Refurbing My Black OEM Exhaust

[stiksave]

Unrelated answer, good eye. When I first tore down the basement find and refurbed it, I must have switched them on reinstall. Well I haven't killed myself in 8 years, now I have something to do over the winter, not like we run out of to do list items. Thank you, nothing like a couple extra thousand eyes. lmao, really.

[Steve]

Second - and this is the caution - I clicked on the hyperlink in your signature line and Norton Anti-Virus blocked an intrusion from some uk address.

As far as Nortons caution, I run Microsoft Security Esentials on my pc's and Malwarebytes regularly without any intrusions. My Photo Bucket account is about 8 years old problem free.

Personally, I would suspect Norton before any other program.

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[dpep]

Your welcome. The last thing I wanted to do was paint or recoat these. The system was solid as new, so I thought it was worthy of the effort. If the restore went well I thought it might be helpful to others. I guess a step by step guide would be good. 1st, 0000 steel wool with WD-40 as a lubricant to take off the heavy gunk and pitting. Second, I bought a 3" polishing wheel kit from Harbour Frieght $4.49, that came with 2 wheels and to bars of polishing compound. One red for heavier polishing and a white one recomended for jewelry and fine polishing which is the one I used. Just run the wheel over it to pick up the compound. I also used 3M fine cut polishing liquid with it. Then just some old terry cloth rags to wipe off the mess and see what you've done. That's it, step one is the real work. Good luck.

Thanks again, stiksave. Can you give just a tad more detail on the 2nd step, the polishing step? Did you perform the operation twice--once with the white compound in the HF polish wheel kit and once with the 3M fine cut polish? In that order? Did you just apply the compounds with your fingers or a soft cloth with minimal pressure before removing with buffer wheel? Did you allow the compound to dry or buff while still moist?
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[greg78gs750]

nice looking pipes, good refurb job!

[Nessism]

Be very careful using a power buffer on a black exhaust or you can burn though the black colored material. Most all the cleaning possible can be done with regular ol chrome cleaner and a cotton rag. I did a couple of 1100 exhausts last year and you can get them looking pretty good by hand. An orbital buffer would be safer than a rotary.

[stiksave]

Thanks again, stiksave. Can you give just a tad more detail on the 2nd step, the polishing step? Did you perform the operation twice--once with the white compound in the HF polish wheel kit and once with the 3M fine cut polish? In that order? Did you just apply the compounds with your fingers or a soft cloth with minimal pressure before removing with buffer wheel? Did you allow the compound to dry or buff while still moist?
...

I put the polishing wheel in my cordless drill. I ran the edge of the wheel on the white bar. As you tilt the bar you can see the coverage of the polish on the wheel.Test yourself first on the engine side of the header, that's where most of the damage(pitting) was on mine. Work it a bit and towel it off, then look at the result. The polish residue will hide the new finish. A terry towel wipes it away in seconds. The 3M liquid I applied with my fingers and let it set a few minutes, then buffed. I worked in small areas going easy. Time is your friend. The white bar is jewelers rouge, no noticeable grit to it. I talked with a car restoration shop and was told that if you can feel any abrasive in the compound don't use it. I've been using the 3M fine cut polish about twenty years on my paint jobs, enamel, laquer, and two part epoxy. Good product.

My half moon sleeves, for 2 and 3 cylinder came in today, so I may switch exhaust this weekend. Take your time and good luck. Did you complete step one? If so, how did it go?

[stiksave]

Update. Putting the stock exhaust on is like a monkey f'ing a football. The Japanese must still be ****ed over the war when they engineered it. Anyway, it's on. Needed to get new flange bolts as the aftermarket exhaust used shorter bolts. Fired it up, must have been a mouse living in it. It was full of duck or chicken down, pretty funny, and messy. The garage needed to be swept anyway. I'll post a pic soon.

[stiksave]

Refurb and install completed. I have to get used to them on the bike, sound, exhaust on both sides, and the look. I already miss being able to put it on the center stand from the seat, hot pipe. Washed the fingerprints off and brake dust. Just a stinky old red gs1100, but I like it.

[hikermikem]

Putting the stock exhaust on is like a monkey f'ing a football.

This is a great line...

[stiksave]

I left the system loose because of having it apart for the refurb. So, catch 2 and 3, 1 and 4 fall over. then keeping the half moon shims in place, argh. I used black allen head cap screw to mount it to the head (8mm x 1.5"). I took the proper allen wrench and cut the short end off, placed it the coresponding 1/4" socket in order to use a ratchet to alternate tightening of bolts.Then of coarse the muffler mounts didn't line up correctly. Back off bolts at the head, remove and dremel the muffler mounts, catch and retighten exhaust bolts. Awkward but done. That's why the quote line.

[stiksave]

dpep, Did you get the refurb done, and how did it go for you?

[Weapon]

looks awesome!

I will be following this very handy guide when I do mine.

I was thinking a little bit of grease might help hold those retainers in place, you know until you grow another arm or two out of the center of your chest.

[stiksave]

looks awesome!

I will be following this very handy guide when I do mine.

I was thinking a little bit of grease might help hold those retainers in place, you know until you grow another arm or two out of the center of your chest.

Good luck with the restore. I was pretty much in the dark with the job. I asked a lot questions at restoration shops I visited. It worked out better than I thought seeing what I brought home. It's held up very well afterward. A little polish, a little carnuba wax, love it.