Smoking headers

[dluszcz]

I have a 78 GS1000E that I'm trying to get going. I was able to start it up and when I did, the header pipes started smoking like crazy. These pipes were sitting for a couple of years before I bought the bike and they came with them.

They are painted black and I'm wondering if the person I bought the bike from didn't use the correct heat rated paint.

I can't describe the smell of the smoke but my whole garage got filled up when I ran it for less than 30 seconds.

The smoke was not coming out of the end of the pipes. It was like the whole header pipe was on fire or burning off something.

Any ideas or should I just a new (to me) exhaust system?

 

[posplayr]

not much can do but park the bike outside and let the pipes cook off; watch out they are hot :-\\\

 

[dluszcz]

I didn't know if this is something some people have experienced in resurrecting a bike or not. First time I've attempted something like this.

 

[posplayr]

well it is either oil from handling or new paint that needs to heat cure. It wont hurt the steel what ever.

 

[OldSchoolCruiser]

I can't speak from experience with bikes, but some cars I've gone through the process with the prior owners will "dust" a coat of rattle can paint on headers, mufflers, etc. if they will be outdoors or in a non-climate controlled area to keep them from building up surface rust. Usually the paint is whatever was on sale wherever they went; usually the dusted on paint is not exhaust paint and will take some time to burn off.