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Author Topic: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?  (Read 2116 times)

VaSteve

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Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« 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!!!

Offline Semper Gumby

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #1 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.   :-/

Bill Gould ?1980/03 R65 When at first you don't succeed....Moo!

Offline Ed Miller

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #2 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.

Ed Miller
'81 r65
Falls City, OR

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #3 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
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Semper Gumby

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #4 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.)  
Bill Gould ?1980/03 R65 When at first you don't succeed....Moo!

Offline Justin B.

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #5 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...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2007, 07:28:03 PM »
How about paint stripper ?
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

VaSteve

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #7 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.

Offline Rob Valdez 79 R65

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Re: Easy cleaning of the chrome exhaust?
« Reply #8 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.