Author Topic: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?  (Read 2321 times)

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littlebronco

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cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« on: May 11, 2006, 12:41:16 PM »
I've resorted to electrolysis in order to clean my mufflers which were rusted pretty bad.  I'm trying to be careful not to submerge them and get water up inside, but I have no idea what's even in there, anyone know?  If it's safe to submerge it would speed up my derusting process greatly.  BTW, these are the original balloon-y looking 4 into 4 pipes from a '75 550 K.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2006, 06:10:02 PM »
Inside the mufflers are metal (steel) baffles, soot and exhaust deposits, maybe some oil, and, of course, more rust.

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Philly550K1

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2006, 12:44:18 PM »
don't forget spider eggs and rodent colonies, if it's been sitting at all....

Offline puppytrax

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2006, 02:01:53 PM »
...and nuts...or at least the empty shells...

Squirrels/chipmunks leave their walnut shells all over my storage shed...funny thing is, there's no walnut tree within a mile or two...I don't know where they get them from...maybe they got an account at the local supermarket...
...stock 1972 CB500 '500 Four' undergoing re-assembly...
...Stock 1972 CL450 'Scrambler' also being re-assembled...

Offline Tim.

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2006, 07:05:01 AM »
Go ahead and submerge - just drain well and if you want, I'll run them on my oil-burning bike for a few miles to give them a nice rust-proofing treatment.  Or you could just put them back on the bike and run it to completely fry any moisture remaining.  Put a sheet behind the bike and maybe you'll get an image of Jesus show up, which you can then sell to Goldenpalace.com and fund the purchase of a new exhaust  :D
Roule comme dans les années 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

littlebronco

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2006, 08:22:58 AM »
Cool, I just dunked 'em.  The electrolysis was easy and made the pipes look much better, although there is some pitting which won't be cured.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2006, 08:43:53 AM »
Would you care to explain how this electrolysis process works?  I didn't realize that iron oxide was galvanic?  Or, is there some chemical and catalyst action going on?

Cheers,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

littlebronco

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2006, 02:40:28 PM »
Real easy, if you google it there's a few howto's on the subject.

Try here:
http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/links/electrolysis_explanation.phtml

Total setup cost $20, not including the charger which I already had.

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2006, 05:29:08 PM »

Quite informative.

Thanks,
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline Tim.

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #9 on: May 14, 2006, 06:45:52 AM »
Before / after pics?  Could you do this with a gas tank?
Roule comme dans les années 70...   Roll as in the Seventies...

Offline TwoTired

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2006, 10:05:40 AM »
Before / after pics?  Could you do this with a gas tank?
I spent some time yesterday researching the topic.

Theoretically, it will work on a gas tank.  However, there are physical aspects of the process that might make it difficult to do on some parts.
The process relies on anodic/cathodic electrical stimulus, of which the part to derust becomes one electrode. 

From one of the articles found through Google:

" The process works best "line of sight" so to speak, so multiple electrodes are often beneficial. Arranging several accumulators around the perimeter of the solution tank generally works well, and minimizes the possibility of short circuiting.

CLEANING: When objects are removed from the tank, they will often have a black coating that looks like the object has been smoked. This is normal. The best way to remove this coating is to wash it using a stiff brush in a solution of dish soap and water before the coating dries. If the coating is allowed to dry on the object, it will be nearly impossible to remove."

The black coating, as I understand it, is deposited iron.

Cheers,

Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

littlebronco

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Re: cb550 4-4 pipes, what's inside?
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2006, 06:53:56 PM »
I'll try to get a few pics of my next cleaning and I'll post in a new thread.