed out and bought some Autosol ... now I've applied about half a tube to the top of the downpipe, and there is almost NO DIFFERENCE in it at all. In fact, I think I could probably use a dozen tubes of Autosol and it would make no difference ... so the question is ...

Do I try something a bit more abrasive? or do I give it up as "past saving"?

If something more abrasive, then what are your suggestions?

I was thinking of trying a very fine wire wool? until I can get it down to a shiny layer of baked on crap/rust, and then give the Autosol another go.

Any help would be most welcome ... as I still have the underside of the exhaust to do (now I understand what those belly pans are for )

Cheers,
Pete

Wire wool would be fine. Its steel not alloy after all.

I took my exhaust off, and attacked it with a wire wheel attached to a drill. Looks a million times better.

Finish it off with Autosol or something.

I used a fine grade of wet and dry with autoglym metal polish to get the cack off. Then finished with metal cleaner and a rag - came up really well, but you have to stick with it, prob took me 2-3 hours...

Oh and once you start, thats it, you'll have to keep at it to keep it in that condition.

Thanks for the replies (so far) ... I don't think keeping it in a pristine condition will be a problem after putting in what will inevitably be a lot of hard work in getting it to that condition in the first place I've already spent about 2 - 3 hours on it this weekend and although some parts are looking so much better I think I really ought to dismantle it to get it done properly. Besides which, I think I'll have to get some new "highly polished" jubilee clips can't put those rusted crap ones back on after cleaning the pipes - that would be an injustice! LOL

Originally Posted by Pedro68

Thanks for the replies (so far) ... I don't think keeping it in a pristine condition will be a problem after putting in what will inevitably be a lot of hard work in getting it to that condition in the first place I've already spent about 2 - 3 hours on it this weekend and although some parts are looking so much better I think I really ought to dismantle it to get it done properly. Besides which, I think I'll have to get some new "highly polished" jubilee clips can't put those rusted crap ones back on after cleaning the pipes - that would be an injustice! LOL

Depends how far you want to go, although I don't think dismantling is that necessary. I only did the bits you can see - front downpipe to the exhaust - didn't bother with the rear as its not that visible.

Mind you - if you want it concours, then taking it apart is the only way...

I use a wire brush on mine, then rub autosol into that, then repeat the process. It's surprising how quickly it becomes shiny and how little autosol you actually need.

Yeah, like Grinch said wire wool is great for the stubborn lumpy bits etc, then finish off with Autosol or similar.

I picked up a plastic carrier bag the other week on my exhaust, melted it'self all over the downpipe, collector-box and link-pipe etc.
All I used to get it off was wire wire wool and finished of with Autosol, looks great now.

Though as has been said, once you've polished up your downpipe there's no going back and it will start to tarnish/stain again very quickly especially if your caught out in the rain.
Though it won't take long to get it all shiney again with a rag, Autosol and some elbow-grease.

I'd advise againsed taking off your downpipe to polish it, you may be looking at replacing the exhaust gasket as it may start blowing once re-assembled.
Not to mention the risk of snapping one of the studs (you know what sods law is like).

Just cake the downpipe in Autosol, wrap a rag around the pipe and give it old heave-ho method, works wonders, that's what I do anyway.

Scotch brite pads are ideal for working that rust off, works especially well when you use a touch of autosol on a pad.

wet and dry dipped in autosol for the rear headers.