 OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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For the first time since 1978, I am wrong about something. I apologize to Piper and others for arguing. I thought my header pipes were stainless steel, because I used stainless jeweler's rouge to polish them on about 5 different occasions. A strong magnet was faintly attracted to them, so I thought it was the carbon steel inner pipe that was pulling the magnet.
This spring, I got stuck behind a dump truck in the rain for about 20 miles. When I finally passed it, I saw a "KCL" sticker on the side - potassium choride, the most corrosive of all salts. I washed the bike several times afterwards, but still had a few rusty specks show up on handlebars, foot controls, headers and my front brake reservoir cover from Brent is ruined.
I polished my header pipes again yesterday to get the discoloration out, I stayed on the buffer a bit too long. Then I noticed a goldish tint appearing - the chrome layer is thin, no, it's gone.
Sorry for my errant ramblings about my stainless steel headers.
Question: Should I rechrome them or powdercoat black?
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,164 Likes: 1 |
Unless you are going to go with black pipes too, chrome.
Soren
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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header wrap
Last edited by Yota; 11/07/2007 9:16 PM.
we should do this every weekend!
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,337
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,337 |
Have a set of SS headers made...
2002 Bandit 1200/ GSXR cams/ 1277 BB Kit/ Holeshot header and can/ 38mm flatslides/ a good head/lotsa hp/lotsa tq- lots of rear tires...
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 94
Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 94 |
What does it cost to have a set of SS header pipes made?
Now hatred is by far the longest pleasure; men love in haste but detest at leisure.
2006 America 790cc
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,204
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,204 |
It would cost me about $150 but i have to cut the mounts off and reuse them or machine new mounts........ANGELIS
1200CC BIG BORE, W/WISECO PISTONS,.250 STROKED CRANK, PORTED/POLISHED HEADS AND LARGER VALVES, CUSTOM WELDED EXHUAST, DUAL 42MM MIKUNI CARBS.
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Put the AI back and blue 'em  . 
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Yer not alone there, Dennis . Same scenario , guy told me the headers were stainless , polish away , then the yucky undermetal came through . Now I run a chronic classified post for header pipes . Sad.
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,416
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jan 2005
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Apology accepted - he, he... Learnt the hard way like me, right? My solution was cermachrome. Looks like new but a bit duller than real chrome. Best thing is the spreading of the heat and thus no more blueing. Black ceramic coating looks nice as well. 
"Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something."
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 760
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 760 |
Hi Dennis. Well I thought they were SS also. I don't know where I heard it thought. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
04 SpeedMaster, Windvest Screen, Leatherworks Bags.
F&AM, WM 3 times
Rifle & Pistol Competitor
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 604
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I did the magnet thing too.
Got same (weak) result and came to same (SS) conclusion.
How do we explain the weak magnet thing?
I got splattered with something too.
It happened some time this summer, but I dont know when.
About a dozen spots on my right fork leg look like it got hit with a welder.
Said Molly to James, that's a fine motorbike.
Richard Thompson
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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I was wrong one time, but nobody noticed. I'm not sure if that counts or not? 
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56 |
BBQ black is the answer! 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
I did the magnet thing too.
Got same (weak) result and came to same (SS) conclusion.
How do we explain the weak magnet thing?
Not even CLOSE to being an expert on this.... this is called reaching up your backside and pulling stuff out, so to speak.
Steel, which is made up mostly of iron and carbon, can have a myriad of other stuff thrown in with it. Magnesium is a common component and it is not magnetic... a high content in the steel would reduce it's magnetic properties. I really don't think our headers are triple plated, not judging by the quality mostly. So no added layer of nickel and the chrome itself is non magnetic. Plus I don't know the physics of it but steel can be rendered non-magnetic by heat treating.... I'm thinking the headers don't get that hot but you can't argue they get severely warm.
Okay, who know's a metallurgist(spelling)? I need to go wash my hands now.....
Steve
(hewhoshallremainavatarless)
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
Okay, who know's a metallurgist(spelling)?
I'll try to remember to ask him tomorrow.
(And then try to remember his answer  )
But I think you're on the right track with the alloys.
I know that there are different types and grades of "stainless" steel as well. Which could be the answer.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,194 Likes: 56 |
Quote:
I know that there are different types and grades of "stainless" steel as well. Which could be the answer.
Yes and they range from being totally not attracted to a magnet to being as attracted as normal mild steel and several steps between. When scrapping thats how I can tell whats worth money and what isn't.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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The CROW ain't that bad, but I don't want no MOE. Quote:
steel can be rendered non-magnetic by heat treating....
And stainless steel becomes magnetic around 1200°F. Hmmmm?
I did study a little metallurgy for a few months. The heat treatment of carbon steel will cause the base metal to cool faster than the chromium carbide, and that somehow causes the crystals of the base metal to become depolarized - I think?!? That is how a good metallurgist ends every statement.
Maybe it's still magnetic, but the magnet don't know.
Ride Safe,
Dennis
Triumph, it's how I live and what I ride.
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Re: left pipe turning gold [Re: ]
#57627 - Thu Oct 27 2005 11:17 AM
Quote:
The header pipes, both the internal pipe and the external pipe ARE stainless steel (if you doubt that, get a magnet).
A magnet sticks to my header pipes. And is attracted to my Sceptres. While a magnet has no attraction to my SS icebox.
So what does using a magnet mean anyway? It will tell you that the metal is a type of ss. Some stainless steels have a grain structure that precludes the iron atoms from freely moving into the orientation that we identify as magnetic. While some stainless steels are magnetic: those whose atomic arrangement is in a body centered cubic or body centered tetragonal orientation can be strongly ferromagnetic.
And were the headers ss, why then aren't they ss throughout the thickness of the header pipes? My left header show brass/copper and it rusts. I gotta have some funky ss header pipes!
Edited: Dang, I didn't know Holiday Inn Express existed back in 2005.  body centered tetragonal  What the dickens is that? Some x rated Brittney spears event?
Edited edited: can i use 'dickens brittney spears' in the same paragraph? in the words of dinqua, "I bust myself up"!
Last edited by moe; 11/09/2007 9:50 AM.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: OK, I was wrong!!! S.S. headpipes
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 348
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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hmm, thats funny, the ones on mine AREstainless.....
I never wanted to lead, and I never wanted to follow.
I just wanted to ride.
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