Plastic bags and headers...

[tobes]

This is the second time I've had a plastic bag wrap itself around one of my headers. On Friday I was heading to work on the 101 fwy. No. 1 lane going 75mph and ahead of me I see a large plastic bag, one that would have had mulch in it, now empty blowing around the no. 1 lane. It was like the thing was being remote controlled, I go left it goes left, I go right it goes right, until finally it gets caught on my header. Disgusted, I take a quick look down and no sooner do I look up and here comes another one. This one wraps itself around the front of my bike. So I quickly get off the freeway and pull the bags off. The bike is now smoking from the bag melted on the right header. I've got some cleaning to do.

[mickyt]

Hi Tobes

sorry to see the mess on your pipe, I have had good luck with oven cleaner and a scotchbrite pad for boot marks etc in the past. Might be worth a try.

Regards Mick

[mogu83]

Good luck. Had that happen on another bike and it was an ugly clean up job

[motoracer8]

I had the same thing happen not long ago, looked just about like yours. I used an old dull pocket knife to scrape much of the plastic off when the pipe was hot then some 600 wetatory sand paper for the rest, then polishing compound, turned out very nice, now I've got to polish the other side.

Ken G.

[hjsbmw]

The blueing indicates chrome pipes. I wouldn't use anything abrasive on those. Cutting, rather than scraping the gunk off with a razor blade might be worth a thought, and I would do it when cold. The colder the harder (as in more brittle) the plastic.

[mogu83]

I wonder if you could use something like acetone or some other solvent that would melt the plastic and not affect the chrome. We need a chemist. My plastic bag ended up on the inside part on a muffler and some of it is still there.

[websterize]

That's a bummer. Easy-Off oven cleaner works, according to several riders at http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99504511.tip.html. I'd test it on an inconspicuous part of the chrome in case it scratches. Warming up the pipes seems to be necessary.

[AncientMariner]

You could also try this: Warm up the bike to get the pipe hot. Rub it with a piece of old turkish toweling. I've watched my brother the plumber clean solder off of pipes this way and used this technique to remove heal marks from my HD's pipes. Obviously you want to be very careful to keep the toweling between your fingers and the pipe. And don't linger.

[daveyator]

I used GOO GONE once on the chrome muffler of my K1200RS when I melted the saddlebag on it.

[tobes]

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know what works.

[motoracer8]

The exhaust system is stainless, no chrome. Slight scratches can be polished away. After the plastic bag issue on the right side I polished the pipe with light rubbing compound, you can use chrome polish if you like, it just takes longer. Now the RH pipe looks new.

Ken G.

[hjsbmw]

The exhaust system is stainless, no chrome.

Careful, the stainless is standard, the chrome is an option. They are not all the same.

[motoracer8]

You are correct there is the optional chrome muffler, but I belive all of the head pipes are stainless, touch them with a magnet if it sticks they are chrome plated steel, no stick, stainless.

Ken G.

[redwing]

Dude, how could you let a plastic bag out smart you? You should get a plastice bag horn (deer horn). And I can get you one. Call me .... BR 555

Robert

[vodka]

Out of interest as an aside.,plastic bags for shopping are now illegal in Sth Australia and other states. Made a huge difference to crap on the road .
I'm reminded of a poem

Empty beer cans along the road are ugly many say
But at night
Shining bright,
They safely guide the way

For the pipes I'd try some Xylene or laquer thinners.

[NakedRider]

The exhaust system is stainless, no chrome. Slight scratches can be polished away. After the plastic bag issue on the right side I polished the pipe with light rubbing compound, you can use chrome polish if you like, it just takes longer. Now the RH pipe looks new.

Ken G.

+1. I used to heat treat steel. Stainless turns a blueish color at about 500 degrees.

[deilenberger]

The chrome system is chrome over stainless steel - headers/cat-converter/muffler.

The stainless headers turn a duck-poop-brown color with heat. The chrome ones turn blue. I've had chrome piped bikes side by side with mine and the difference is really obvious.

His are blue. He has chrome. Chrome is actually rather soft and easily damaged. I'd suggest using conservative chemical removal methods first.. perhaps followed up with a plastic scraper (or fingernail.)