...Respraying Exhaust Headers?

[neodude112320]

My Bike has always been Garaged and is generally well looked after - Yet it seems that the exhaust headers are starting to go "brown". Every GS I have seen seems to have this problem.

My Idea was to respray them with a black high temp paint. I've generally only sprayed smaller objects so this would be a first. What kind of prep would need to go into this?

[twocool]

No...don't do it!

Get that stove black stuff...just rub it on and the pipes look great!

http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Williams-Stove-Polish-Paste/dp/B007UXK1DG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438776337&sr=8-2&keywords=black+stove+polish

Cookie

My Bike has always been Garaged and is generally well looked after - Yet it seems that the exhaust headers are starting to go "brown". Every GS I have seen seems to have this problem.

My Idea was to respray them with a black high temp paint. I've generally only sprayed smaller objects so this would be a first. What kind of prep would need to go into this?

[neodude112320]

This look's good however how long would this last (I.e How often would I need to re-apply to keep that black look?)?

[twocool]

It lasts pretty good...but you do have to redo it once in a while...usually, when I have the Fairings off...like for an oil change or plugs...I go over the pipes with the stove black...it takes maybe 10 minutes, tops...always looks good..

If you want to do just a touch-up it takes a few seconds..

Painting is going to look like crap in a couple months....It's a pain job to do..to get the pipes clean enough for painting...then you have to paint without messing up the whole bike..or else you have to remove the headers altogether...The high temp paint is going to stink for a long time too...and discolor over time...

If you really want them to look good and last...it's gonna cost big $$...you can take them off and get them ceramic coated..

Cookie

This look's good however how long would this last (I.e How often would I need to re-apply to keep that black look?)?

[ShowBizWolf]

Here is a good thread with some info...

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=63024.msg742614#msg742614

I agree with twocool, if I had black pipes I'd be tempted to give the stove polish a try 

[DoktoroKiu]

Thanks for the links for the thread and stove polish.  My headers are rusty and I've been wondering what the options are for getting them back into shape without removing them and doing a ton of sanding and respraying.

[CanRider]

No...don't do it!

Get that stove black stuff...just rub it on and the pipes look great!

http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Williams-Stove-Polish-Paste/dp/B007UXK1DG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438776337&sr=8-2&keywords=black+stove+polish

Cookie

Beyond looks.. any reason? I seem to have at one point googled a walk thru from this site, it involved brass wire wheels to take up the old rust & paint, and then repaint with high temp black stuff.

I have a set of stock down pipes / exhaust end I plan on doing up like neodude...

[twocool]

I gave about 4 reasons in the previous post..

If you want to paint 'em...go for it...get back to me in a year and see if you're still happy with them...


Cookie

No...don't do it!

Get that stove black stuff...just rub it on and the pipes look great!

http://www.amazon.com/Rutland-Williams-Stove-Polish-Paste/dp/B007UXK1DG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1438776337&sr=8-2&keywords=black+stove+polish

Cookie

Beyond looks.. any reason? I seem to have at one point googled a walk thru from this site, it involved brass wire wheels to take up the old rust & paint, and then repaint with high temp black stuff.

I have a set of stock down pipes / exhaust end I plan on doing up like neodude...

[GS500Schultz]

step 1: sand blast
step 2: blow with clean air
step 3: paint with VHT flame proof paint good for 2000 degress.


step 4: enjoy the sexiness

[Alan_nc]

There is a paint that is made for outdoor grills that works very well.  Better than just regular high temp spray paint.  I sprayed mine about 2 years ago and it still looks good.  Might smell and smoke a bit the first time it gets hot.

[Watcher]

I didn't have the experience others have had with my headers when I painted them.

I happened to work at a machine shop at the time so prep was done with a sandblaster, dusted off with compressed air, and prepped for paint with brake-clean.  Sand paper would work find if you want to put in the time and elbow grease.  You have to remove the exhaust, but so what?  It's 4 bolts for the headers, and one bolt for the rear hanger.  Easily done with one person, and you don't need to torque the hell out of the header bolts.  I snugged them up with the allen wrench and gave them a good press with a box end wrench as a cheater and never had them come loose afterward.

Painted with high temp paint from Pep Boys, I think VHT brand.  One can did the whole header up to the weld for the muffler, IIRC 3 coats.  I let it cure overnight before reinstalling it onto the bike, then idled the bike for 20 minutes to heat the headers up and went for a quick ride to burn the paint in.
Although they did SHOW dirt quite easily, the paint held up well.  It all burned in within an hour of riding around and stopped smoking and smelling afterward, and after a good washing they looked fresh and clean.
Didn't have that nice wet black look, they had a matte black almost grey kind of look.  That's how it looks, that's how it should be expected to look. 
It held up very well.

This is one of the last photos I have of it, before I sold it, and about 6 months of daily riding since painted.  Not the best angle, but of what you can see is representative of the whole exhaust.



This is a better angle, but from a few months earlier.  Paint looked nearly identical in both cases.

[bmf]

I had limited luck with the bbq paint. I redid mine with ceramic vht and it's still 100% after 2 years. Remember there is a process to cure the headers after painting. Run 10 minutes let cool, run 20 minutes let cool etc.

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[ShowBizWolf]

Omg Watcher your GS's paint was gorgeous! I love that color and that pin striping on the tank... wow that really looks classy! I hope the new owner is taking really good care of it!

[Watcher]

Thanks!  I hope so too!

Truth be told that bike never ran 100%.  I do miss the paint, it never looked the same place by place day by day!  Luckily I live with the guy who painted it so I could always have my current bike done for cost.  If only I had a week where I would stop riding it...

[neodude112320]

Some good Arguments here although as I don't have access to a sand blaster I think I'm going to give the Stove cleaner a go and see how that goes

[akapellen17]

I did the sanding trick and then rubbing WD40 on the pipes and burning it off. It takes a lot of work but it is worth it. Just sand it down to metal and put WD40 on a scotch pad and then wipe it off and start the bike. I have had this for about 2 months through rain and shine and they still look the same!

[fakejimmymorgan]

Think I'll take mine off and pay the $50 to get them blasted then clean and paint.  I want them Aluminium coloured to match the frame.  Will spray them with the duplicolor ceramic hi temp paint and see what happens.

[bmf]

Did mine with a drill and a wire brush. Took half an hour.

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