New header pipes

[Bill Conquest]

I just installed new header pipes on the '79 & they are already showing signs of blueing...any ideas on getting the original look again?
Also, I was told by a hot rod mechanic an old trick is to coat the insides of new pipes with atf before installation to keep this from happening. Anyone aver heard that?
Bill

[Bob_Roller]

The headers on the airhead bikes are single wall, that's why they turn blue so quickly .

Nothing you can do to can prevent it from happening .

[wilcom]

There are products out there that "minimizes" bluing. One that I read (DYNO_KOTE)said it has to be applied to NEW pipes, if you have run them the bets off. The stuff probably won't adhere to carbonized pipes.

I never gave a thought to bluing as a cosmetic blemish. Wife says I'm pretty close to the soil on a lot of the finer things, so my opinion may not count for much.

[Barry]

Bluing is just an indicator of surface temperature so anything which reduces exhaust temperature will help to minimise it but you won't prevent it. A richer mixture certainly helps and conversely a weak mixture will really colour them quickly.  I suppose anything that coats the inside to form an insulating layer might help which will be where the ATF idea comes from. Jap bikes were double skinned to add an insulating layer.

Light bluing can be polished out to some extent but not too often or you will polish through the chrome.

I don't mind bluing on chrome pipes and far prefer that to the yellow/brown colour of stainless pipes. Stainless is a relatively poor conductor of heat compared to normal steel so the surface won't get quite as hot. I presume that's one of the reasons they don't blue in the same way chrome pipes do.

[Bill Conquest]

Thanks, I kind of thought that..i'm not that fussy, just that they looked so good for the first few days..
Bill

[Ed Miller]

I like the anodized look of the blue.