Down pipe cleaning?

[Scorphonic]

My downpipes are rusting and the nuts that hold the manifold tight to the engine are also rusting...along with the long threaded pieces that protrude from the engine...months of rain, salt and bad care!!

How can I fix this before this gets any worse? I am thinking about loads of WD40 with a wire brush..but how do you guys keep your downpipes so clean...do ya ride your bikes at all!

[madmanmaigret]

1. Take the entire manifold off
2. remove the studs holding it to the engine (tighten 2 bolts down together and unscrew it from the block)
3. Go to hardware store and buy stainless steel studs and nuts (never rust again)
4. sand down the pipes with fine grit sand paper.
5. polish w/metal polish until they become shiny
6. sit back and admire your work.
7. dont let it get so bad next time and it wont be nearly as hard to fix

[reiobard]

if you have a dremel or like rotary tool you can sand and buff with that...

[DanG]

Depending on how bad they are, you might be able to clean the down-pipes up with wire wool. Use it conjunction with a metal polish.

[finboz]

the downpipes on my bike were badly tarnished when i bought it, i used meguires nxt metal polish (also protects against corrosion) and without too much effort they came up a treat.


nxt all metal polish

[Scorphonic]

Thanks everyone for the reply!! seems like a massive job to get the exhaust off the bike...but it has to be done...just wish I had more time to do it before going back to college...

Another more difficult question...madmanmaigret you suggested buying a stud...do you know what size, length and thickness?

Its difficult enough to get simple things here in my local store but if I went in asking for a stud they'd look at me as if I had two heads!! :P

[wrightme43]

I would recomend just using antisieze on the factory studs. You can get into alot of trouble taking studs out a head for the first time learning on your bike is probley not the best way to go about it. Find a old cracked head, and practice on it first if you really want to remove them.

Snap on carries a nice stud removal tool. It uses eliptical tool steel cams inside a socket that slips on the stud. You can also do it with two nuts backed against each other, but the removal tool pays for itself in much less hassle.
Just my 2 cents.
Steve

[Fred]

Sandpaper, on chrome pipes?

Really? Isn't that just going to make them rust?

Fred

[reiobard]

The pipes aren't chrome, they are stainless steel that has been polished, if you sand it then all you are going to get to is more stainless steel. if it were chrome then you would eventually wear through the chrome.

[madmanmaigret]

Originally Posted by Scorphonic

Thanks everyone for the reply!! seems like a massive job to get the exhaust off the bike...but it has to be done...just wish I had more time to do it before going back to college...

Another more difficult question...madmanmaigret you suggested buying a stud...do you know what size, length and thickness?

Its difficult enough to get simple things here in my local store but if I went in asking for a stud they'd look at me as if I had two heads!! :P

If you do not have steady hands read what wrightme43 wrote above. As for the width, length, and pitch of the studs you would have to take one out and bring it in to the hardware store with you and measure it up.