Cleaning Exhaust Headers

[rtallent]

What have people found to work well for cleaning the exhaust headers?

[NakedRider]

Cleaning or shining?

You can get rid of the discoloration for a while but it always comes back. I've heard of people using a coating on them, however, (not sure if it was powder coating) and they stayed looking nice.

[rtallent]

Cleaning or shining?

You can get rid of the discoloration for a while but it always comes back. I've heard of people using a coating on them, however, (not sure if it was powder coating) and they stayed looking nice.

Good question; I wasn't clear. I am interested in periodically getting rid of discoloration. Thanks.

[BigEasy]

I suppose that a guy could spend the time polishing them up with a drill mounted abrasive disc or something, but as stated above, they'll discolor again. I'm lazy, but like a clean bike, so I ceramic coated mine see here viewtopic.php?t=13545#p121058

[orbea54]

Jet Hot coatings will cure the problem. http://www.jet-hot.com/motorcycles.html

[mogu83]

I've used a product called 'Barkeepers Friend' for years. Over time (10+ years)it will cause very fine scratches in chrome and the pipes will look like new stainless (before it turns brown). It's an abrasive powder type cleaner similar to Comet but much finer. i get mine in a hardware store but I think you can get it in the housewares section of some food stores.
Works for me.

[rtallent]

Thanks, Harry. This is the kind of information I was looking for.

[Matt]

I used Autosol on my pipes, I wasn't sure if was a good product to use so I went a little easy, no problems to now. Are headers made of stainless steel ?

[Mollygrubber]

If they turn brown, they're stainless. if they turn blue they're chrome. If they turn red, slow down.