Blue Discolored Headers?

[jbthomp]

Ok so after 34 years my headers looked well.....horrible. They were all blueish and brown looking. So I started scouring the internet and came across "Blue Job" I though well heck yeah and ordered some online. So I was off trying to polish the bluing off my pipes. Well lets just say my arm tired out way before the coloring was gone. I started doing some research and found out that the blue/brown color was actaully oxidation on the chrome from the heat on the exhaust. I figured if i could remove that oxidation layer that shiny chrome would be underneath. So I busted out some 400 grit sandpaper and sanded them wet for a few minutes until all the color was gone. Then worked my way up 600, 1500, 2000 grit progressively making finer and finer sand scratches. When I got up to 2000 grit the pipe was pretty shiny looking. I went ahead and put some Turtle wax chrome polish on it and man does it look good. So if you have been living with ugly looking exhaust pipes because you can't get the crap off them you might give it a try. You might surprise yourself.

 

[jbthomp]

Before polish

 

[jbthomp]

After Polish

 

[Guest]

You're a better man than I Gunga Din! Those look great. Mine were much the same way....I was going to polish them clean, but noticed some rust on the underside, so decided on another route. Paint!

Before:

After:

 

[jbthomp]

Yeah some guys like the blue look. I like the shiny chrome look myself That's a beautiful bike by the way.

 

[steve murdoch]

jb, your pipes look good after all your hard work but there is a good chance the discolouration will return unless you get the carbs sorted.
Did you alter the airbox or maybe leave the bike idling for a long while?

 

[tbirdhd]

looks lean and got hot

 

[jbthomp]

Yeah I was running it without an Airbox lid not knowing it needed one and the intakes were leaking. Everything is right now. I should have my carb orings tomorrow and we'll see how it runs.

 

[Rob S.]

You're a better man than I Gunga Din! Those look great. Mine were much the same way....I was going to polish them clean, but noticed some rust on the underside, so decided on another route. Paint!

Before:

After:

My PO went the same route - black paint on rusty chrome headers. Only he didn't remove the rust before he painted them, so I do a lot of touching up. But I kind of like the black header and chrome muffler look ('82 1100e).

 

[Guest]

Whatever turned them blue will come back to you unless the problem is found and corrected. Ask me how I know?

 

[jbthomp]

Yeah i had leaking intake o rings. I've got it fixed now.