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Black to Chrome Exhaust!

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by elGato, Apr 9, 2012.

  1. elGato

    elGato Member

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    The PO of my xj for some reason painted the exhaust black! But with water, aluminum foil and elbow grease, I got the paint to come off, without scratching the exhaust! Check this out! (If I posted pictures right!)
     

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  2. adrian1

    adrian1 Active Member

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    so I have to ask.....why for you not use paint stripper grasshopper?
     
  3. elGato

    elGato Member

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    I was using the aluminum foil to get small rust spots out of my chrome, which works great! I saw a chip in the exhaust paint, so I just went for it! It worked! I am in highschool, and making pizzas doesn't yield as much money as you would think! ;) I have to save money where I can, I usually only spend money on parts for the bike that make it run even better! And it was a heat of the moment kind of thing! I was just very excited!

    And Hey, gotta save money for College! After that day, I'll but paint stripper! ;)
     
  4. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    Patient little $h1t aren't ya?

    Nice job.

    FYI, use the wrong paint stripper and it will weaken chrome plate and it will bubble and rust in short order.
     
  5. elGato

    elGato Member

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    Thanks! It took FOREVER! But a cheap fix to get chrome exhaust, it looks much better than black, and I have done more work on the headers since then!
    @tskaz, I see you're from Michigan! At the end of June I am taking a 4 day motorcycle trip up to Mackinaw bridge! Have you been up there, and do you have any suggestion for some nice bike roads?
     
  6. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    Just wait till you discover Mag Wheel Polish and 1,000 grit paper !!
     
  7. Maxim-X

    Maxim-X Well-Known Member

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    That's because he uses the Myagi system.
    Foil on, foil off, foil on, foil off elGato-san. :p
     
  8. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

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    Never taken a bike to the bridge, but just about any road around there is nice and scenic.

    We have the Tunnel of Trees in the L.P., but it's kinda out of your way.

    If I were you I'd find a route that follows the coast of Lake Huron and follow that all the way up, there are a few side roads that are nice going that way.

    Got a nice little road in my back yard too, but it's only about 20 miles long, going from St. Louis to Midland.
     
  9. skoster

    skoster Member

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    Ah, to be young and have a mom you can steal tin foil from!

    "You did WHAT with my WHAT??"

    Yeah, I heard that a lot too.

    Nice work bud, looks great!
     
  10. maz43

    maz43 Member

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    Nice job.

    Past Zilwaukee bridge US 23 is a nice route up.

    Maz
     
  11. elGato

    elGato Member

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    Haha Yeah! :) I used a lot of foil! But it looks so much better! and day 2 of the trip is all along the coast! It is going to be very great! I am so excited for this ride, and have been getting lots of saddle time as is!

    I just love riding my maxim, and it really loves me, starting at about 5,000 rpms! Ahhhh, What a rush! :)
     
  12. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Did you check the rear brake yet, as in pull the wheel and LOOK? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html a visit to the hospital is nowheres near as much fun.

    And before you get all long-distance ambitious, are your valves in spec?

    Carbs clean, so you're sure you're not running lean on a couple of too-tight valves and about to blow that motor up?

    Tires less than 6 years old? (Check the date codes.)

    Front brake lines new? (The originals had a four-year lifespan.) Check the date codes.

    Not trying to pee in your cornflakes, but you can't just jump on an old bike and start riding it. "Saddle time" is great, but you can get hurt learning some of these things the hard way.

    The bike's gotta be 100% before you can contemplate traveling on it.
     
  13. elGato

    elGato Member

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    Yeah! :) I pulled the wheel off and put in new brake shoes! Timeing is done and it is running great! I've done my homework! Redid the front and rear brakes! This weekend I am rebuilding the clutch due to a slip in the higher revs! This is why I came to this site, to get the work done! I love riding a well maintained bike! :) I'm doing a couple of 250 mile days here soon!

    It's a good bike!
     
  14. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Valves and carb tuning are very important and critical to the ongoing health of the motor.

    Don't just "gloss over" the items that seem difficult or intimidating; it's ALL got to be done.

    GOT TO BE.

    Got a service manual yet?
     
  15. Baron_Johnson

    Baron_Johnson New Member

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    Looking good, man!
     
  16. elGato

    elGato Member

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    Yeah, I hear ya! These bikes are old, and hi reving engines, it is important that everything is synced and tuned well! And I do have a service manual!

    And thanks! It looks much better! I detailed the bike after these pictures were taken! Can't bring the almuminum back to life, like the mirror polish some of these guys have!
     
  17. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Yes you can, you just need to know how.

    The gray mottled corrosion is trapped under the old clearcoat. You use an Aircraft Paint stripper to remove it; then wet-sand the mottling out and re-polish the covers. It can be done completely by hand, or with an electric drill and some cheap buffing pads; you don't need a buffer or anything fancy.

    So go check your valve clearances.
     

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