Rusty Crusty Exhaust

[DGXSER]

OK, so I have an exhaust system that seems to be decent internally, nothing shakes or rattles inside when I move the pipes or turn them over. The exterior on this stock special exhaust is quite rusty and crusty. It has been painted on the lower sections, and there are a few places that have been welded on. Like three inch strips of weld around the diameter. What you see in these pics that look like rust streaks are rusty welds.





Of course the area under the heat guards is awful. Not rusted through, or soft, but very crusty.

So, now the question. What have others done as the simplest way to clean this up? (I do not own a blasting cabinet) and what type of coatings have been used that will fit in a tight budget, say less than $200.

[IanDMacDonald]

If it was mine and ur dead-set on painting it, I'd get a wire brush for my drill, get all the rust shaved down, then try that CeraKote "TheRev" used on his bike.

[IanDMacDonald]

Personally, I think the exhaust looks decent enough to leave it alone and just ride it. Nice bike.

[D0wn5h1ft]

I have the same problem. My pipes are getting a little crusty. I'm soaking rags in evapo-rust and draping them over the rusted sections. Once it does its work. I'll take some heavy grit sandpaper to get rid of any loose debris. After that, taking some high temp enamel engine paint and painting the length of the pipes then doing some exhaust wrap. I might do a clear coat of enamel over my black paint but we'll see. Do it soon, though! Winter is hard on steel and every day it gets worse...

[IanDMacDonald]

Not sure what others have tried, but I never had much luck painting my pipes with high temp paint. It looks great, but scratches easily. And, I tried everything from grill paint to header paint. And, I even primed them.

[D0wn5h1ft]

Not sure what others have tried, but I never had much luck painting my pipes with high temp paint. It looks great, but scratches easily. And, I tried everything from grill paint to header paint. And, I even primed them.

Gotta strip that old chrome off. Nothing sticks to chrome, that's sort of why everyone loves it. If I had the dollars I would go get mine nickel plated but there are more pressing matters with my bike than that now.

A sandblast should get it all off and back down to steel.

[IanDMacDonald]

Ooooooooh. Yeah, never did that.

[crazy steve]

I do my own aluminum polishing, but I've also found that you can 'restore' chrome by buffing it with a sewn cotton buff and red rouge compound, following up with a loose cotton buff and white compound. That will remove the rust and stains in most cases, smooth off any 'blisters' around pits, without scratching/dulling the chrome like wire wheels or steel wool does. You'll still have bare metal where the plating is gone, but careful painting of just the bare spots with high-heat silver paint will 'hide' those better than you think.

You'll end up with a more high-maintenance finish; you'll have to stay on top of it with cleaning/waxing and touch-up, but you'll still have a chrome finish.

[DGXSER]

Well, I took a wire wheel to the rusty spots, and found holes, several of them. So it will need more welding to fix those before I decide on the finish.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Don,
Ceramic coating may be an option after you have welded all the holes.I would inquire first as they may strip the chrome as part of the process. Some different colours available though not shiny or chrome like.
Phil