Cleaning mufflers

[W0QNX]

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

The works will take that right off.

 

[Igofar]

Which BKF did you use?
Dry (comet cleanser) type or watered down squeeze bottle?
I just cleaned a PD muffler a couple minutes ago and it’s shining like chrome?

 

[RichKat]

Which BKF did you use?
Dry (comet cleanser) type or watered down squeeze bottle?
I just cleaned a PD muffler a couple minutes ago and it’s shining like chrome?

Dry powder

 

[Igofar]

Dump some powder in a bowl, add a little bit of water, stir it, wrap your index finger with a cotton towel or diaper, dip it in the paste, then gently start rubbing circles for a few minutes, leaving the paste in place, then buff it off.
You have to use a little elbow grease, it won't work just by touching it

 

[dduelin]

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

That's odd. I've used BKF for 15 years on the ST and other bikes and it always works. Try wetting a small sponge or bit of terry cloth and pouring a palmful of BKF on it. Work it into a thick paste then lightly rub the wetted surface of the stainless with the sponge/cloth. I've even used paper towel for this. Leave it on 2 or 3 minutes and rinse clean.

 

[SMSW]

I respectfully disagree with @Igofar. Last time I simichromed my ST's mufflers (and maybe last month, my Guzzi's Franconis) it did not take much time at all. I put a dab of the polish on either the rag or the muffler, use a strip where I can to wrap it around the muffler (think a ribbon of cloth) and pull it back and forth like one is polishing your shoes (hah - does anyone here do that any more? its hard to polish sneakers....). Where mounting tabs/bolts prevent the strip of cloth, I just use another soft rag w/ polish on that part. Wipe it all down with a clean rag to buff it out. Fast and easy. If I made a paste of BF, mixing it, applying it, and getting it all off would be messy and take just as long as my maybe 10 -15 min per muffler Simichrome method. To each his own.

 

[Al Gully]

Guys, quit beating around the bush and use metal polish.
I know most of us are cheapskates, but this stuff is the bomb.com
Lately on my #2 ST1300, I'm doing the buffing with my dremal 35,000 rpm buffing pad.

 

[RichKat]

Alright, this am, I got off my lazy butt and went to work. I pulled my saddle bags off, then removed my mufflers. With them off, it's a much easier task to do. In Igofar's first post he said.
"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."
So I pasted it on heavy, expecting that to do it, and was disappointed by the results. So elbow grease and about an hour of actual work later, I'm happy with my shiny mufflers. Thanks everyone

 

[mello dude]

Have to try BKF sometime.....but my goto is Mother's metal polish......can't think of it has ever let me down.....

BTW great thread....

 

[STraymond]

Everybody's a comodian

Only if their humor is in the toilet……

 

[RichKat]

Alright, this am, I got off my lazy butt and went to work. I pulled my saddle bags off, then removed my mufflers. With them off, it's a much easier task to do. In Igofar's first post he said.
"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."
So I pasted it on heavy, expecting that to do it, and was disappointed by the results. So elbow grease and about an hour of actual work later, I'm happy with my shiny mufflers. Thanks everyone

I did not mean to make it sound like Larry gave me bad info, I guess I expected it to work with no work on my part, BKF works great, just have to help it a little bit