Cleaning and polishing the exhaust pipes.

[CycleRob]

Most boxer riders get a little upset about the blue/burned appearance of the header pipes. It is removable, to like new condition, after removing the pipes for better access, with an electric drill powered 4 inch diameter cloth buffing wheel and 2 amazing products called Blue Away and Simichrome. Use the Blue Away until the discoloration is completely gone, then use the Simichrome until the mirror finish is there. You can't overdo rubbing it with either product and a very small amount of both products goes a long way. I only used a small portion of each original container for all 3 cleanings.

Here's pictures of the 3 times my OilHead got the treatment:

The 3rd picture's odometer reading says it all.

My F800ST's almost hidden brushed Stainless Steel header pipes are barely discolored from their normal light brushed exotic metal finish at about 22K miles and just plain dirty from baked on rain water spray. They will get their first pipe removal/cleaning/polishing treatment someday . . . .

EDIT: To update to a better, faster photo host.

[peels]

awesome, wondered about this....thanks for the post!


While I am not a "boxer rider" who "gets a little upset"

I did try once to polish that out....two stages of rubbing compound. Just for $hits and giggles.

I didnt try real hard, afraid of ruining them. Blue and shiny is better then dull and pitted.



Ill give this a shot.

[BruceinLA]

do you need to replace any gaskets if you remove the pipes for polishing?

Looks great!

[Lob]

look great, you've made me shop!

[Samiam]

But how long does the bright, shiny, polished effect last? Is it good for a few thousand miles? If not, I don't think it's worth the labor. Not taking anything away from you Rob, those pipes look great.

I'm a bit weird (been told) but I kinda like the blued coloration after a quick ride up in the mountains around here. I think the only way to keep bright pipes is to buy a double-walled set; and I've never seen any for sale.

[omg1010]

Looks nice but having done this myself I can say that this requires a lot of time and work (you will need to manually polish foreever!). And the effect lasts only for a few 1000 kms and the blue will come back thereafter. Hence I personally would not bother.

And when removing the exhaust there are no new gaskets required.

Brgds
Oliver

[ron prior]

Most boxer riders get a little upset about the blue/burned appearance of the header pipes. It is removable, to like new condition, after removing the pipes for better access, with an electric drill powered 4 inch diameter cloth buffing wheel and 2 amazing products called Blue Away and Simichrome. Use the Blue Away until the discoloration is completely gone, then use the Simichrome until the mirror finish is there. You can't overdo rubbing it with either product and a very small amount of both products goes a long way. I only used a small portion of each original container for all 3+ cleanings.

Here's pictures of the 3 times my OilHead got the treatment:


The 3rd picture's odometer reading says it all.

My F800ST's almost hidden header pipes are barely discolored from their normal light brushed exotic metal finish at about 22K miles and just plain dirty from baked on rain water spray. If that finish is the actual metal and not just a thin plated on coating, they will get their first pipe removal/cleaning/polishing treatment soon.

The pipes look great!..And I like that tan metallic ? gold ?... Roadster. Something totally different. Was that OEM? for a particular year?

If I may render an opinion?..that motorcycle would look smokin' hot..with gloss black p/coated wheels!!!

[ramblinrod]

BMW specs optimoly ta for putting the pipes together. I found it listed at $45 for 400ml. Is there an alternative product that can be used?

Thanks,
Rod

[ron prior]

BMW specs optimoly ta for putting the pipes together. I found it listed at $45 for 400ml. Is there an alternative product that can be used?

Thanks,
Rod

Are you talking about a sealant ? If so there is one sold at O'Reilly's that works just fine. Don't remember the cost?...but it sure as heck wasn't $45. I believe it is Permatex product.

[towerworker]

I had the pipes off my '04 several times (have to admit it's been a few years now) but I never put anything on the pipes each time (possibly I should have) but I had no trouble. I thoroughly cleaned all connection surfaces but that's all.

As far as the bluing, it's the nature of the beast. I cleaned and polished to that nice shine once. It doesn't last long enough to be worth the trouble. Besides........these are Beemers..........not Harleys. Would you rather ride or wash it?

[CycleRob]

ron prior, The color is SunBurst Gold from a 2002 Ford Mustang I passed by going to/from work. I used this pic on a 3.5" floppy to show the friendly local paint shop, where the owner quickly recognized the car, the year and the color. This pic was taken with a primitive 1.4 mega-pixel Sony digital camera, so the colors don't quite match. Also my bike got a couple coats of clear lacquer.


The bike was originally red when painted, at less than a year old. Here is both the bike's color in the sun -and- the pipes very discolored . . . giving you an idea of how much oxidation was removed.


I used Permatex high temp silicone gasket sealer lightly smeared on the pipe joints and re-used the old header gaskets, with careful tightening in multiple alternating steps to the head.


There were no leaks, indicated by no visible cold engine cold weather vapors at the head and lots of tiny little black carbon dots on the rear wheel rim.

EDIT: To update to a better, faster photo host and add 3 extra pics.

[ron prior]

ron prior, The color is SunBurst Gold from a 2002 Ford Mustang. It was originally red when painted, at less than a year old. Here is both the bike's color in the sun -and- the pipes very discolored . . . giving you an idea of how much oxidation was removed.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r87/ ... ob-POW.jpg

I used Permatex high temp silicone gasket sealer lightly smeared on the pipe joints and re-used the old header gaskets, with careful tightening in multiple alternating steps to the head. There were no leaks, indicated by visible cold engine cold weather vapors and lots of tiny little black carbon dots on the rear wheel rim.

Thanks for the extra shots,...I really like that color!

[ramblinrod]

Thanks for the info on putting the pipes back together Rob, that's exactly what I needed. I had to make a parts order anyways so ordered new exhaust gaskets.

Rod

[CycleRob]

I need to clarify on what I wrote about using gasket sealer on the "pipe joints". That does NOT mean it was used on the Aluminum jacket mesh gasket connection to the cylinder head, which could be hot enough to start smoking. Those Aluminum jacket mesh gaskets are re-usable with slow, incremental flange bolt tightening. Because they are still a little spongy, they can be used again, but ONLY with that "careful tightening". I found this out the way most mechanics working on their own bikes did when faced with either re-using the gaskets -or- getting/waiting for the parts. Here is my bold edited correction to the last paragraph in my post:

"I used Permatex high temp silicone gasket sealer lightly smeared on the pipe joints and re-used the old header gaskets, with careful tightening in multiple alternating steps to the head. There were no leaks, indicated by [A COMPLETE LACK OF] visible cold engine cold weather vapors and lots of tiny little black carbon dots on the rear wheel rim."

BTW, can you post the header pipe gaskets cost and part numbers?

-Thanx-

[ramblinrod]

Exhaust gaskets were 9.17 each from Chattanooga BMW, part #18211342463.

[ramblinrod]

I've been home recovering from having my prostate removed the last several weeks. I couldn't do an awful lot but have done quite a bit of work on my somewhat neglected 2003 R1150R. Never have cleaned the exhaust pipes, they were a mess, mostly dark brown, some dark blue and even darker splotches. I used my air drill and 4" cloth wheel. It took about 3 hours and most of the bottle of blue away to get all the color off the pipes. Took about another hour to get them polished with Simichrome. They really look nice. I wont let them get that bad again, hopefully it will be an easier job next time. Next job is dealing with the fuel stain on the transmission case. So far I've determined that blue away on the cloth wheel wont touch it, neither will MEK. Probably will end up ordering the Silver high temp rustoleum and paint it. I've done all the fluid changes and a bang up job of valve adjusting and cylinder balancing. Last winter I had Rick Mayer build me custom leather seats while he had the special going. Should have done that 10 years ago. Still love this bike!

Rod