Login Register Sign up for the GRM e-newsletter

Login to post Forums » Sprockets » Cleaning old exhaust pipes?
  • SlickDizzy

    March 12, 2010 1:26 p.m. SlickDizzy UltraDork

    The megaphones on my RD200 are NASTY. Tons of carbon buildup and nasty E36 M3 on the inside from sitting in a barn, removed from the bike for 20 some years. They look okay on the outside though. What's the best way to clean out all of the carbon buildup in these things?

  • Dr. Hess

    March 12, 2010 1:59 p.m. Dr. Hess PowerDork

    Soilent Green, I mean Simple Green has worked for me. You could try a pressure washer as well. Or just knock anything loose out and ride it.

  • stuart in mn

    March 12, 2010 7:56 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

    Are they chrome plated? If not, the old school way of cleaning them was heating them up with a torch to burn out the carbon.

  • SlickDizzy

    March 12, 2010 8:46 p.m. SlickDizzy UltraDork

    They are chrome; I fixed my moped exhaust by your method Stuart, throwing it in a campfire for a night! Came out looking like crap but free of all blockage. I don't want to torch the chrome on these though, they're surprisingly nice, but both are pretty nasty inside.

  • 44Dwarf

    March 12, 2010 9:33 p.m. 44Dwarf HalfDork

    Steps. 1) remove pipes 2) fire up the barby grill 3) place pipes on barby on med heat. 4) remove from heat about 2 minutes after they start to stink 5) hose down the inside with EZ-OFF oven cleaner. 6) place back on heat turned down to lowest setting for 5 more minute. 7) place pipes in 5 gallon pile and use garden hose. 8) leave bucket in sun to evaporite.

  • 914Driver

    March 13, 2010 9:04 a.m. 914Driver UltraDork

    ... then steel wool it.

  • pilotbraden

    March 15, 2010 9:46 a.m. pilotbraden New Reader

    SlickDizzy wrote:

    They are chrome; I fixed my moped exhaust by your method Stuart, throwing it in a campfire for a night! Came out looking like crap but free of all blockage. I don't want to torch the chrome on these though, they're surprisingly nice, but both are pretty nasty inside.

    The "red hot treatment" Works on many things

  • Rusnak_322

    March 15, 2010 10:24 a.m. Rusnak_322 Reader

    I would plug one end, fill with something like simple green and water or degreaser and let it sit overnight. Then dump out 1/2 the liquid, drop in a bunch of nuts and shake it like crazy to hopefully loosen up as much as possible. If that didn't work well enough, you can take it to a radiator shop and have it hot tanked.

 

You'll need to log in to post.