TTE tailpipe trim rechrome - suggestions

[ashtons99]

Has anyone managed to get this done. Ours are not too bad but a bit marked, it would be nice to get them rechromed. Is there any way the oval chrome trims can be separated from the tailpipes.

[Ardent]

Amazing!
I am just doing the very same thing. Regards seperating tip from rest of pipe. No. unless you saw it off and re weld back.

Metal finisher near my work. Took pipe to him. Talked about what can be done, went away, came back, having checked someting. Said sorry cannot re chrome as pipe and tip are stainless steel. (good quality stainless by all accounts)
We have come up with another idea. But keeping that under wraps for now.

The stainless presents a problem in terms of quick (read cheap) chroming. It can be done, but not without a lot more work and processes and more wine tokens than I am prepared to part with.

All the TTE zorsts are now of a certain age and this may become something that needs to be considered.

[ashtons99]

Hi thanks. I didn't want to duplicate post, I'd read your thread and thought it was something different to what I wanted to do. I'd sort of guessed it was a non starter but it's amazing what problems some people do manage to work around. I will stick with the autosol fir now

[Joesson]

@Ardent , I do know that soaking rusted items in vinegar has a good De rusting effect. Vinegar being inferior grape juice I wonder if superior grape juice would be beneficial in the removal of very difficult rust

[dan944]

Someone on the Facebook page has just done his tte exhaust and it's like new. Worth a look. I think that was autosol and elbow grease.


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[MR TWO]

If you put Harpic on the discoloured tip, it will clean a great deal of the crud (of all types) off the pipe.  Then get wire brushes with brass bristles (brass works much better than steel on stainless).  Then autosol.  Finish with Peek brand polish.

When you have a bike, you know these things!

Here's a vid to illustrate the harpic...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXcM6g-JaBo

On my car I prefer the tip burnt black...

[Joesson]

CAUTION.
Harpic, while being advertised as able to " clean around the bend" , and there being bends in exhaust manifolds could at first glance be considered for cleaning stainless steel.
However, Harpic is a bleach product and stainless steel does not like bleach. It can in the short term stain the surface and in the long term corrode the stainless material.

Manufacture and packaging of bleach is done with the complete absence of metals in the equipment. Some years ago, a chemical company in Derbyshire inadvertently used a very short length of high grade stainless steel pipe in the supply line from manufacturing to filling machine. The bleach product leached the stainless and created the potential to form a noxious gas. The result was a warehouse full of plastic containers full of contaminated bleach which rapidly began to swell up like footballs. The Fire Brigade were called  in to " defuse" and decontaminate the area.
First hand account, I was the filling machine company rep.

[Ardent]

@Ardent , I do know that soaking rusted items in vinegar has a good De rusting effect. Vinegar being inferior grape juice I wonder if superior grape juice would be beneficial in the removal of very difficult rust

Dear Tony
As it is stainless. Rust was not the issue. Just carbon deposits and gen :Dral crud.
Secondly, no way am I trying/wasting valueable grape juice on a mere cosmetic irritation. 

[Ardent]

For clarity.
I'm looking at cleaing the inside part rather than the chrome part.

[MR TWO]

CAUTION.
Harpic, while being advertised as able to " clean around the bend" , and there being bends in exhaust manifolds could at first glance be considered for cleaning stainless steel.
However, Harpic is a bleach product and stainless steel does not like bleach. It can in the short term stain the surface and in the long term corrode the stainless material.

Manufacture and packaging of bleach is done with the complete absence of metals in the equipment. Some years ago, a chemical company in Derbyshire inadvertently used a very short length of high grade stainless steel pipe in the supply line from manufacturing to filling machine. The bleach product leached the stainless and created the potential to form a noxious gas. The result was a warehouse full of plastic containers full of contaminated bleach which rapidly began to swell up like footballs. The Fire Brigade were called  in to " defuse" and decontaminate the area.
First hand account, I was the filling machine company rep.

How interesting! I've never heard of anything like that so thanks for the heads up.

I doubt that anyone cleaning their exhaust for ten mins outside is likely to encounter any problems though, and like you I xan personally vouch for that, as will most bike riders who have tried it.  Of course the ones who won't are dead! No mot from the fumes, shot by the Harpic PR squad!

[Joesson]

For clarity.
I'm looking at cleaing the inside part rather than the chrome part.

Have you considered a wire brush on an electric drill?
(PPE -Eye protection needed)

[Call the midlife!]

For clarity.
I'm looking at cleaing the inside part rather than the chrome part.

Have you thought about/tried EGR cleaning spray to break down the carbon deposits?


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[wotugonado]

I used autosol and 800 wet and dry sandpaper, messy and slow but effective.

[The Other Stu]

Did you have a read of what I put on Jason's post?

Some guy on FB took his from looking terrible to mirror finish all over (except for the bits he sprayed black)

[Ardent]

Thus far, have gone for a chemical mechanical approach. May try other chemical options.

[MisterK]

I used autosol and 800 wet and dry sandpaper, messy and slow but effective.
[/quoate]
+1 for Autosol but not used the wet & dry.  I'm happy with my tips - nice & shiny.  A guy in the MR2DC has cleaned all the paint off the inside of the tips to reveal the stainless steel & it does look good.

[Ardent]

For clarity.
I'm looking at cleaing the inside part rather than the chrome part.

Have you thought about/tried EGR cleaning spray to break down the carbon deposits?


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No. But like your thinking. Thats something else to try.

[Ardent]

Results can be found here.
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=65079.0
or here
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=65142.0

[Joesson]

Looks like a good job, nice and shiny.

[Ardent]

Have now added some before pics for ref in this thread.
https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=65142.0