Ok, somebody stop me. I can't help myself. I thought I had sworn off polishing for awhile. Well, maybe this falls more in the cleaning category but there was some polishing involved. 
When I was going to put the exhausts away after getting them out to take a picture for peanut a week ago I couldn’t help but notice how rusty the backs and bottoms were.
Unfortunately new exhausts just aren’t in the budget right now but the least I could do for this newly rebuilt engine in the spring is to put clean exhausts on right? Ah........they gotta get done sometime.
I must say if it weren’t for cosmetic reasons, I wouldn’t replace these.
First of all they’re the originals and that stock design I think have the nicest flair detail at the end of the muffler.
Secondly I love sound and the fact that they are louder with that blow out at the rear of the right muffler. Not too loud, but they just have a real nice throaty growl. People always say they hear me coming so maybe other vehicles hear me better as well.
Left side original......40 years of rust......
Most of the rust on these was just light surface rust and cleaned up easily with 0000 steel wool lubricated with Mothers Chrome Polish. No reason to use the Mothers other than I have a couple of bottles of it that I don't use otherwise so I'm using it up for a lubricant when polishing chrome.
The toughest job was cleaning the huge rust build up at the crossover tube and inside the top bend on the headers. I tried Nylox wheels, and wire wheels and as you would expect barely touched it. I remember trying Naval Jelly years ago but don't recall having much luck with it. In any event I don't think it's available in Canada anymore. Went to Canaglian Tire and picked up a bottle of this……
It works fairly well. Takes several applications and requires aggressive scrubbing with a wire brush. Also used a brass wire wheel in a cordless drill around the crossover tube weld areas after the bulk of the rust was removed.
Couldn't get every last spec of rust but they're sure a bunch better.
Finished up with a little Autosol polish. I’d like to try the Blue Magic you guys use but like so many other things it’s not available in Canada.
I’ll have to order some on Amazon or eBay sometime.
Lot of work for a rusted out old set but they're all I've got.
Ya I know they'll rust again but maybe she'll know I tried and now I don’t have to feel guilty putting dirty pipes back on her.
Now I really just gotta go paint something!
When I was going to put the exhausts away after getting them out to take a picture for peanut a week ago I couldn’t help but notice how rusty the backs and bottoms were.
Unfortunately new exhausts just aren’t in the budget right now but the least I could do for this newly rebuilt engine in the spring is to put clean exhausts on right? Ah........they gotta get done sometime.
I must say if it weren’t for cosmetic reasons, I wouldn’t replace these.
First of all they’re the originals and that stock design I think have the nicest flair detail at the end of the muffler.
Secondly I love sound and the fact that they are louder with that blow out at the rear of the right muffler. Not too loud, but they just have a real nice throaty growl. People always say they hear me coming so maybe other vehicles hear me better as well.
Left side original......40 years of rust......
Most of the rust on these was just light surface rust and cleaned up easily with 0000 steel wool lubricated with Mothers Chrome Polish. No reason to use the Mothers other than I have a couple of bottles of it that I don't use otherwise so I'm using it up for a lubricant when polishing chrome.
The toughest job was cleaning the huge rust build up at the crossover tube and inside the top bend on the headers. I tried Nylox wheels, and wire wheels and as you would expect barely touched it. I remember trying Naval Jelly years ago but don't recall having much luck with it. In any event I don't think it's available in Canada anymore. Went to Canaglian Tire and picked up a bottle of this……
It works fairly well. Takes several applications and requires aggressive scrubbing with a wire brush. Also used a brass wire wheel in a cordless drill around the crossover tube weld areas after the bulk of the rust was removed.
Couldn't get every last spec of rust but they're sure a bunch better.
Finished up with a little Autosol polish. I’d like to try the Blue Magic you guys use but like so many other things it’s not available in Canada.
I’ll have to order some on Amazon or eBay sometime.
Lot of work for a rusted out old set but they're all I've got.
Ya I know they'll rust again but maybe she'll know I tried and now I don’t have to feel guilty putting dirty pipes back on her.
Now I really just gotta go paint something!
.... but my originals were MIA when I got the bike 
