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Derusting chrome exhaust

Frank Z.

Frank Z.

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
I know this topic has probably been covered, but...
Just picked up some old GS1000 exhausts. Has decent amounts of rust; not sure extent of pitting yet. Need suggestions on best way to derust and restore. Thanks!
 
Yessir, out of Dallas. Don't want to booger 'em up any more than they are. Figured some of the pros here would have solid advice.
 
whatever you do, DO NOT use a green dish scrubbie. Most rust will come off with some 000 or 0000 steel wool soaked in wd 40. Semichrome chrome polish after the heavy stuff has been dealt with.
 
chuck hahn said:
whatever you do, DO NOT use a green dish scrubbie. Most rust will come off with some 000 or 0000 steel wool soaked in wd 40. Semichrome chrome polish after the heavy stuff has been dealt with.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Thanks, Chuck. Will post before/after pics as it happens.
 
I used regular chrome polish rubbed in with aluminum foil on my pipes. Worked pretty good, just requires elbow grease as I suspect most methods would.
 
No aluminum foil. It scratches the chrome.

Chrome cleaner on a cotton cloth, and mucho elbow grease.
 
I use a product called ZUD, it's similiar to Comet only it has oxaylic acid in it. Get some 0000 steel wool, wet it and sprinkle on some ZUD and go to town. It works a bit better if you let it sit for a few minutes before some light scrubbing. I've done two exhausts in this manner and it's a bit surprising how well it works. :)
 
If you use a cleanser like Zud or Comet or Bbar Keepers Friends..try it on a place that will not show on the bike. Be sure the abrasive doesntb scratch.
 
Nessism said:
No aluminum foil. It scratches the chrome.

Chrome cleaner on a cotton cloth, and mucho elbow grease.
Click to expand...


chuck hahn said:
whatever you do, DO NOT use a green dish scrubbie. Most rust will come off with some 000 or 0000 steel wool soaked in wd 40. Semichrome chrome polish after the heavy stuff has been dealt with.
Click to expand...


and steel wool doesn't scratch it???? I believe aluminum is the lesser of 2 evils as it's much softer than steel

My pipes were so bad that just a cloth wasn't cutting it!
 
5azzmonkey said:
and steel wool doesn't scratch it???? I believe aluminum is the lesser of 2 evils as it's much softer than steel

My pipes were so bad that just a cloth wasn't cutting it!
Click to expand...

Do what you must, but on otherwise bright chrome aluminum foil will dull the finish.
 
chuck hahn said:
No steel wool WILL NOT SCRATCH CHROME OR DULL IT..Your foil will.
Click to expand...


Interesting, I did not know that and will avoid aluminum in the future. I have seen many sites talking about using the foil method.


Any idea as to why steel wool will not scratch and aluminum will?

Thanks,
Dave
 
Not a clue really..all i know is that it doesnt. It will swipe the rust and any loose edges around any pits off but the chrome is left TOTALLY unharmed. And the WD40 just loosens and disolves the rust particles in a way that just crazy. makes a nasty brown mess that will wash of with some dish soap but other than the mess it really works well. And of course its gonna take some good old fashioned time and elbow grease. It isnt like you spray it on and it magically evaporates or something.
 
After removing the rust and pitting, what do you all use to keep the rust from coming back?
 
Ill just put these here...

IMAGE_071.jpg


IMAGE_074.jpg


Wd-40 with steel wool and aluminum foil. Then mothers chrome polish.
 
chuck hahn said:
Not a clue really..all i know is that it doesnt. It will swipe the rust and any loose edges around any pits off but the chrome is left TOTALLY unharmed. And the WD40 just loosens and disolves the rust particles in a way that just crazy. makes a nasty brown mess that will wash of with some dish soap but other than the mess it really works well. And of course its gonna take some good old fashioned time and elbow grease. It isnt like you spray it on and it magically evaporates or something.
Click to expand...


That was kinda how the aluminum foil and chrome polish worked for me. No real sign of major (new) scratches. Granted my pipe is not perfect and I would not recomened using this unless there was major rust and nothing really to lose. Definitely looks better than it did but by no means is it showroom condition.

-Dave
 
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