The exhaust pipes on Project 42, a 1986 VFR750, were showing their age (right). The pipes are some spec of stainless steel (presumably) but time and miles have discolored them to this point, which won't do.
Checking out YouTube on the subject will show several videos on the use of a UK product called Harpic, a caustic toilet bowl cleaner. The edited videos make it look effortless, so I grabbed our Walmart bowl cleaner along with some Lime-A-Way and Rustoleum gel rust remover. I also gathered four grades of scuff pads and set to work at a home-brewed comparison.
As it turns out, Harpic is 10% hydrochloric acid and mine uses sodium hypochlorite which is likely lacking the same etching power. In any event, as I progressed through the various products, I was slowly getting results but doing a lot of scrubbing. So I decided to try some light grade sandpaper — 1200-grit wet/dry. Things went much quicker but I eventually realized that sandpaper and water alone achieved the same results just as quickly as any of my products. In particular, the rust remover didn't seem to do a thing, which tells me that the discoloration isn't a rust issue.
(click on an image to enlarge)
Checking out YouTube on the subject will show several videos on the use of a UK product called Harpic, a caustic toilet bowl cleaner. The edited videos make it look effortless, so I grabbed our Walmart bowl cleaner along with some Lime-A-Way and Rustoleum gel rust remover. I also gathered four grades of scuff pads and set to work at a home-brewed comparison.
As it turns out, Harpic is 10% hydrochloric acid and mine uses sodium hypochlorite which is likely lacking the same etching power. In any event, as I progressed through the various products, I was slowly getting results but doing a lot of scrubbing. So I decided to try some light grade sandpaper — 1200-grit wet/dry. Things went much quicker but I eventually realized that sandpaper and water alone achieved the same results just as quickly as any of my products. In particular, the rust remover didn't seem to do a thing, which tells me that the discoloration isn't a rust issue.
(click on an image to enlarge)
(Below) Once the corrosion is dealt with I want to bring out the shine by buffing with a metal polish, in this case Autosol, an excellent general purpose polish. I begin with a once-over by hand (look at that black residue!) then a final machine buff.
This is a labor-intensive process. but the results are pretty amazing. I should note that my intent here is not to have show quality exhaust pipes on my street VFR, but rather to achieve a factory fresh start for this refurbished bike. The pipes will slowly take on a satisfying bronze patina with use, which I think is very attractive. A simple hand polishing every few years will likely keep these pipes looking great.
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