The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: VaSteve on March 16, 2007, 07:22:25 PM

Title: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: VaSteve on March 16, 2007, 07:22:25 PM

My exhaust has all manner of "Stuff" on it...including melted bike cover.   :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[   How can I clean it easily?  A product...steel wool?  What?  

Thanks!!!

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Semper Gumby on March 16, 2007, 08:09:24 PM

I don't know what to use on it for the heavy melted stuff but please DO NOT use steel wool.  You will be unhappy with the result.   :-/

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Ed Miller on March 16, 2007, 08:27:57 PM

I've used grade 00000 steel wool with WD40 to clean chrome.  It worked OK, but then you guys know by now that I'm not the pickiest person on the forum.  I don't know how many times over the years I've read how to get melted plastic off pipes, and have forgotten every time.  I don't know if that fine of steel wool would be aggressive enough to do the job.

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Justin B. on March 16, 2007, 09:02:30 PM

It's easy to mar the chrome with steel wool unless extremely careful.  I have had good luck with Turtle Wax brand Chrome Polish.  It takes a bit of wlbow grease but would be a bit more gentle than the 'wool...  I think your qualifiers "easily" and "clean" are mutually exclusive...  :P

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Semper Gumby on March 18, 2007, 08:50:27 PM

Somewhere from the back of my mind I hear small voice saying "  ....easy off oven cleaner... "

I'm probably just hallucinating or something so I guess I just logoff and go somewheres else.  It's been a long day.  

(If you take this dubious advise then I suggest you pick a small spot out of sight first before trying this on a piece of chrome that can be seen.)  

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Justin B. on March 18, 2007, 09:01:36 PM

I have read that the old formulation oven cleaners will remove anodizing but chrome is pretty tough stuff...

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Bob_Roller on March 19, 2007, 07:28:03 PM

How about paint stripper ?

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: VaSteve on March 20, 2007, 08:46:53 AM

The melted cover came off pretty easy.  What didn't come off when I uncovered the bike, was easy to remove after I rode it for a while and it cooled.  (The bike had those silly bannana shaped things on the pipes as they come out of the head when I got it.  I guess for a reason :) )

Anyhow, they rest is stuff that came with the bike from the PO.  And the PO before that I'm sure.

I'll look into the chrome polish.

Title: Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on March 21, 2007, 03:25:24 AM

I like Simichrome.  They say it is expensive, but I don't use it often enough to make an impact on me.

I've never used anything else to compare it to.