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How do I prevent "Blueing" of my headers

  • Thread starter Thread starter gpfinley
  • Start date Start date
G

gpfinley

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I am replacing my Vance & Hines headers with a new set.
The previous ones had turn a blue color.

I don't know if the previous owner reject them correctly, but I suspect he did.

The idle is high & I cant find where to adjust.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.
 
gpfinley said:
I am replacing my Vance & Hines headers with a new set.
The previous ones had turn a blue color.

I don't know if the previous owner reject them correctly, but I suspect he did.

The idle is high & I cant find where to adjust.

Thanks in advance for any pointers.
Click to expand...

I can't say for sure on the GS's because I am still learning about the bikes, but on Triumphs, the bluing is generally caused by a lean mixture. Triumphs are jetted very lean from the factory and also have pollution garb and both these conditions combine to blue the pipes in only a few miles of riding. Although you don't have that specific problem on the GS, (please let me know if you find a new one), the basic premise is the same. Correct jetting.. but I believe without double wall chrome or buying very high quality chrome headers will you be able to eliminate it.
First step is check anything that could contribute to lean condition, including vaccum leaks, leaky airbox, etc.. Do some plug chops to check to see if the cylinders are actually lean too.

Somebody with more experience on GS's please respond as I hope what I said is correct in regard to blue pipes on these bikes.

Idle adjust is located between the carbs. Follow your cables & you will see
 
Single wall headers will turn gold/blue due to heat. The factory head pipes are double wall to combat this situation. Lean running will exasperate the situation. I can not substantiate this claim but I’ve heard that Por-15 makes a high temperature paint that you can spray on the inside of the head pipes to combat this situation. Worth a try.
 
The V&H pipes are single walled pipes and will change in color even if you're not running lean (though that will make the color even more pronounced).
 
ceramic coating the inside of the pipes might prevent it, at the least it will greatly reduce the bluing. as was already posted aftermarket and original British pipes are single wall and bluing is normal and was even used for tuning.
Japanese (think it was Honda) figured out how to make dual wall exhaust pipes that provided a insulating air layer between pipes that greatly reduced bluing of the pipes.

there is a aftermarket product made that removes the discoloration.

http://www.bright-works.com/store/html/wn.html
 
Removing the discoloration...

Removing the discoloration...

Does anyone really have any good experiences trying to remove the bluing from chrome plated pipes such as our OEM Suzuki pipes?

Years ago there was a product called Blue Away that was highly touted. But it must have been highly abrasive, too, because in every case I ever saw, it also took all the shine off the chrome, leaving a dull, opaque area on the pipes. They looked better blue!

What I want is a product that will take off the blue or yellow and leave the area looking shiny and just like brand-new! Does such a product exist? And what do you have to do to produce the like-new results?

Anybody ever used the Wenol to remove bluing?

Thanks

Tomcat
 
there are some products that will help remove the blueing, but i dont remember what they were.....

the blueing is caused by running lean, i have a v&h and have put a thousand miles on my new pipes, no blue yet. i have it running perfect. no lean condition at all. no change in color.
 
tomcat24551 said:
Does anyone really have any good experiences trying to remove the bluing from chrome plated pipes such as our OEM Suzuki pipes?

Years ago there was a product called Blue Away that was highly touted. But it must have been highly abrasive, too, because in every case I ever saw, it also took all the shine off the chrome, leaving a dull, opaque area on the pipes. They looked better blue!

What I want is a product that will take off the blue or yellow and leave the area looking shiny and just like brand-new! Does such a product exist? And what do you have to do to produce the like-new results?

Anybody ever used the Wenol to remove bluing?

Thanks

Tomcat
Click to expand...

A few months ago I picked up a complete exhaust system for my CB750F project bike. Whoever had these pipes before me must've toasted their engine. They are OEM Honda pipes, but they were bright blue all the way down to the crossover at the bottom, being burnt past blue to black at the top. The gold coloring normally seen at the engine exhaust flanges was present where the exhaust pipes split back into two headers under the front footpegs!

I used this stuff on them, and they shined up good as new:

http://www.autobarn.net/ch200.html

The Blue Magic took off the tempering colors, and didn't scratch up the surface at all. Took quite a bit of elbow grease, but the pipes now aren't even recognizable as the baked headers I bought for cheap.

Do not use it on aluminum, however. It shines the aluminum up nicely, but three days later, wherever you polished is covered in blue oxidation. :-s
 
Griffin said:
A few months ago I picked up a complete exhaust system for my CB750F project bike. Whoever had these pipes before me must've toasted their engine. They are OEM Honda pipes, but they were bright blue all the way down to the crossover at the bottom, being burnt past blue to black at the top. The gold coloring normally seen at the engine exhaust flanges was present where the exhaust pipes split back into two headers under the front footpegs!

I used this stuff on them, and they shined up good as new:

http://www.autobarn.net/ch200.html

The Blue Magic took off the tempering colors, and didn't scratch up the surface at all. Took quite a bit of elbow grease, but the pipes now aren't even recognizable as the baked headers I bought for cheap.

Do not use it on aluminum, however. It shines the aluminum up nicely, but three days later, wherever you polished is covered in blue oxidation. :-s
Click to expand...
You sold me. I'm going to get some for my OLD Kerker 4-1. I love the pipes but they are on the ugly side.
 
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