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I just had chrome side pipes installed. I didn't do my homework. If I had, I would have gotten stainless steel. I do have stainless shields. What is the best method to protect my chrome pipes from rusting. I am especially concerned for the summer months because for about three months I live extremely close to the beach. What can I do?
You can get them Jet-Hot coated inside and out. It's not cheap, about $700 for the headers and sidepipes, no coating on the inserts. You will have to remove the pipes and ship to them. Their ceramic coating will cut the heat down, cool down faster, and they offer a lifetime warranty on their coatings, with many different color options offered. I concidered buying steel Hooker sidepipes and getting them coated by them, but the cost put me close to the stainless steel price, so I went with the stainless instead.
You can get them Jet-Hot coated inside and out. It's not cheap, about $700 for the headers and sidepipes, no coating on the inserts. You will have to remove the pipes and ship to them. Their ceramic coating will cut the heat down, cool down faster, and they offer a lifetime warranty on their coatings, with many different color options offered. I concidered buying steel Hooker sidepipes and getting them coated by them, but the cost put me close to the stainless steel price, so I went with the stainless instead.
Someone suggested I wipe them down regularly while in Florida with WD40 or something like that. They said it would act as a barrier, and prevent moisture from settling on them. I thought it sound like a good idea. What do you think. I was just fishing around for other suggestions.
Someone suggested I wipe them down regularly while in Florida with WD40 or something like that. They said it would act as a barrier, and prevent moisture from settling on them. I thought it sound like a good idea. What do you think. I was just fishing around for other suggestions.
As long as the chrome is not compromised it will be fine. Now if you got salt air or spray then just wipe or wash it off. Chrome is pretty easy to take care of. Damp rag works well. Also aluminum foil and water will polish grimed up chrome. Do not use abrasive cleaners on chrome.
Up near the manifold it might get cooked and come off over time but wd 40 would probably work after wiping in that area while it's being stored between drives.
Call a Harley-Davidson dealer and ask what they recommend for their chrome pipes. From all the chrome I see on them, whatever they use must work pretty well.
Car wax, all you need. You must be too young to remember when all cars had chrome bumpers lol...Chrome is actually a clear coating that goes over a polished nickel, the nickel is what you see as shiny silver, the chrome protects the nickel from tarnishing. Just wax the chrome and you'll be fine or use a bottled "chrome cleaner" you can buy at Wally world or any parts store..And use Carnuba car wax, not car polish
I live about 250 yards from the ocean . Haven't had any issues with rust with any bike , car , etc, as long as it's sealed in my garaged at night , and as others said clean, it , lube, don't leave anything overnight outside , coat parts with wax, kEEp stuff painted, greased . Have to be more diligent with looking after stuff.....but it's possible to live near water and own vehicles
Keep garage doors down much as possible. Do not drive in rain or after rain ...just don't get old cars wet .
Now my lawn mower is dying a horrible death, as it leaves outside 24 -7 ......next project is to build a storage unit. .....
Last edited by LS4 PILOT; May 24, 2014 at 09:53 PM.
Someone suggested I wipe them down regularly while in Florida with WD40 or something like that. They said it would act as a barrier, and prevent moisture from settling on them. I thought it sound like a good idea. What do you think. I was just fishing around for other suggestions.
If you keep them clean, waxed, coated as suggested, they should last many years. Avoid running the engine for short periods of time without letting it get up to operating temperature, it will cause condensation to build inside the pipes, which they can still rust from the inside out.
Not sure about "don't drive old cars in the rain" ... Mine loves the rain, that's when it finally get's the dust wiped off !! Also, I polish all my vehicles with Pledge.... works great, even on tires...
I live about 250 yards from the ocean . Haven't had any issues with rust with any bike , car , etc, as long as it's sealed in my garaged at night , and as others said clean, it , lube, don't leave anything overnight outside , coat parts with wax, kEEp stuff painted, greased . Have to be more diligent with looking after stuff.....but it's possible to live near water and own vehicles
Keep garage doors down much as possible. Do not drive in rain or after rain ...just don't get old cars wet .
Now my lawn mower is dying a horrible death, as it leaves outside 24 -7 ......next project is to build a storage unit. .....
That's a problem for me. I don't have any kind of garage at all where I stay near the beach. I always bring one of those ez up
Tent things that has the mesh as walls but that's mostly to keep the squirrels from dropping pine cones on it and also to protect it from the yawn maintance men. They are not real careful with their weed eaters and the tent does protect my car from those issues.
I had someone tell me to coat my pipes regularly with WD 40 while I am there. Do u think that would do the trick?
As long as the chrome is not compromised it will be fine. Now if you got salt air or spray then just wipe or wash it off. Chrome is pretty easy to take care of. Damp rag works well. Also aluminum foil and water will polish grimed up chrome. Do not use abrasive cleaners on chrome.
Up near the manifold it might get cooked and come off over time but wd 40 would probably work after wiping in that area while it's being stored between drives.
K great, then WD 40 is what I'll do. I just noticed my mistake when I replied to you a few days back on my question about ramps/jacks. Sorry about that. Apparently I thought the picture above your reply was a picture of your ramps.
Yesterday I went to auto zone and got a set of Rhino Ramps. I am gonna try those out. If I don't like them, they were only 40.00.
Call a Harley-Davidson dealer and ask what they recommend for their chrome pipes. From all the chrome I see on them, whatever they use must work pretty well.
Call a Harley-Davidson dealer and ask what they recommend for their chrome pipes. From all the chrome I see on them, whatever they use must work pretty well.
Originally Posted by MIKE80
If you keep them clean, waxed, coated as suggested, they should last many years. Avoid running the engine for short periods of time without letting it get up to operating temperature, it will cause condensation to build inside the pipes, which they can still rust from the inside out.
Thanks for the suggestion about avoiding running the engine for short periods of time. I am always looking for a good reason to drive a little longer 😀
Funny to hear pledge mentioned,
I crossed over from vintage motorcycles.
Pledge was a common agent for wiping Harleys down.
With their paint and chrome and pledge a 25 yr old dresser could look as good a new.
Just got to get it all of before any future paint work can be done as the silicons will cause painting issues.
Still I used it on my electraglide.
Marshal
Chrome is a protective coating in itself. It is also pretty and shiny, but very hard and corrosion resistant.
I know your right. I also know I have been stressing more than I need to over this rusting issue. I am gonna basically do what I always do. Keep it clean, dry, and give it a good wipe down every night. I will probably also use the WD40, but I think that's about it.
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