How to Clean & Restore Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes

How to Clean & Restore Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes | The Shop Manual

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4 ай бұрын

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Do the header pipes on your motorcycle look grungy? Miss that new-metal shine? In this video we show you how to clean and polish your motorcycle exhaust pipes. With some metal polish, a Scotch-Brite pad, and some elbow grease, you’ll have your motorcycle exhaust looking like new again.
Ready to restore your exhaust? Pick up some Stockton Metal Polish here: rvz.la/3QUabXl
Maxima Contact Cleaner is ideal for the final wipe down. Pick up a can here: rvz.la/3V7cCZ0
Want more information on garage equipment and bike maintenance, or just the latest news and moto content? Click over to Common Tread: rvz.la/3UuEO8j
Thanks to Progressive for sponsoring this episode of The Shop Manual. Learn more about America’s #1 motorcycle insurer at bit.ly/3wO6Vpt

Пікірлер: 212

@RevZilla 4 ай бұрын

RevZilla has the metal polish you need to clean up your exhaust! rvz.la/3yw3RyT

@mestep511 4 ай бұрын

Worth a try. Thank you.

@jpbsv 4 ай бұрын

As a guy who works with stainless for a living, i approve of this video. I actually was about to clean my headers and ran into this video by chance... It outlines every step i was going to do to a T. And very importantly, he stresses to FOLLOW THE GRAIN. that cant be understated here. Good job.

@427walrus 4 ай бұрын

Hi there. Any way to pull small dents out of a stainless muffler? Thanks.

@jpbsv 4 ай бұрын

@427walrus you either have to take it apart to tap it out from behind or, spot weld studs to pull it out.

@427walrus 4 ай бұрын

@jpbsv Got it, thanks for the reply. 👍

@jefflambert8603 4 ай бұрын

I was Going against the Grain.. Will Metal Polish remove the very Light scratches i Had not used an Abrasive Pad so not to Bad

@jpbsv 4 ай бұрын

@jefflambert8603 Use the red scotchbrite pad to correct the framing afterwards. It will be ok. Best technique is to cut it into 1" straps and wrap it around the individual pipes like a toweling off motion.

@J8zzy 4 ай бұрын

You should have another net shop in Europe. Thank you for all your tips and tricks.

@3_character_minimum 4 ай бұрын

Plus a show to go with it.

@babyfknblu 4 ай бұрын

fcmoto has even better stock than revzilla imo. i'm in asia but i order from them a lot

@ThyArtisMurd3r 3 ай бұрын

Yes Please

@Kevin97587 4 ай бұрын

Instructions unclear, I went ahead and just bought a new motorcycle.

@lukefish7562 4 ай бұрын

Fail proof. Good work.

@dmanparazitu 4 ай бұрын

i mean.. i always buy a new motorcycle every time i have problems like these. Especially when tires are worn out, or i need to replace a blinker, and i hate when i have to buy a new motorcicle when that pesky light with the gas tank appear. ugh.... But,,, oh well. You gotta do, what u gotta do.

@Matt18001 4 ай бұрын

Me too, and a new exhaust to make the current one look better

@SiopaoSauc3 4 ай бұрын

Mission successfully failed

@danfuller3053 4 ай бұрын

It’s the only way to be sure

@kevindavis5693 4 ай бұрын

My dad spent one winter polishing the headers on his CB919. Needless to say when he was done they looked absolutely ridiculous on a ten year old bike hahah. You woulda thought he had to buy a new exhaust and then polished it before it was installed. Pretty baller to see a late 50’s dude on a CB919 with that kinda exhaust bling though haha.

@poonchild 4 ай бұрын

I hear your dad was the master of polishing head.

@kevindavis5693 4 ай бұрын

@@poonchild😂😂😂 Christ almighty, set myself up for that one I guess.

@poonchild 4 ай бұрын

@@kevindavis5693 haha, I couldn’t resist. Sorry.

@jeeves6490 4 ай бұрын

@@poonchildStill pretty baller, after all, the master of polishing head, will be the master of laying pipe.

@Johnsy1990 2 ай бұрын

Haha I just got a 919 for myself yesterday and was look for ways to clean the pipes

@garyt.8745 4 ай бұрын

Autosol Bluing remover will make the whole task a whole lot easier and quicker.

@darkknight17 11 күн бұрын

Thanks for the tip mate, I just read your comment and will be picking some up. I didn't know this stuff existed..

@dsofe4879 4 ай бұрын

I bought this german stuff called "Optiglanz". You just spray it on, give it a quick scrub with a rag and wash it off with water. I think it's based on hydrochloric acid, literally 10 seconds and the headers look like new. Would recommend.

@lars3001 4 ай бұрын

Just ordered some, I'm hopeful!

@lars3001 3 ай бұрын

Who would've thought it. In my personal experience, it works! It's nothing magical but it's close. Spray, wait a while, rub it in (I used Brillo pads) then wist a bit and rinse. Do this twice or so and it's not perfect but way better looking

@Jaaaa315 3 ай бұрын

Won’t that strip off the steel’s top, protective layers and leave it vulnerable to rust? Actual rust, not the surface kind.

@dsofe4879 3 ай бұрын

@@Jaaaa315 there are no protective layers, it's stainless steel. You might be thinking of aluminum, which forms a protective oxide layer. With stainless, the oxide layer is just rust.

@WaRGamer1911VIDEO Ай бұрын

He might be talking about passivation. But nontheless its still stainless

@RedRupert64 4 ай бұрын

I usually remove the exhaust so that all nooks and cranes can be got at. This also allows you to keep an eye on the fixings - replace corroded fixings so that they don't cause problems later on. On the worst bits - the very top of the headers, where they meet the cylinders and all the welded joints - use a brass wire brush, but make sure it's real brass and not brass plated steel. The brass brush leaves a fine layer of brass on the exhaust which helps slow corrosion. You also get a chance to really inspect the welds for cracks and excessive corrosion damage.

@Srixxooooooooooooooo 4 ай бұрын

Good tips I’ve done this a few times on different bikes and a simple job makes a difference

@JW20236 4 ай бұрын

Great video as usual. Concise and easy to understand. Thanks Ari.

@coyote1849 5 күн бұрын

You can restore and passivate ss by using a dilute acid solution. Oxalic and Citric acids work well. Make a paste with colloidal silica and cover with plastic wrap, if it dries, the action stops. Works great. For small parts or fasteners, make a solution and soak. Hardware will come out looking like new. No scrubbing required.

@CarbonRP 4 ай бұрын

Harpic and an old chain cleaner brush works perfectly for this job, just remember to not let it dry and wash it with water as quickly as possible.

@OGGrinskin 3 ай бұрын

Using mild acid can pull out the chromium in the metal causing it to rust faster from what I've heard

@CarbonRP 3 ай бұрын

@@OGGrinskin nah, doesn't rust that much. Clean every 5-6 months and you're good to go. If it has rusted before, there probably isn't much chromium anyway.

@jameshisself9324 4 ай бұрын

I've used this trick for years, it's shocking how few understand that stainless can look terrible but restores to like new.

@AK47xSNIPES 4 ай бұрын

I just did this 2 days ago. Toilet bowl cleaner with #0000 steel wool then metal polish. Good as new

@boltonky 4 ай бұрын

Great video, we have a local place that does zinc plating an they are one of the few places where i live that have a process to bring back stainless polish def worth the cost which isn't much if a good hand polish doesn't work (have to be careful as found lots of exhaust flanges won't be stainless but chrome or polished steel)

@toddlawrimore3577 4 ай бұрын

Thank you. Had never seriously thought they could look better even with hours of work.

@shanannygains 4 ай бұрын

I used toilet bowl cleaner on a scotch Brite pad on my headers. Melts the rust right off with minimal scrubbing. My headers were pretty rusty though. Then finished with metal polish.

@pmdinaz 4 ай бұрын

perfect! Thanks Ari

@Matt-man69 4 ай бұрын

I did not know this was possible and assumed the discoloration was "baked in" so to speak. Thank you my bike and I appreciate this.

@vincemarshall8550 4 ай бұрын

glad i found this video ,bmw s1000rr headers are covered in surface rust but when you offer the magnet to it theres no attraction ,i never knew stainless could rust like this but there is shine underneath!

@alexwithanx 3 ай бұрын

Well its more like with Aluminium. Its not really rusting in itself its more of a "rust surface" on top. Also most decoloration you see on your exhaust is from water/dirt/oil and stuff thats burnt in because they are so hot! It just looks really rusty because its burnt. Thats why theres still a nice clean surface underneath after cleaning!

@YoshimuraUSA 3 ай бұрын

Good job Ari!

@dl8538 2 ай бұрын

Another great vid, grazie!!

@Alphonselle 2 ай бұрын

You could also use a very common household product if you love your stainless steel pots, pans, and surfaces: barkeeper's friend.

@corujariousa 4 ай бұрын

I really like your maintenance videos. Could you recommend a good product to remove oxidation from aluminum? My 5th GEN VFR800 handlebars, and other parts, are in need of some love. 😅

@yesfactory6852 4 ай бұрын

@RevZilla are you tracking me? because I just cleaned my pipes this evening and here you are posting this haha. cheers been watching your channel for so many years.

@ezbeemer 4 ай бұрын

Old socks that are long enough to do a full wrap around the exhaust work great for polishing.

@CrankDr1 4 ай бұрын

For the hard to reach places you can use a dremel on low speed with a low abrasive attachment

@milkbox350 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for this

@the_bishop 3 ай бұрын

Another thing that can work really well to remove free iron on the surface of the stainless is Barkeeper's Friend. It's got oxalic acid along with mild abrasives that work well to remove bluing and oxidation. After using it on my pipes, they seem to stay clean and bright much longer.

@donovanwilliams128 4 ай бұрын

Great episode

@aayushpoudel2362 3 ай бұрын

Please make a video explaining the functions of Air Suction Valve and EVAP system and their symptoms of going bad.

@MisterSuki 4 ай бұрын

Wenol cream polish works excellent

@htimmermans1938 4 ай бұрын

This is great!

@s11039858 4 ай бұрын

Please do a video on effects of high level of oil.

@S.G.37 4 ай бұрын

Ultra Fine steelwool and WD40 has always been my go to...

@chrish6373 4 ай бұрын

Same I use #0000 steel wool but man, that stuff can stick you in the fingers. Red scotchBrite is on my try list for sure.

@rebirthafter40yearsold39 4 ай бұрын

Harpic X10 does an amazing for peanut

@irfarf201 4 ай бұрын

Cool guide! I wanna ask though, what about painted exhaust pipes, like the one found on mt03, could you use the same steps? or will it strip the paint off?

@NealosMetropolos 2 ай бұрын

Don't do this! Use paint products on your MT03.

@richardt.953 3 ай бұрын

How about on those factory "Black" header/exhaust pipes, what to use to clean (just soapy water) ?? Thanks!

@GrandPotatoe 4 ай бұрын

Product plus brushing 🎉

@kd350 4 ай бұрын

Toilet bowl cleaner and scotchbrite works for me. Good soapy rinse afterwards and it's best not to let it dry...perhaps a moistened with water first is advisable. Nothing to buy, it's already in the house.

@cesarablao8429 4 ай бұрын

The fastest and easiest way to clean headers. Toilet bowl cleaners and old rags will do the job well with no sweat.

@lamportprez3714 4 ай бұрын

It might sound odd but I use simple newspaper with metal polish; the carbon in the print removes the crud! Cheers

@justathinker8669 Ай бұрын

Reminds me, back in the day we used to use newspaper to clean windshield glass too

@alishawasthi8837 4 ай бұрын

Perfect

@mosca3289 4 ай бұрын

Yeah I like it

@Jeroony24 22 күн бұрын

thankyou. my mt07 looks like new after doing this

@A7XBilly 4 ай бұрын

Use Harpic! One 1 minute you have clean polished and as brand new exhaust pipes! Then polished them with cream for extra shine and protection for long life results.

@K113-A 4 ай бұрын

Dang it, there goes my "I need to get a new exhaust babe because this one will rust itself out" reason....

@ironhorsehero1988 4 ай бұрын

Most exhaust headers wouldn’t look half as bad if manufacturers made motorcycles with front mudguards that were practical instead of just for show. Always like your practical tips, no bs just straight talking advice.

@alexcallas8222 3 ай бұрын

Spot on- I was just about to comment that I have Pyramid (British made) Fenda Extenda on my front. Makes a noticeable difference in protection.

@Quatra05 4 ай бұрын

Very cool! Can’t wait to drop some cash with RZ so I can help you all produce more content like this. 👍👍

@0YouCanCallMeAl0 4 ай бұрын

Just use a toilet cleaning gel that has hydrochloric acid as the active ingredient, they're usually the ones marketed as limescale removing. I use one that has 8% hydrochloric acid, smear it on, some scotch pad might help a bit, rinse, you're done.

@CatalinAdc 3 ай бұрын

Autosol here with scotch Brite 💪

@hamastrength 4 ай бұрын

very good 😁😄

@John_Ridley 4 ай бұрын

Coincidence. I was just cleaning up one of my bikes last night and looking at the pipes and thinking that I need to figure out how to make those look good again.

@marykantham2773 Ай бұрын

My claws need cleaning. Thanks, Xmen.

@surg9029 4 ай бұрын

I wonder if just getting cheap sand blaster and glass beads from Harbor Freight would be easier to do and get the tight areas and brackets with less difficulty

@marcusgeorge1825 4 ай бұрын

The best way (although not accessible to most) is using a dry ice blaster. No need to worry about scratching and it’s done in no time. Bring the metals back to brand new. Nice video.

@danmanthe9335 4 ай бұрын

Hmm, maybe I'll try that on my crusty 1995 DR pipe. Or maybe I'll let it continue to look terrible

@marcusgeorge1825 4 ай бұрын

@@danmanthe9335 Terrible or simply well used? I have a couple of bikes made in 1995 and their exhausts still look as good as new. Then again they don’t really see the light of day anymore. 😊

@danmanthe9335 4 ай бұрын

@marcusgeorge1825 well used and loved. To be honest I can't tell if they were painted from the factory or not but now that I watched this I'm going to check it out tonight

@marcusgeorge1825 4 ай бұрын

@@danmanthe9335 It will be interesting for you to see the results. Good luck with the job. 👍😎

@bloodknottrevelian3396 3 ай бұрын

As mention in an earlier comment, hydrochloric acid is what you need instead of metal polish. In the UK the best source for this is a proprietary toilet cleaner by the name of Harpic Power Plus.

@povilaslondon 4 ай бұрын

harpic 10x toilet cleaner does this in no time with barely any scrubbing required. Brush it on leave for 5 mins and rinse it off, you might need a little scrubbing in the stubborn areas.

@adiohead 4 ай бұрын

Can you do a video for cleaning and restoring black exhausts?

@cruisingthethaiway6881 4 ай бұрын

Wipe it down with oil.

@christianpaulroldan4010 4 ай бұрын

Thats good

@LowQualityPigeon 4 ай бұрын

Can you please make a video on how to maintain chrome parts of the bike?

@diyeveryday67 4 ай бұрын

Same process, but use a non-abrasive cloth. Microfiber is best. You can also pick up a Mother’s Powerball or Cone for your cordless drill and it makes the process a whole lot quicker.

@LowQualityPigeon 4 ай бұрын

@@diyeveryday67 yeah but I wanna know how to maintain it. Like what things to do so that it doesn't rust. Can you suggest me?

@nelsonnguyen4811 4 ай бұрын

@@LowQualityPigeonchrome doesn’t rust. The chrome plate could get damaged and flake off and it could rust underneath. Then you’d have to get it replated.

@pariah_Ftw 4 ай бұрын

If you have a parallel twin, make sure to scrub until it turns into a inline 4👍🏽

@rajavidhun 4 ай бұрын

Just like my Orange Versys :)

@Ekocart1 4 ай бұрын

What about powder coated black exhaust headers?

@701_ben 4 ай бұрын

Is there a product that can help for titanium headers? I installed r1 headers on my mt-10 and was never able to truly bring them back to a clean look despite lots of wiping with wd-40 and other gentle solutions read online... thanks!

@GruntHumor 4 ай бұрын

Kerosene works great too.

@stumpy7777 4 ай бұрын

How about fiberglass pipe wrap.

@camt2626 4 ай бұрын

Id be cool if team zilla sold a pack on the site with these products. Make it easy for the lazy loafs out there.

@johns1139 4 ай бұрын

Where can I get red scotch brite? Can’t find it anywhere other than Amazon.

@MichaelWade12 4 ай бұрын

Harpic Power Toilet Cleaner in the UK. Sold everywhere, costs less than £3.50. Added benefit is that you will have enough left over to clean your shitter…

@philtucker1224 3 ай бұрын

Very similar system to regular cleaning, also chromium plating will prolong a brighter finish.

@joylonsequeira5067 4 ай бұрын

Do vacuum leaks next

@amvj 4 ай бұрын

How to protect the silencer colour. Some silencer on bikes are in copper colour. How to protect those? Example is honda cb300r. Its silencer has a coppery hue to it.

@jefflambert8603 4 ай бұрын

I have been Rubbing in the wrong Direction ( Ahem !, ) is there a way of Getting light Scratches out ? (Same Bike as you are Demonstrating on in this Video)

@jeffreykneeream8013 3 ай бұрын

great “how to” Titanium is a different animal I’ve been told to use WD-40 any thoughts ?

@hunterman600cc 4 ай бұрын

I did this, it took about 2 months to be crusty brown again. Oh well, 100k miles deserves to look road weary. :)

@jamesipock3669 4 ай бұрын

Is Flitz any good?

@user-vw4rv7em1k 2 ай бұрын

How do you clean a black Bassani exhaust?

@stevewade2535 4 ай бұрын

Harpic Max Power Bleach. It's all you need and it's £1.50 a bottle. Plenty of KZfaq videos on it.

@yechris2001 4 ай бұрын

How do you remove burned on plastic from your muffler?

@weinend783 4 ай бұрын

aprilia seems to have forgotten about the "sainless" in "stainless steel" for my 2020 shiver exhaust. it is as rusty as my 1995 kawa's one

@Tiagotaf 4 ай бұрын

how long does it last ?

@bananafoneable 4 ай бұрын

How did you know I wanted to do this

@cbuzz2371 4 ай бұрын

I was worried for a moment that Ari was going to mention toilet cleaner. Apparently nitric acid is the stuff to use on stainless - if you can get hold of it

@BinneReitsma 4 ай бұрын

Lab shops

@hansevers 4 ай бұрын

is this the 3m 7447 pad?

@eamonnmckeown6770 4 ай бұрын

I just want the exhaust on my Kymco scooter to fit back on after I change a rear tire. No surprise they used to build BMW scooters. Boy do they have their fan bois because of that.

@JCrozier1 3 ай бұрын

Quick to explain it, but it takes forever to do. It does look much nicer though when finished.

@mestep511 4 ай бұрын

I got some Cobra mufflers that look like they were scrubbed with something abrasive. Fine scratches in chrome. A video to solve that one would be awesome. Thanks for good tips here

@ferrumignis 4 ай бұрын

You are pretty much SOL with scratched chrome, it's simply too hard to polish scratches out like you can with softer metals. Fine scratches can be made less visible using a chrome polish, but only because you are cleaning the surface in and around the scratch, not because it's removing any chrome from the surface

@chinhchinh6265 4 ай бұрын

What about cheap motobike does not have stainless pipe?

@willjohnson5861 4 ай бұрын

That burn scene! Ari could have actually been a dumb and dumber actor and done great! Not sure it was supposed to be comedic but it had some great physical comedy.

@cbuzz2371 4 ай бұрын

Yeah, i kept rewinding that bit

@southend26 4 ай бұрын

Currently cleaning pipes

@wernerxldata 4 ай бұрын

I always use WD40 + scotchbrite, works like a charm. The only thing WD40 is good for, cleaning exhausts and cleaning plastic stuff...

@kingsbury26 4 ай бұрын

Also takes the chain grease off the wheels.

@wernerxldata 4 ай бұрын

@@kingsbury26 Yup, especially needed with orange wheels 😂

@przemosas 4 ай бұрын

it's easier to use a bandage, wrap it around once and work it like a wire saw

@keith5790 4 ай бұрын

please do one with titanium 😢

@trevjsmith23 4 ай бұрын

Any special treatment if they’re black (from the factory that is)

@craigg4246 4 ай бұрын

If you have a stainless exhaust, I suggest using stainless wool, not steel wool.

@pabjoy 4 ай бұрын

What about black powder coated exhausts? 😢

@user-cq4zp6zq4w 3 ай бұрын

i tried this on my chinese P13cE CR4P and the scotch bright started rubbing the exhaust itself off, now I have a hole in the pipe.

@Symbio123 4 ай бұрын

Does the same go for titanium?

@jameshisself9324 4 ай бұрын

Yes, but it also discolors a lot less.

@jcmartinez7527 4 ай бұрын

The video covers what to do with titanium.

@rosstinelli 4 ай бұрын

What works well is toilet cleaner, Like harpic.

@moneeb343 2 ай бұрын

Hey @revzilla // I really wish The Shop Manual had cohesive design language in their thumbnails, because at this time as a huge fan of Ari and this entire segment; I had no idea this was uploaded or created and am viewing this video almost 6 months late. The lack of cohesive design really throws Ari's reputation as a mechanic and voice of reason on KZfaq into the abyss, and relies on things outside your control as a channel.