SAVE THE CHROME? NEED HELP>>DONE--UPDATE AND PICS!

[Dan]

2 part question for everyone:

1st part--I have a piece of exhaust chrome on my Harley (it relates to my 67 Ford in the second question) that I accidentally let a microfiber rag fall on while polishing the bike, and the chrome was hot so it melted a "pattern" matching the rag pattern onto the chrome.

It feels just like melted hard plastic and I cannot even budge the stuff with regular cleaners or "goo-gone" type citrus cleaners. Any ideas how I might get this off and save the chrome?

2nd part--I have seen chrome cleaners that claim to remove rust from older chrome yet not damage the chrome (such as "StrongArm" etc.), the headliner chrome trim on my 67 Ranger has a lot of small rusty scratches and such that I'd like to try this stuff on, anyone used this and how did it work for you?

Any idea if this chrome rust remover might take the micro fiber melt off my Harley chrome?

Thanks in advance for any advice---to replace the Harley chrome is $200!! The truck chrome isn't in the budget for a few years so I'd like to at least shine it up until then.

[70_F100]

Brillo/SOS pad or Simichrome Polish.

[BobbyFord]

I did the same micro fiber rag thing to my hot Harley exhaust, I used Turtle Wax Chrome Polish to remove the pattern.
This may work on your headliner trim also...> http://www.turtlewax.com/detail-Chrome% ... 47-80.aspx

[fitzwell]

Simichrome / Wenol & brass wool.

[fordman]

i use rubbing compoiund and steel wool on headliner trim. it works fine. it removes the rust and gives the chrome a oily substance to keep the rust from coming back.

[Dan]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will definately give them a try!

[flyboy71]

Does that work to remove your kids shoe heel melted rubber on your exhaust?

[BobbyFord]

Does that work to remove your kids shoe heel melted rubber on your exhaust?

I've used the Turtle Wax chrome polish to remove boot rubber from my exhaust.

[michael69]

I have used a razor blade,to get boot or shoe rubber off. I ran bike long enough to get the exhaust hot then with a NEW razor blade with no gouges or rough places on it. You can gently scrape the rubber off. Make sure you have the blade laying as flat as you can while gently scraping rubber off and it will not damage or scratch the chrome. You just have to take your time then finish with some polish.

[woods]

This happens on my bike every now and then. They make this stuff for removing the bluing from heated chrome called (oh boy) "blue job". It works great for removing that stuff. I was messing around with my bike on the dyno the other day and one of the nylon straps got up against the exhaust. I tried a lot of stuff to get it all the way off. The blue job took it off with very little work.

[Dan]

That's interesting, I didn't know they made anything designed to remove blue from exhaust pipes, I might just try to find some of that first and see how it goes, I'd like to try chemical type removers before I try any physical methods just to be on the safe side.

Still can't believe I did that...sheesh!

Thanks again everyone for all the advice, I may end up having to try it all before I am done !

[woods]

http://www.blue-job.com/

Also...just a side note. If you have good quality pipes on your bike and they are turning blue and/or gold, then your jetting or timing is off. Retarded timing will cause bluing as will a lean mixture or extremely rich as well. If they are getting a bit blue, up you pilot jet a couple sizes (not your main) and advance your timing a little. Not only will it run a ton better, you pipes will stay nice. I have over 100k on an old thunderheader on my bike and it has not trace of gold or blue anywhere.

[Dan]

I have heard that from a few other guys too about the blue pipes, mines all stock 2008 still at the moment.
Here's my rag burn/melt....(ugh)...can you believe Harley wants $200 for a replacement part!?!?!?

So would these products also do a great job on the anondized aluminum grill on my 67 Ranger too? I assume they wouldn't harm it any?

[woods]

Ive never tried it on aluminum, be sure and do a small spot first.
I "might" just have a new stock head-pipe for your bike. I'll dig through my stuff. You can have it if I still got it (I owned a performance bike shop for a lot of years and have a pretty good collection of stuff.)

[Dan]

The pipe itself is actually fine, the damaged chrome piece is an attached "heat shield' that goes over the actual exhaust pipe. Although it probably is called a heat shield, I am sure it's just there to hide the blue pipes and keep the bike looking chrome all the time.

It's attached with 2 chrome hose clamps underneath onto the exhaust pipe. You can see where it ends down lower where the exhaust turns toward the back, there is blue visible between the damaged shield and the next shield going back. The nice thing is that I can just pop it off to work on the melted rag stuff instead of trying to be careful working it while on the bike!