Header tube cleaning

[coloradoparadise]

What's the best way to clean the header tubes?  There was a post awhile back where the tubes had been cleaned to a bright stainless steel finish.  Looked amazing!  Like to get my grungy pipes to look like that.

[movenon]

What's the best way to clean the header tubes?  There was a post awhile back where the tubes had been cleaned to a bright stainless steel finish.  Looked amazing!  Like to get my grungy pipes to look like that.

First what year is your bike ? Not all used the single wall SS pipes ?  On my 1990 I sanded them with 320 wet or dry then went over them with 600 grit then to a polishing wheel with SS polishing compound. Took more time to sand off the black coating than to polish. Be extremely careful removing the nuts holding the pipes to the head.
George

[Antonn3]

 the quickest and easiest way to get the stainless steel exhaust pipes (86 and later FJs) to shine, is to use the following:
-use a felt wheel on an electric grinder !!
-use black compound  on a felt wheel to remove the coating quickly and to take you to smooth bare metal..
-after, use the green compound to give it that extra shine and your done!!

use plenty of the compounds on the felt wheels

Apply firm/steady  pressure with the wheel/grinder. The heat generated is what speeds up the process.
Load up the felt wheel well and use a wheel for each compound
I did my exhaust pipes in less then an hour

Tony

[X-Ray]

Ummm, take them to a Ceramic Coaters. Thats what I did anyway. 

[ribbert]

Ummm, take them to a Ceramic Coaters. Thats what I did anyway. 

Ray, how many km's have you done on those pipes?

Noel

[X-Ray]

I did them just before the Coffs Harbour run in March, so only around 2200kms. I did have to clean/polish the tar/grime off them when I got back, but good as new again.

[coloradoparadise]

What's the best way to clean the header tubes?  There was a post awhile back where the tubes had been cleaned to a bright stainless steel finish.  Looked amazing!  Like to get my grungy pipes to look like that.

First what year is your bike ? Not all used the single wall SS pipes ?  On my 1990 I sanded them with 320 wet or dry then went over them with 600 grit then to a polishing wheel with SS polishing compound. Took more time to sand off the black coating than to polish. Be extremely careful removing the nuts holding the pipes to the head.
George

It's a 1992.  What's the best way to remove the nuts?  What's the trick to keeping the tubes looking good?  Thanks George.
Rich

[coloradoparadise]

the quickest and easiest way to get the stainless steel exhaust pipes (86 and later FJs) to shine, is to use the following:
-use a felt wheel on an electric grinder !!
-use black compound  on a felt wheel to remove the coating quickly and to take you to smooth bare metal..
-after, use the green compound to give it that extra shine and your done!!

use plenty of the compounds on the felt wheels

Apply firm/steady  pressure with the wheel/grinder. The heat generated is what speeds up the process.
Load up the felt wheel well and use a wheel for each compound
I did my exhaust pipes in less then an hour

Tony

Not familiar with black/green compound, is there a specific product brand you use?  Thanks Tony.

Rich

[movenon]

As for removing the nuts, just be careful. Spray them with some WD 40, liquid wrench or equivalent and let it soak over night . I am probably overly paranoid about it but it's better than twisting off a stud (they are a small diameter). I used an allen wrench with hand pressure. If you have to use much more leverage than that then be careful. The factory TQ on those 8mm nuts is only 14 ft lb's.  Also you might install in new exhaust manifold gaskets in when reassembled. They are cheap. When I reassembled I put the 8mm nuts back on to the loose side just in case I want to remove them again.

All that said mine came off very easily, I mean they were almost loose, but some others haven't had the same experience. My advice is do not apply to much TQ trying to remove them. Soak them first as best you can just to be safe.

As for removing the black, my coating was pretty thick and didn't respond well to compound but when it was off they polished pretty easy. Just dig in and go for it. My are turning a nice golden color now after putting a few thousand miles on it.

Incidentally that coating was a special coating applied by Yamaha and was one of the selling features when new. I think it helped radiate some of the heat out of the head area. Trivia:  

I like the ceramic coating, um.... Maybe next time I pull the pipes off...
George

[WhiteBeard]

I got my SuperTrapp headers ceramic coated not too long ago.





Looks great on the bike IMO.

Nat

[1wormsway]

Just out of curiosity, do you notice any increase in top end power or speed ?  Has the handling in the corners improved since you Coated Your Pipes?? The only Coating "MY Pipes" will ever get is handled by the current Girlfriend and an occaisional proffesional. BJ'S and FJ's the good things in life. Yamaha Ha HA HA

[HARTLESS]

Just out of curiosity, do you notice any increase in top end power or speed ?  Has the handling in the corners improved since you Coated Your Pipes?? The only Coating "MY Pipes" will ever get is handled by the current Girlfriend and an occaisional proffesional. BJ'S and FJ's the good things in life. Yamaha Ha HA HA

Its kind of like those male enhancements you have been taking, the 3" gained made it about normal,if gained at all....