Cleaning mufflers

[RichKat]

My mufflers are very tarnished, what's the best way to bring the stainless shine back

 

[SMSW]

Simichrome polish. Or any similar metal polish will do the trick.

Edit: I like the blue stripe.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Click link for procedure.
Bar Keepers Friend.

 

[Kevcules]

Autosol is good stuff too.

 

[DeanR]

Click link for procedure.
Bar Keepers Friend.

yep, Barkeeper's Friend

 

[Igofar]

Polishing them takes way too long.
Use Bar Keepers Friend, make a paste in a small bowl, wet the mufflers, and apply the paste, then let it sit for just a couple minutes.
The chemical is what does the cleaning, not the rubbing, or polishing.
They will look like chrome when finished.
Best results use a soft cotton diaper or cloth.
Do NOT use any scotchbright or steel wool, no matter how soft you think it is, as it will scratch and show swirl marks.
For anything burnt on your pipes, use Easy Off oven cleaner (carefully) and it will wipe right off.

 

[klaproth]

Use Bar Keepers Friend, make a paste in a small bowel,

This is not recommended.

 

[dduelin]

This is not recommended.

Neither is ‘wife right off’.

 

[Igofar]

Big thumbs, small phone, and inhaling too much Dot 4 I guess

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

Using the @Igofar method



Apply small amount of paste, wait one minute, reapply.

Wait one minute, wipe off.

Reapply as needed for desired result. I finished it off with the spray to lose the water marks.

Where I wasn’t attentive.

 

[STRider]

Nice @Willsmotorcycle !

So the Barkeepers Friend to use is the powder version? Does the liquid in a plastic bottle perform the same?

My mufflers are in dire need of the same TLC

 

[Al Gully]

This is what I use, a bit pricey, but it works

 

[dduelin]

Nice @Willsmotorcycle !

So the Barkeepers Friend to use is the powder version? Does the liquid in a plastic bottle perform the same?

My mufflers are in dire need of the same TLC

 

[RichKat]

Polishing them takes way too long.
Use Bar Keepers Friend, make a paste in a small bowl, wet the mufflers, and apply the paste, then let it sit for just a couple minutes.
The chemical is what does the cleaning, not the rubbing, or polishing.
They will look like chrome when finished.
Best results use a soft cotton diaper or cloth.
Do NOT use any scotchbright or steel wool, no matter how soft you think it is, as it will scratch and show swirl marks.
For anything burnt on your pipes, use Easy Off oven cleaner (carefully) and it will wipe right off.

Do you recommend rubber gloves?

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

Nice @Willsmotorcycle !

So the Barkeepers Friend to use is the powder version? Does the liquid in a plastic bottle perform the same?

My mufflers are in dire need of the same TLC

Yes, I did the other side with the squeeze bottle, but did not want to confuse the issue. Worked the same, little longer soak time.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

Do you recommend rubber gloves?

If you leave them on the muffler to long they will melt.

 

[RichKat]

If you leave them on the muffler to long they will melt.

Everybody's a comodian

 

[W0QNX]

Y’all keep on polishing all you want. The best thing is “the works” toilet bowl cleaner. Don’t doubt until you try it. It will even clean the elbow joint area with a small amount of polishing action.

 

[rjs987]

Anyone here tried plain old household aluminum foil crumpled a little and dipped in water and just rubbed on the stainless and chrome (real chrome, not chrome painted plastic)?
I did that with my CTX1300 and kept the headers (stainless and chrome) and muffler all looking like new when I got around to doing it... which wasn't as often as I probably should have.
Before... after the entire winter season of riding in below freezing temps with some slush thrown in for good measure...


And after 15 minutes of rubbing and dipping the foil in water...
Oh, and then rinsing off and wiping with a clean cloth since the wet foil will make a grey paste as you rub. No need to rub hard.


After I did this I then went on to clean the rest of the bike. One of the few times I did that. Household aluminum foil is softer than chrome or stainless so will NOT scratch it.

 

[RichKat]

Well, so much for Bar Keepers Friend
Applied a paste, let sit 10 minutes, rinse
and you can't tell I even touched it
I guess it's Simichrome and elbow grease time