Side pipe sanding??

[Fattyd]

Hello All:

As I have learned from others on this and other sites, one of the most expensive things about owning these cars is learning from your own mistakes. Well, who am I to be out done!! A few weeks ago, with this mild NE climate we've been having, I decided to fire the baby up and take a quick spin. Upon my return, I noticed a brown liquified-like substance on my NEWLY silver "jet-hot" coated sidepipe. STOINK!! Thinking it was only mud or some type of road grime, I was afraid due to touch it based on the temp of the pipe and thought it would merely smear the substance further (as it was only about 2 in in diameter). Well, and here comes that dumb ass award part, it turns out this substance, which eventually had turned hard as concrete, was actually a piece of my "gueedo-workout" pants that must have blown against the pipe as I was walking by. (I am Italian by the way so I can say that and if you've seen me lately, you'll know why I need workout pants).

Anyway, much to my distress, I contacted Central Coatings in East Hartford, CT (who had just re-coatinged them for me a few weeks prior) and conveyed my issue to Gene (super nice guy by the way). He basically told me get some fine grit sand paper and start working. Work the snarl off and slow back off using high and high grit paper and the pipe should, I say again, should return to its polished shine.

Does anyone out there have a similar situation they can share? I guess I'm worried that if I continue to sand with whatever grit paper, will the pipe merely remain a flat, scratched area.

[Curt C.]

I once dropped a rubber type material Summit fender cover on my pipes. Huge mess. I heated the pipes back up and wiped as much off as possible. I then worked the remainder off with WD-40 and steel wool. this process seemed to take it off with no ill effects. Lets see if someone has a better idea or votes against this (steel wool) first though.

[Excaliber]

Well there are a couple of excellent reasons why I chose to PAINT my sidepipes rather than 'coat' them.

[MaSnaka]

Fattyd- My dumb-a$$ award involved the skin on my ankles...atleast yours was only pants. I was leaning over the engine cleaning my carb wearing only shorts and sandles (engine running). I stepped forward to balance myself a little better and ouch!!!right ankle sizzling so I stepped forward with my left to regain my balance to step back and ouch!!! both ankles sizzling. It all happened so fast. One of those moments when time stands still (no pun intended). I had a couple silver dollar sized burn marks which took a couple weeks to heal up. Lesson learned...wear shoes and socks and don't take those sidepipes for granted.

Back to sanding, this I know about. Use wet/dry sand paper and water or even wd40. It lubricates as you sand. I would go lightly and 400- 600 grit paper will polish not scratch. But first try a white colored scotchbrite pad used in the kitchen for scrubbing pots. The one that doesn't scratch but is a little abrasive. It's gotta be white not green. But The stain could cook itself enough to just flake off on it's own too. Good luck!

[RedCSX1]

Took my wife to the gym to work out in the Cobra. Her first ride. Before I could say "watch the side pipe" she burned her leg on it. I could smell the flesh. I jokingly said that she would have to pay to have my side pipe redone. She did not see the humor in that statement. I ended up using paint thinner to clean up the pipe. I was eventlually allowed back into our bedroom.

[big-boss]

This is one better! Really worse!
Years ago I took my kids' baby sitter home in my Butler. While he was getting out and before I could warn him "sizzle" went the back of both his calfs. I still remember the smell. Now for the bad part- besides third degree burns he had to quit the water polo team because of all the swimming the burns would not heal and they wer always infected. Now for the really really bad stuff- He was the star player and it was his senior year. Luckily his parents didn't need that scholarship. I still feel bad about the deal. He is 25 now and he shown me last week that he still has the scares.

[Lowell W]

I think there was another thread on this topic within the last year. Basically, if it's a hard aluminum ceramic coating, you should (may) be able to remove the stain with steel wool and chrome polish without affecting the finish on the pipe, but try this on the underside of the pipe first to see whether it changes the appearance of the finish. If it's actually thick enough to feel as you run your finger over it, you may be able to chip or scrape it off with a sharp piece of hardwood. Pushing the car outside in the cold for awhile might make the stuff brittle enough to chip off easier.

Good luck, and please report back.

Lowell

[Fattyd]

Well through a combination of numerous recommendations, I think I got it as good as I could. One of the suggestions that I did not use (but actually sounds good) was Easy-Off oven cleaner. A friend had a similar problem with the pipes on his Harley, re-heated them nice and hot, sprayed on and wiped off. If I'm dumb enough to re-enact the event, I may try that one.

The process that worked for me was some initial sanding to remove the locked on chunk used a fine grit wheel on a "dremel tool" hitting it ever so slightly in a circular motion. Then OOOO super fine steel wool and WD40, then rubbing compound, polishing compound and finally Mothers polish. I repeated the last 3 steps four or five times. Resultantly, a shine did return and it's probably back to 95% of its original condition. I know where the spot is but to the naked eye, you'd probably not see it. Live and learn I guess.

Thanks to all on CC for your great, helpful tips. I hope my ultimate process helps others as well.

[snakebitekit]

When I ride my Harley in the rain invariably the rain suite will melt to the pipes. I found that 1. leave it there for a long run it will usually bake off like am self cleaning oven; 2. Acetone works well with a lot of elbow grease, keep it from gas water heaters.

Snakebitekit

[clayfoushee]

It's probably redundant at this point, but I had rain car cover melt to both ceramic coated side pipes when someone was trying to help.

I drove the car about 100 miles to melt off as much as possible and then cleaned up the rest with #0000 steel wool and a green scotchbrite pad lubricated with lots of water. It's impossible to see it ever happened.