Topic: Appraising the condition of an old bikes mufflers/headers

[gregwaits]

While stripping the parts of this beat up old CB350K twin, I started to wonder if I'd be able to use the existing exhaust pipes. When I took them off, some sooty material came out of the end. How would I go about cleaning out the inside? I believe these are the stock twin pipes. They have a couple of rusty places showing, but they are far from rusted through.

I believe that they are salvageable, but I doubt I would want to go to the expense of rechroming. I am thinking I'd just get after them with a an abrasive kitchen pad of sorts and see what happens. (If worst comes to worst I could always spray them black)

[mrbreeze]

If they are stock Honda pipes from the 70's....they are 95% ready to scrap!!!! .......unless.....they are off of a show bike with less than 10K miles that have never sat outdoors for more than a week at a time!!!

[nickjtc]

I believe that they are salvageable, but I doubt I would want to go to the expense of rechroming. I am thinking I'd just get after them with a an abrasive kitchen pad of sorts and see what happens. (If worst comes to worst I could always spray them black)

Hang them vertical and tap with something that won't add to their 'distressed' conditon, like a rubber mallet. Lots of chromers will not touch items which risk contaminating their chroming tanks.
Scotchbrite (non-metallic scouring pad material) works like a hot darn, especially if you use the appropriate cleaner/stripper/solvent to get external mung off the pipes.

And as you say, if they look a bit manky when they are done they can always be painted, or wrapped in heat resistant tape, after as-needed patching.

[nickjtc]

See this concurrent thread for another viewpoint:

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=21390.new#new

[boatsdickson]

For the inside rusty stuff, take a bicycle cable, or scooter cable and fray it the diameter of the pipe then turn it with a drill or dremel. Does pretty good.