Exhausts and Engine » Cleaning/Polishing

8CF46B14-B73B-4185-9DD8-79E53B53F981.jpeg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)8CF46B14-B73B-4185-9DD8-79E53B53F981.jpeg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)8CF46B14-B73B-4185-9DD8-79E53B53F981.jpeg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)Watching the Repair Shop on BBC1 the other night I had a 'why didn't I think of that' moment.
Chap was repairing a set of 1930's Vibraphones and in order to clean and then polish the actual tubes of the instrument with the poor access, used a length of wick from a paraffin stove.
Now years ago I worked in a hardware store and I recall these used to be sold by the yard and in different widths.
Once the lockdown is a over I'm off to my local store to get some half inch and inch wick to help me reach around to the rear of the pipes.
I realise not everyone likes to shine these bits up but when they're shiny it does look good !!
My old R110S with the Laser pipes looked spiffing with the single upright feeder pipe by the rear wheel gleaming.

Sorry it’s inserted the photo three times. It really has only got two cylinders.

Lots of neat tips on that program, and in lock down it’s good to find something worth watching other than Channel 4 news!

I use a thin piece of rag and get into those places using it wrapped round the pipe. But, nice tip !

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I have never polished this area of my exhaust before

I have. I’m that bored.

Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #5

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I have never polished this area of my exhaust before

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Zitat von Tony101 im Beitrag #7

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Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #5

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I have never polished this area of my exhaust before

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Exactly how pissed off do you need to be before you start polishing the underside of your exhaust?

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just imagine how clean the world could be by this time next year...

Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #8

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Zitat von Tony101 im Beitrag #7

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Zitat von andygriff im Beitrag #5

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I have never polished this area of my exhaust before

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Exactly how pissed off do you need to be before you start polishing the underside of your exhaust?

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Wasn't pissed off, just time rich all of a sudden. It was strangely satisfying .. but if I am still doing it this time next year we are f**ked !!

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My biggest fear is that my wife might expect this level of attention to the garden next spring - not bloody likely!

Washed the bike yesterday to get the bugs off and found my front fender loose. Like-LOOSE. Only one screw on each side in stead of two. Luckily, I never throw extra or old screws away and had threads that matched up. I can use these until I get actual BMW ones.

This is why I wash my vehicles and try to do my own maintenance.

Great shine there, Rutland Rider. Can you tell me what polish or other product you used? I hate cleaning, but will do it for that kind of shine!

It’s a Wurth aluminium polish as it’s softer than the normal Solvol Autosol chrome polish. Used in conjunction with a bit of very fine wire wool from B and Q.
Not very aggressive at all, but with a bit of elbow grease and a bit of time the whole header and cat comes up a treat.

I do find I don’t like the blueing that appears after a while without doing this, and it makes it much easier to keep it nice and it keeps the road muck from burning onto the exhausts and becoming part of them.
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People often comment on it and they know if I do that then the bike’s looked after. Also it looks good !

Basic cleaning and checking of the general security of fittings is often overlooked and can reveal all sorts of hidden issues before they become problems that make the bike break down or even worse, bring you off it.