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Melted rain suit on exhaust pipe, p. 2
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Q. Had been in New York all day and while riding home that night my Gortex rainsuit pants touched against the head pipe of the exhaust, leaving a thick black marking. Did not find out until the next morning. To date, I have tried "Blue Job" [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], some other chrome cleaner and even brake cleaner. No luck yet. Any suggestions? I just installed these new Hooker headers about three months ago and consequently would love to save them.
Thanks
construction - Crofton, Maryland
+++++++A. Dropped Polyester Blanket On hot Pipes Melted Big Black spot on Pipes Tried All the Remedies I Had read.
Ron B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
What Finally Worked was to take a single edge razor blade and scrape the polyester off And polish the pipes with Mother's Aluminum Polish [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] . Pipes Look like NEW and the scratches form the steel wool have gone away also.
- Erie, Michigan
+++++++ A. Had a buddy's wife get her shoes on my pipes. Triple or quad zero steel wool works =>
Thomas B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
also, and every home has it, gasoline. Put gas on a rag, stuff came right off.
- Sewickley Heights, Pennsylvania
+++++++A. Try gasoline... I have had great success in removing leather,rubber and some things I'm not sure what they were. Just for those who will probably ask- Cold -pipe unless you want a surprise
Charlie S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- New Albany Pennsylvania
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I was getting off my motorcycle and the shopping bag (plastic) touched the pipe and I can't get it off to save my soul please help.
SONNY T [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- STANWOOD,Washington
+++++++Did you try all of the suggestions list above, Sonny? If you only tried some, please tell us what didn't work. Thanks.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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Gentlemen and ladies,
I just purchased a new Vulcan and within the first 600 miles had black scuff marks from shoes on the exhaust. I was bummed. I did get it off no problem. While the exhaust was still hot enough to turn the product to steam I used mothers chrome polish. Took the marks right off no problem and chrome still looks like new. hope it helps.
- North Dakota
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Last week I got caught in the rain. My rain suit pant leg left a mark on my exhaust cover. I rode to work twice and did a dinner run with my club before I noticed the burn mark so it was baked on pretty well. I tried gasoline, chrome polish, paint thinner, etc. and none of them worked. After reading the posts here I decided to try steel wool with WD-40 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and it worked great. The cover came clean quickly and the steel wool left no marks. Thanks for the help. Len L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Warrensburg, Missouri |
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Try ROAD RUB! It really helped me. The Harley store by me sells it but you can get it online too. It's less then $10 a tube and looks like a travel size deodorant. My dad burned his nylon jogging pants on my brand new bike's pipe. I had a huge brown burnt spot right in the middle of the pipe. I rode the bike to get it hot and used a terry towel to wipe off as much as I could. I got a lot off but what was left smeared across the whole pipe and left a thick dull haze. I wasn't sure what was worse. I tried everything: chrome cleaner, WD-40, coke cola, and was just about to break out the oven cleaner when my hubby started calling bike dealers for suggestions. The lady at Harley says they refer to ROAD RUB as "miracle in a tube". You just rub it on the mark while the pipes are nice and cool. It took it all off! It took a little elbow grease and almost 2 tubes, but it was worth it. The toughest spots were where I still had that brown burnt stuff left but everything came off pretty easy. Hope this helps!
Michelle B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Addison, Illinois
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Both my wife and I just purchased new bikes and we both at some point touched the sole of a shoe to the exhaust. I tried a ton of the different solutions offered on the web, but what finally did it for us was Bon-Ami [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. It's a very mild cleanser that does not scratch. I used a damp cloth, enough of the Bon Ami powder to make a paste and then just rubbed and rubbed. It was a lot of elbow grease, but no scratches to the chrome.
Steve M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Hutsonville, Illinois
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I made the mistake of wearing a pair of nylon ski pants on a cold winter day when I rode my Harley and I now have melted nylon on my chrome exhaust pipes. What can I use to remove this without damaging the chrome? I know this is not industrial but an answer would be greatly appreciated. thank you,
John S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]Harley rider counts - Seattle, Washington
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Well, first-you know those "microfiber" cloths you can buy for detailing your bike and/or car? Well, they are man-made and they melt. DO NOT even brush them across your exhaust when it is hot. They are made of some super-secret, space-age material and they are hideous on your pipes.
I have had boot rubber on pipes before. Messy? Yes. Work to get off? Yes. But this stuff resisted everything. I finally tried what I read in a few responses here-0000
steel wool [linked by editor to product info at Rockler] with gasoline. It took work, but it came off.
I followed up with some Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish. Good as new.
- Orlando, Florida
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What worked for me, and, no, this is not a joke...
Goof Off [linked by editor to product info at Amazon].
2006 VTX. The spot on the exhaust was of unknown origin, but, it was so baked on that everyone (except me) was convinced it was a scuff/scratch on the pipe - kind of a dull grey smear abut the size of a quarter. Must have come from a shoe sole. Various cleaners and polishes did nothing. 3 repeated applications with the GOOF OFF (and some elbow grease) and it was gone.
For what it's worth...
No, I don't sell or market this stuff, but it is usable on many different kinds of surfaces and fabrics.
- Guelph, Ontario, CANADA
September 29, 2011I would like to second the Goof Off post. It worked in seconds to remove melted shoe sole from my pipes. I'm sure the other suggestions will work just as well, but I had the Goof Off in my home already and decided to try it after reading the post suggesting it. Thanks for that!!!
Bill Phillips
- Newnan, Georgia
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The other day I bent over my bike to get gas and melted half of my nylon track pants on the pipe. I tried a few things to no avail and came across this post after a google search and was just headed out to Walmart to get some Easy Off when my mom said what about this? Now what could a mom know about getting burnt stuff off exhaust pipes, right? Well as it turns out she brought me out Weiman Glass Cook Top Cleaner [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and Ceramabryte Cleaning Pads [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and said how about this. So I figure let's give it a shot. At first I think this ain't working but then think wait a minute here. It started to work and even started taking big chunks off. It seems that it has some kind of properties that concentrates on separating it from what it's stuck to. Worked excellent. I hope this helps someone.
JOHN R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Niagara Falls Ontario Canada
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For rubber heel burnt marks on my chrome pipe, I used 0000
steel wool [linked by editor to product info at Rockler] and WD 40. Looks perfect, no scratches.
I was skeptical, but it worked, and I had to rub reasonably hard, but it took only a few minutes.
- Ottawa Ontario Canada
April 5, 2008
I want to thank everyone for the ideas in this forum. I had a shirt with cotton and polypropylene touch my exhaust and leave residue. I tried scrubbing with a rage and OOPS and WD40 with no luck. I then applied the oops using 0000 steel wool [linked by editor to product info at Rockler] and that removed the residue with no scratches. THANKS.
Stephen Gannon- Austin, Texas
May 3, 2008
My 12 yr. old managed to drape his polyester motorcycle jacket across the pipes today and my first response (once I calmed down) was to get on the internet to see what to do. Thanks for all the help! I tried the Goo Gone [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and that didn't work. The Easy Off did the trick. I think the pipe is still a little discolored, but the mess is gone. I'll bet when the wife is the culprit it takes even more "understanding".
Thanks again.
- Maple Valley, Washington
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June 18, 2008
I have melted a rain suit on a black exhaust pipe, unlike all the solutions mentioned above are on a chrome pipes. Has anyone had any luck with any solutions on black pipes. I don't want to wear off the black finish which is not as strong a finish as chrome is. Kekoo Gattaarchitect - Niagara On The Lake, Ontario, Canada August 23, 2008 I tried many things to get melted plastic store bag off my exhaust....the only thing that worked was to heat it up with a propane torch..carefully...and wipe off with a cotton cloth then polish with Nevr-Dull [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]....no residue & nice and shiny! Delores Maillard- Levittown, Pennsylvania |
February 20, 2009
Hi I went through an enormous puddle broken sprinkler line and when I was touching up my paint fenders etc. I accidentally dropped my micro fiber cloth on my hot pipes cooked on!
How do I remove it? PLEASE HELP!
A/C Tech - Palm Desert, California
July 7, 2009
I unintentionally rested my riding boot on the pipe of my guy's bike and had a mess. We removed the rubber with Brasso [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] metal polish. It worked wonders!
Marsha Hayes- Ridgely, Tennessee
August 18, 2009
I never had to use it, but I've been told that a ball of aluminum foil will rub it off. Good luck
dan dewitt- zephyr hills Florida
September 25, 2009
I accidentally dropped my microfibre washmit on my hot chrome exhaust header. Once the header cooled off, stuck to it was melted orange microfibres - it was like baked on. I spent hours on the internet to check for a solution, however was not comfortable with chemicals as you never know what they can do (especially caustic stuff like easy off), steel wool (known to scratch), sandpaper (scratches like steel wool). I tried the magic eraser with some success. Comet was mild enough, just like the magic eraser not to scuff the chrome. What really worked was a brass shim. Brass is softer than chrome and will not damage the chrome if you are careful. I was able to gently scrape off the baked microfibres without leaving a trace on the chrome. You should always try this on a small area first. Good luck!
Jim Simpson- Vancouver, Canada
October 31, 2009
my wife set her fleece on my seat witch of course as always if you put a jacket or shirt on the seat it ends up on the pipes
burnt on like plastic could not get it off tried steel wool and lacquer thinner which got the big smooth black spot off easy that looked like it would be the hardest but after rubbing for what seemed like 30 minutes on what seemed like Small plastic dots I decided to try scratching at it with a nickel like I read on here I decided that the pipes were ruined and if I scratched them it would not be worse than what I had it worked great no scratches polished with
SimiChrome [linked by editor to product info at Amazon].
note Simichrome will get all boot marks and bugs off easily.
- reynoldsburg Ohio
October 31, 2009We can certainly understand that you'd be ticked off at your wife over this incident, Jason, but calling her your "seat witch, of course as always" is a bit strong. I hope I misunderstood :-)
But it made my Halloween. Glad the nickel worked!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
December 6, 2009
I melted my nylon sweat pants on the exhaust of my new Fat Boy, then read all these postings, spent over $40 buying Road Rub, Goof Off, Weimans oven top cleaner, Classic cloth, a nickel, almost everything recommended here. NOTHING WORKED IN THE LEAST! Don't waste your money!
What did work perfectly and with little effort: I used a propane torch on the thick stuff, wiped it right off with a rag. Then used an SOS pad to remove the rest easily. SOS doesn't scratch chrome. A little Mothers chrome polish and Wala...perfect. Don't waste your money on the other stuff!
- Cincinnati Ohio
April 9, 2010
I used the Easy-off oven cleaner and a nickel. It worked like a charm. Left it on about 2 hours or so, scraped with a nickel and it's beautiful. Awesome stuff that Easy-off.
Darren Barnes- Hahira, Georgia
April 19, 2010
I tried Nevr-Dull (yes, that is the way it is actually spelled) Did nothing for the rubber on my pipes other than make everything else really shiny.
Once your pipes are COOL get an old rag and a little gasoline. Might take a little elbow grease but should take anything off with ease. && There is virtually no way to harm your beautiful chrome pipes.
- Terre Haute, Indiana
April 26, 2010
To all of the above: Give britepipes motorcycle exhaust cleaner a try. This product works to remove all melted on residue from your pipes effortlessly and without scratching.
Kim Long- Montville, New Jersey
April 29, 2010
To remove boot marks, raincoat, and other things on exhaust pipes try brite pipes. This is the first product that really worked.
Henry Canup- New Smyrna Beach, Florida
June 15, 2010
There is a remedy for your problem. Catch it before it starts or cover up a hole with a BANTHEBURN patch. Adhere the patch to any rainsuit or pair of pants, let dry then ride.
Erik Ryan- Deerfield Beach Florida
August 24, 2010
My husband's rain suit melted onto his pipes. I removed the hardened mess using a penny. A penny is softer than chrome so it won't scratch your pipes. To get more pressure, I held the penny in a pair of pliers and was able to apply a great deal of force as I scraped, being careful to not let the pliers tips scratch the pipes. Once the gunk was off I rubbed the pipes with a stick of Road Rub to polish the pipes back to a mirror finish, removing the small speck size pieces.
Karen Seavers- West Frankfort, Illinois
May 4, 2011
The Nylon liner of my jacket made an ugly spot on my (brand new) chrome tailpipe.
A razor-blade took everything clean off.
Tips:
1) Use brand new blade (no kinks)
2) use very shallow angle
3) remove loose dirt around area, to avoid scratching.
4) Finish off with chrome polish
It took a fraction of the time, I expected.
I can't tell that there has ever been a mark.
Cheers,
- Irvine, California
May 22, 2011
Hello, For everyone having problems with burnt (Melted) materials on your exhaust pipes, this is the only thing I use and it works great!
Purchase a butane torch lighter and some steel wool. You should purchase 3 different grades. Very fine (0000), Fine, Medium and Heavy.
THIS IS DONE WITH THE PIPES COLD :-).
FOR CAKED ON MATERIAL:
Use the butane lighter to soften it and the medium to heavy gauge steal wool (depending on the amount of material). Rub pipes with the steel wool in a circular motion, heating it with the Butane lighter until the material is either removed or only a small portion of it remains.
CAUTION: THE STEEL WOOL WILL GET HOT! BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRESS TO HARD OR YOU'LL SCRATCH THE CHROME :-).
Slowly alternate between the butane lighter and the steel wool until you begin to see the Chrome start to show through.
Once the material is removed or the material has lessened to a degree where only a small amount remains, Use the FINE steel wool and continue with the Butane lighter and rubbing the stain on the pipes.
You will begin to see the chrome start to return and you should move the wool over the outsides of the stain to blend and remove the outer parts of the stain. Once the Chrome has returned and the material is removed. Purchase a good Chrome cleaner and polish to restore the shine.
IF THE MATERIAL IS NOT CAKED:
Follow the above procedures ONLY use the Fine or Very Fine steel wool. Moving slowly and in a circular motion over the stain until it is gone. Use the Chrome Cleaner and Polish to restore the shine.
This procedure works for most of the materials that will melt or stain the pipes. Other methods I have tried are either expensive or have damaged the Chrome to the point the pipes needed to be replaced.
Your experiences with this method may vary, but it works for me.
Bikerman
- Portland Oregon USA
| June 13, 2011
I tried the oven cleaner on my tailpipes and it did nothing. I didn't want to use any abrasives on it (steel wool--are you kidding me?) so I tried Goo Gone, which I used to remove the sticky residue left behind by price tags. Just poured it over the plastic while the pipes were cold, and lo and behold, the plastic slid off in one solid piece. Amazing. I don't know if it was just the Goo Gone or the combination of whatever the oven cleaner and the Goo Gone might have done but it was miraculous! So I'd say go with the Goo Gone => - Alexandria Virginia USA June 24, 2011 I melted the sleeve of my freezer jacket to my pipes. I poured Goo Gone => - Winnipeg Manitoba Canada |
August 19, 2011
Saddle bags fell and melted on pipes -- softball-size thick spot. I need help in removing this, JUST HAD PIPES PUT ON 3 MONTHS AGO. LOST, ANGRY AND FREAKING OUT. DID NOT NOTICE WHAT HAPPENED UNTIL HOURS LATER. VERY BAKED ON. HELP......
DOLLY MASSEYhomeowner - ORLAND PARK ILLINOIS UNITED STATES
September 28, 2011
I have used tin foil and it works wonders. It is softer than chrome, but harder than plastic, vinyl, PVC, or whatever else is burnt on to your pipes.
1. Make sure the pipes are good and hot (great excuse to take a ride...)
2. Scrub with foil which smears the hot material but frees it up.
3. Wipe clean with a paper towel or rag.
- SeaTac, Washington, USA
February 7, 2012
I read all the accounts of using cleaners/solvents etc. and the simplest method I could see was Felix E. He was right on! I secured a nickel coin to vice-grip pliers and scraped off approx. 3"x 8" melted-on snowpant plastic coating off my Harley pipe in about 15 min. The coating was very thick and I could really dig in with my make shift scraper and I absolutely did not leave any scratches. Keep it simple is my motto, elbow grease is way better that all those harsh chemicals.
Mark Bravo- Stoney Creek ON Canada
February 7, 2012
hahahha it works....
Thank you everyone.. I read all the comments and my first attempt was perfect. My wife was getting treats out of my saddle bags for Superbowl Sunday (yay Giants) and yes plastic shopping bag melted all over my brand new pipes.
I tried this on my 1982 450 bobber before my brand new honda vtx 1300 retro.
Today is 2-7-12; after reading blogs I found on and watching youtube.com vids I chose to use the gasoline and penny method, because I had both in my garage. To start off, you will need 5 things:
- red shop rag,or any cloth
- gasoline, that was in my gas can for emergencies
- a true copper penny, pre 1974, i used a 1972.
- cooled off pipes, unless you wanna catch something on fire..but really you probably don't want to..
- 18.9 seconds of free time, yes i timed it
step 1: damp rag with gasoline and gently dab and gently rub affected area on cool pipes
step 2: after about 4 seconds of dabbing, use 1972 copper penny to chip away melted plastic wal-mart bag (due to the copper being a softer metal than chrome it will not scratch the chrome but in fact wear down the a little bit of the penny).
step 3: go apologize to your wife for yelling at her for effen up your chrome.
There ya go. 19 seconds later you feel like a new man.
- lehi ,utah, usa
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February 7, 2012
I had the same problem with a rainsuit that was melted on my pipes. I took it off with an Astro Smart Eraser Pad => - Puerto Rico |
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