|
|
Cruiser
Posts: 106
L.I., N.Y. | A gust of wind blew a microclothe off the seat onto the chrome pipe under the seat. I pulled it off immediately, but the clothe partially melted to the chrome pipe. How do you get it off without damaging the chrome?  |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 205
| I've had good luck with cleaning chrome issues like that with a cleaner that is used for an iron. There is a rubbing paste that cleans irons when you accidentally melt something onto them. Get the pipe hot (run the motor) and rub the stuff on. It will scrub the scum, and then as it cools you can polish it back to normal. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 208
Wichita, Kansas | Microfiber is usually polyester, and polyester slacks will do the same thing if you put a foot down too close to the pipe. I used a solvent followed by chrome cleaner and a lot of elbow grease. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| easy off oven cleaner on a warm...not hot pipe. nothing works better...or cheaper |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Yep, easy off too. I forgot about that. And if not, the iron cleaner is sold at most drug-stores or a fabric store if you have one nearby. It's called "Iron-Off". I have some...its cool. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | Kitchen cleaner belongs in the Kitchen. Contact Larry at http://www.purevictorypolishes.com/ period. It's not worth the risk or hassle to use anything else. I spent a large portion of the day at the AVR watching Larry and Jr. removing things from pipes, and polishing things that looked polished until they redefined what "shine" was. And trust me... effort, "elbow grease" or "breaking a sweat" is NOT part of any of the cleaning routines. This stuff is plain amazing, and backed up by some amazing people. I've been riding since the 70's and have certainly attempted to clean my share of bikes over the years. I have likely tried every cleaning product on the market, and while many work... NONE of them impressed me.... until now.. These products aren't just a name. They are made for our bikes, and they work. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | The Victory awesome metal polish will "EASILY" clean melted rubber off of chrome pipes that are cool to the touch. No need to heat them. That stuff is pretty slick. I presume it will EASILY remove any other substance. If you don't like that option, the other would be to get 0000 steel wool found in the paint department of most Lowes and Home depot, then using the spray detailer and it rubs right off and no scratches or damage to your chrome. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | My brother in law had the same thing happen on his chromed-out Softail.
I hate to say it, but after a couple of weeks of trying different products, and different methods, he gave up and replaced the chrome.
Something about the micro-fiber and the high temperature that seemed to 'etch' his chrome. It's not like rubber or plastic. And, it's wasn't as if he'd never had something melt to his pipes before, as he's been riding for 25 years. Shoot, 6 weeks ago I we were riding and got caught in the rain. I put on my Frogg Toggs, and when we got home I found that I'd melted the leg to my right-side exhaust. It was a huge area. We let the bike cool, and with various cleaners and solvents he had in his garage took all the gunk off and restored my pipes to their original brilliance.
I hope that his was a fluke and I hope your experience turns out differently.
Edited by Breaker 2009-09-10 12:59 PM
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | MEK (Methyl Ethyl Keytone) solvent, available at paint stores will remove it. I did exactly the same thing on my pipes when the microfiber towel blew against it. It will work if the pipe is cold, but if there is a large spot, just warm the pipe a bit before trying to remove it. I wet a cotton cloth with the MEK and it rubs right off with little effort. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | I believe Jeff got micro-fiber on his pipes and got it off. I also witnessed the removal of Frog-Toggs from pipes at the AVR... Took about 15 minutes... most of which was spent telling us how to do it, and letting me get the before and after pictures. It's amazing what can be done with the right tools/chemicals.. I can honestly say it was FUN cleaning my bike when I got home from the AVR.... cause all I really did was spray stuff on... wipe with a micro-fiber mit, and hose off... bike looked new again, took about 10 minutes. I'll be doing a writeup soon on the product line... If anyone from here was at the AVR... the saw the before and after of my 1680 mile trip there. Lloyd put it on the Dyno to check something out and couldn't see the computer screen through the windshield !!!! My cheese wedges that looked all "cracked" from heat now look like new chrome pieces. My polished aluminum gas cap, that had a tank bang sitting on it as well, now looks chrome. And finally, my engine black.... was NEVER black before... now it looks like a NEW engine. Please don't think this is a sales pitch or anything like that. I know I can come across like that when I get excited... but you're reading the words of a guy who gave up on the idea of ever having a really shiney bike long ago... I have had the bike detailed and not come out looking as good as it does now. In fact.. the "haze" on my black gas tank (from the lanolin of the chaps I used to wear) I was told by more than one "professional" would require either heavy buffing and rubbing compound or a repaint... It took Larry about 2 minutes to bring the black back to life and to a mirror shine... haze gone...
www.purevictorypolishes.com
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | i've takin' a THICK wet terry cloth and just wiped while the pipes are HOT! Also, something about taking a penny, you know those coins you throw away 'cause you're so stinkin' rich, and scrap against the chrome. that will take off that minute stuff that hangs around afterwards. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 732
Western WA | nohawg - 2009-09-10 10:06 AM
MEK (Methyl Ethyl Keytone) solvent, available at paint stores will remove it. I did exactly the same thing on my pipes when the microfiber towel blew against it. It will work if the pipe is cold, but if there is a large spot, just warm the pipe a bit before trying to remove it. I wet a cotton cloth with the MEK and it rubs right off with little effort.
Hmmm. . . . Maybe it wasn't the micro on my brother in law's bike, but something he had ON the micro that reacted with the metal. Hadn't thought of that. Or, and this is entirely possible, he's an idiot. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | Miles, I think I saw your bike there both before he started and after he was done, and you're right...nothing short of amazing. Your bike looked almost showroom perfect when he was finished, and it was a nasty mess when he started! (No offense!  |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 548
Mount Vernon, WA United States | nohawg - 2009-09-10 6:54 PM
Miles, I think I saw your bike there both before he started and after he was done, and you're right...nothing short of amazing. Your bike looked almost showroom perfect when he was finished, and it was a nasty mess when he started! (No offense!
LOL.. none taken... I didn't think much of it at the time... but it musta really grossed a few folks out. Ya'll gots some juicey bugs in them parts. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | WORD OF CAUTION:
If you do use MEK be very careful not to let the rag or the solvent on it touch anything painted or plastic. It will melt or soften the finish on plastic parts and vinyl faster than you can believe. This solvent is the primary active ingredient in many paint strippers, so you know what it's going to do to your painted panels if you make a mistake.
It also has a flash point of minus 9 degrees; so using it on a hot surface could be a real mistake. |
|
| |
Heat microfiber clothe Chrome aaaaghhh!!!