Exhaust burned pants and now I can't scrape the polyester off the chrome


  #1  
Old 06-10-18, 01:09 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,040
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
Exhaust burned pants and now I can't scrape the polyester off the chrome

Got a new chopper with a Medustas exhaust, I rode in loose (100% polyester) pajama pants. Apparently the wind would push the pants onto the exhaust and the pants material burned onto the exhaust.
Trying to scrape it off with a plastic scraper but only the small stuff is coming off and the big pieces are caked on.
I'm afraid to use the metal/razor scraper because it might take off some of the chrome finish.
What's the best way to deal with this?
(PS I Know the left brown area looks like it's rust but it isn't)
 
Attached Images  
  #2  
Old 06-10-18, 01:11 PM
Marq1's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA MI
Posts: 9,745
Received 1,210 Upvotes on 1,098 Posts
Steel wool, like 000 will clean it off with no issues!
 
  #3  
Old 06-10-18, 01:39 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,040
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
on a cold or warm exhaust?
any liquid solution needed to "loosen" it up first?
 
  #4  
Old 06-10-18, 02:04 PM
Gunguy45's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 19,281
Received 6 Upvotes on 6 Posts
Who in their right mind rides a bike with pajama pants on? And who would wear 100% polyester? Uuuhhhhhhgggg.
 
  #5  
Old 06-10-18, 02:14 PM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,040
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
It was a quick test ride around the block after having changed some fluids
 
  #6  
Old 06-10-18, 02:45 PM
P
Group Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NC, USA
Posts: 27,592
Received 2,144 Upvotes on 1,920 Posts
Ah... I can remember riding in shorts, T shirt and flip flops. Oh, to be young and free/stupid again...
 
  #7  
Old 06-11-18, 02:32 AM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,643
Received 832 Upvotes on 729 Posts
I'd try the steel wool [stiff rag may work] with either a solvent or soap as a lubricant.
 
  #8  
Old 06-13-18, 08:45 PM
S
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: WI/MN
Posts: 19,119
Received 1,262 Upvotes on 1,203 Posts
Mineral spirits should soften the polyester but I don't know if it's safe to use on chrome.
 
  #9  
Old 06-14-18, 02:14 AM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,643
Received 832 Upvotes on 729 Posts
Mineral spirits shouldn't hurt chrome plating.
 
  #10  
Old 06-14-18, 06:06 AM
G
Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MI
Posts: 2,364
Upvotes: 0
Received 2 Upvotes on 2 Posts
I'd be nervous to use steel wool on an expensive item like that. I'd try a solvent first.

("Test in an inconspicuous area...")
 
  #11  
Old 06-22-18, 08:20 AM
M
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 1,040
Received 4 Upvotes on 4 Posts
The steel wool (0) was not only dulling the chrome finish but also not removing the gunk. I stopped as soon as I started noticing this, shouldn't have used it in the first place
 
  #12  
Old 08-23-18, 08:20 AM
R
Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Dont know if you have figured this out yet or not but I have pipes I melt my shoes on from time to time. What works for me is to warm the pipes up. I use a chrome polish little Mothers that also is a rust remover. Turtle Wax sells one too. Warm the bike up but not to the point that when you apply the polish it will just boil off. Use a course rag, the softess yet ruffest thing you have. Go to town on it. I can always get the marks off from my shoes. I can't say if this will work for what you melted on there but it works for shoes.

Another thing, are you sure those pipes are chrome? They kindof look like polished Stainless. If they are stainless, you just need to get some polishing equipment and learn the art of polishing. (cheaper than new pipes) I had to recently and since I already had a bench grinder, was around $75.00 for all the other stuff. I was able to make my pipes look new again after some welding work to fix a crack. Polishing would surely remove that burn if the pipes are stainless since you can use fine sandpaper on it then polish back out to a mirror finish. I'm no pro at polishing so I can't tell you how agressive you can polish chrome before you dick it up and remove the plating.

Your pipes have bluing at the top and a golden hue so from the picture, they look like polished stainless to me.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question