Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust left pipe turning gold

Can anyone help me out? I have 10000 miles on my bike and the last 1000 have turned the left pipe to a golden color. I would like to stop the it before it turns blue. I have not done anything to the stock pipes except cut the last (exaust end) baffel out. I checked the air mix. screw on both sides, they are about two and a quarter turns out. The plugs look like a perfect burn. I don't know what to do next. HELP

I'd like to know too Al. My left pipe on my '05 TA has been getting bluer everyday from brand new. Right side is like new. Triumph will do nothing for me. (Bastards!)

I was gonna say to check the air mix screws...

and then sync the carbs

My left side's been doing the same (turning gold) since day-1.

AI Removed (Day 1)
TOR Longs (Day 1)
Snorkel Removed Airbox/Filter drilled open (1000 Miles)
132 Mains (1000 Miles)
Idle-Mix 3 turns out

Plugs look good, so I guess I'll invest in a Carb-Synch tool.

Regards,

I have set my mixture screws and synced the carbs. I have AI removed and all else stock. Still turning bluer.

Have you checked your header bolts for correct torque?

Another good idea is to stick a piece of vacuum hose between the two vacuum ports on the manifold or carb ports. Use the vacuum line from the AI like Grump did...

Post deleted by Grump

does it do it on aftermarket pipes also?

My scepters got a little Gold after a year and a half up around where they clamp to the header pipes. But as I recently (last May) discovered simichrome, they have yet to turn any color cept for that color on the first day of Genesis...

Color shift is not so much a bad thing as it is a badge of honor. (i.e. evidence of bike that is ridden!) Our header pipes are doubled walled. Look at some bonneville header pipes (which are single walled) and you'll see some technicolor for sure.

The primary cause of header pipe color shift on our header pipes is the air injection, but removed, the primary cause is hard riding...This is not to say that the above discourse(s) regarding carb setting is not also a cause, but it is to say that given you have the carbs dialed in, don't fear the color shift.

So why is it always the left side? You'd think if it was carb settings that we'd hear about a right side turning color but as if now all I have heard is the left side. I also noticed that my pipe is also blueing at the crossover joint....but again, just on the left. If I install a vacuum jumper, will they both discolor?

Post deleted by Grump

You're not alone, Grump! My right header is also turning gold and it has been since i f***** up everything when balancing the carbs. In a couple of seconds both headers turned blue and ugly (had turned the balancer hoses upside down, long story). After polishing, probably all through the chrome and exposing the SS, it strives (?) to look golden instead of silver. Simichrome is the cure...

Every Bonneville America, America, and SpeedMaster have double wall pipes since day one.

Yeah, but soon aftermarket single walled header pipes will be available from Bob Miller at Millerbuilt in Lynchburg, VA. Same diameter as our double walled headers but single walled. I think Bill said he was going to use Stainless Steel, but I can't recall.

OK. I agree, his site needs a Robert!

wonder if they will be worth buying. think they will help in performance any?

Frank

Ah.....I thought it was just the new ones that were double walled. I'd be tempted to buy new pipes and coat them before installing. I like the chrome....not the blue. If I wanted colored pipes, I'd paint them. (Let the flaming begin.)

HMMM! did I miss something. I did not see any reference to pipes. Lots of mowers and a single shot of Thumpers but no pipes.
Mike

Yeah I'm totally interested in stainless headers!! Even if they turn a little gold, at least they will match my Epcos And it will get rid of some of those UGLY heat shield seams and what not. But alas, that site kinda blows.

He sells Triumphs!
And stocks parts!

Bill told me that he will have some prototypes in about 6 months. He is thinking about a three into one pipe for the Rocket III as well. We should call him or e-mail him if indeed we are interested as he has a full plate as it is what with all his customers in Virgina and such.

Bill has already laid out some cash for a lathe and he has pipe bender that will make child's play of our header pipe bends. I like this guy. He was a straight shooter that could give a darn for the boys in Newnan. He deals straight with Mr. Bloor.

Hey Grump, where you've been? We haven't seen you online for awhile. Hope everything's OK.......Angelis

Hey Moe, maybe since he's so busy he wouldn't like getting bombarded with calls, but if you can provide an e-mail address, I'd be happy to speak up as a potential customer for stainless headers!!

Hey Benny,
His website has his e-mail address.

Just tried a product called "Blue Job" (catchy name). It comes in powder form in a container about the size of a snuff tin. Bought it at the local Harley boutique.

It removed all the gold in less than ten minutes without hurting the chrome. Very little elbow grease required.

A bit pricey at $8.95, but I'm happy and recommend it.

WHEN I ASKED MY TRIUMPH DEALER HE SAID WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF BRITISH BIKES

My pipes both have a golden hue, with a bit of blue near the motor. It was a demo bike when I bought it and there was a bit of color when I got it, but it is definitely worse now. I grew up with blue pipes and figured like moe that it is a sign of a bike that has been ridden.

I think I added to the problem during my first good ride, with the RAT bunch, when we shot off from a lunch stop and I ran 5 miles or so with the choke on. Hey, I only had it a couple weeks and was not used to it yet.

I swear I saw the dealer looking at the pipes one time like he was comparing them. At that time the left was more colored than the right. They seem to be about even now.

Some comments concerning the entire string;

The header pipes, both the internal pipe and the external pipe ARE stainless steel (if you doubt that, get a magnet. The outer wall of the outer pipe is polished, not chromed, and you can continue to polish them until you wear through them, however, sometimes severly discolored pipes may never be polished to a completely restored shine. If you maintain the shine rather than wait for the pipes to be REAL blue you chance of maintaining the orignal shine is much better. The silencers are chrome plated - however poorly.

The only purpose for the outer pipe is an attempt to conceal the bluing. It doesn't always work.

There are many suspected reasons;
1. The AI
You all know the AI saga, However my experience is contrary to that theory. My AI has been intact since new w/ 12,500 miles. What blueing has occured has been infrequent and insignificant and controled with occassional polishing. It has been no more bother than the occassional waxing of the bike.

2. Improper tuning
Excessive exhaust temps due to poor tuning (lean mixture)may cause higher than designed temps of the exiting gasses (see #4)

3. Some indication that outer wall on some units may be too close to the inner pipe.
If the distance between the two pipes is significantly closer than design tolerance, the outer pipe may see elevated temperatures.

4. Contrary to the 'LEAN' theory, I've been told that If you leave your choke on for extended periods with the AI functioning as designed, you are sending unburnt gasses into the exhaust port where they are further combusted - More heat - More Blue. Perhaps both excessive lean and excessive rich can contribute to bluing - IDUNNO...

Simichrome and Blue Job are both excellant products and work well on the header pipe. I would use caution when applying to chrome. I works on chrome but I don't feel that long term and frequent use on plateing can do any good to the thickness of the chrome - esspecially the paper-thin stuff on the Triumph. NEVER use this stuff on the chrome plated plastic unless you want un-plated plastic at some point.

Blue Job at $8.95 is an excellent price. I bought mine for $11.95 after searching local sources for some time for a better price.

Regardless of performance modifications, tuning expertise, or cosmetic prowess, your headers will never look like chrome. Best case senario is that the headers will only discolor at the points in which it joins the inner pipe. If you are as fortunate as I have been, periodic polishing will control that.

how bout this the pipes match the bike

Had the whole lot blacked out with a ceramic coating. Easier to care for, no bluing, no one EVER thinks I'm riding a Harley Wanna-be, and the coolest thing is that my headers and pipes are completely cool within five minutes of riding.

Quote:

---

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

---

Same here. My original headers showed the same after me having buffed them too hard. I've since bought a pair of used ones that were terribly blue (and therefore cheap) and learning from my mistakes (well, sometimes) I managed to polish them up without eating the chrome away...

What's the trick? Just using less pressure on them?

I guess that's it. The old ones were done on a bench buffer and the latter ones with a buffing wheel on a hand drill. I also thought the headers were stainless/not chromed and that's why i buffed so hard the first time...