What type of spray paint to use on exhaust tubes?

[Chilly Willy]

Hi all,

I've got some ugly looking exhaust tubes and wanted to re-paint them.  When I asked for a recommendation from the local Napa dealer, he said that a spray-on paint wouldn't work due to the temperature that the pipes reach. 

What has been your experience?  Any recommendations for paint?

Thanks,

El Noobo

[Mandres]

I used Rustoleum brand high temp barbeque grill paint.  It's not very durable but it looks good.

-M

[tussey]

Hi all,

I've got some ugly looking exhaust tubes and wanted to re-paint them.  When I asked for a recommendation from the local Napa dealer, he said that a spray-on paint wouldn't work due to the temperature that the pipes reach. 

What has been your experience?  Any recommendations for paint?

Thanks,

El Noobo

http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Restoration/PaintExhaust

I wrote that article, let me know if you have questions

[MarkusN]

Nothing will be very durable on the headers, especially if you also ride in the rain. The best results I have seen so far were achieved by heating the exhaust before dusting on the first coat of paint. Meticulous preparation is paramount. So is using a paint formulated for the highest temperatures.

Another possiple approach is linseed oil or even old motor oil, baked on. You have to repeat this procedure often, but it can be applied over the rust.

[Chilly Willy]

Cool,

Thanks!  I've got a to-do list a mile long.  The first section was getting the bike street legal.  I was able to do all of the wiring work yesterday.  Next is replacing most of my seals / gaskets as the engine is fairly leaky.  Finally, I want to work on the cosmetics.  This pipe info is for when I get to the someday (cosmetics) stage.

[jake42]

High Heat BBQ black has worked well for me. It's cheap too. It's basically a dull finish, but much better than the rusty V&H's. By the way, my V&H pipes rusted in about a year and a half, my stockers stood up much better than that.

jake

[ivany]

The grill paint from rustoleum is rated to 1200F...don't think exhaust pipes get that hot...

[Old Mr. Wilson]

Don't know how much jack you wanna spend but.........have you thought about taking the exhaust and having it professionally chromed? Has anyone else here done that? I think it'd look great. Sharp. I called a man in Baton Rouge the other day and he said he'd charge me around 40 bucks give or take a few. I think that is a fair price. I might even pay double that if he'd do a first class job. I know zilch about chroming. Can they put on extra plating? Hope this helps. Wilson

[Chilly Willy]

Chrome would look sweet!   And $40 would be more than worth it.  I wish I knew someone out here who did that kind of work.

El Noobo

[pantablo]

the exhaust on the gs is single walled, meaning teh chrome will turn blue when the chrome heats up, particularly at the first bend downward coming off the engine.

1200F grill paint works great.

[wyiel]

When chrome blues after a few heat cycles, I think it looks pretty awesome.  Reminds me of race-cars w/ titanium exhausts & sportbikes with worked exhausts.

[Chilly Willy]

How do I get the pipes off the engine in order to paint them?  Is this a fairly easy project for a noob?

El Noobo

[tussey]

How do I get the pipes off the engine in order to paint them?  Is this a fairly easy project for a noob?

El Noobo

4 bolts on the header, 18mm hex, and one bolt on the passegner pillion. 12mm I think.

[Old Mr. Wilson]

Strange that you mentioned that Pablo. Two weeks ago I was talking to an old hand in the shop about chroming and he said that back in the 60's and 70's they used to spray the INSIDE of the pipe near the head with a black "pit" (barbeque grill) paint. This would either thwart or retard bluing of the pipe after a new chrome job. Personally I think that a little bluing on the pipes has some character (my personal opinion). Reminiscent of the old twins. Hell, they all were blued near the heads. I think I am gonna get my exhaust chromed. I also want that front half of the front fender fabricated in a brushed or satin stainless. I think it'll look Boss.

[sledge]

I dont bother with paint on the headers, I use black stove polish, its much easier and the results are just as good. All the Show and museum guys over here use it, PLUS you dont have to take the pipes off and risk snapping the header bolts.

http://www.rutland.com/sfp1/link1.htm

[Chilly Willy]

I dont bother with paint on the headers, I use black stove polish, its much easier and the results are just as good. All the Show and museum guys over here use it, PLUS you dont have to take the pipes off and risk snapping the header bolts.

http://www.rutland.com/sfp1/link1.htm

Nice!  Would I just apply it with a rag?  How many coats?  How often?  What sort of prep work would I need to do?

El Noobo

[ducati_nolan]

As far as exhaust not getting to 1200 degrees, I have an EGT gauge (exhaust gas temperature) on a skydiving plane that I fly and I adjust the mixture to maintain a best power temp of 1450! Usually bikes will only see that temp only ocasionally and only for a few seconds but they do get hot.

Ceramic coating works great and looks simmilar to chrome, and it's supposed to give you more power, call a hotrod shop and they can help you out. It won't chip off or blue either. my dad put it on his plane and it loks great, not quite as brilliant as chrome (maybee if you polish it  ) but much more durrable. I think it cost $50.

[John Bates]

I've heard VHT Flameproof coating works.  Haven't tried it myself.

[Chilly Willy]

Thank you.  It looks like there's lots of different options, I just have to figure out what will stand up to riding the best.  This looks like pretty sturdy paint.

El Noobo

[Dandy D]

Well here's my take on the 1200 degree BBQ, stove pipe paint. It might work - it might not!

I recently painted my pipes with said paint (even the bike shop I frequent recommended it). One pipe is still good the other baked the paint off on the outside of the down bend closest to the cylinder.

BUT here's the kicker - upon removing my exhaust system to paint it I noted that I have been running one rich cylinder and one lean (yeah its currently in for servicing  ) and it was the rich cylinder that burned the paint off. How friggin' hot does it actually get !!!

Anyway, I figure I'll repaint using the same 1200 paint after the servicing is done and hopefully then my cylinders will operate at a lower temperature and not bloody melt out from under me!

The pipes did look really sharp after they were painted.  (I just hope it actually works the next time)

Maybe I'll update this with a couple of pics later - after I get my baby back (...ribs  )
Ride safe,
Dandy