Rusted Exhaust

[MattyQ]

I have a solid but total surface rusted exhaust pipe on my 74 125 SD.  What is the best way to stop the rust and re-paint the exhaust .

Thanks ,

Q



Matthew Quinlan

[tofriedel]

Matty,

My experience is to sand or glass bead blast the pipe clean, then acid etch, followed with a high temp paint.  Next is to keep it clean and a the pipes gets scratches, uses steel wool or sand paper on the scratched spots & then re-spray with the same hi-temp paint.  Always looks good and lasts.

Tony

[thrownchain]

Yep, good prep and use BBQ paint, then you can touch it up if and when it needs it.

[MattyQ]

Pertaining to bead blasting or sand blasting , do you have your own machine ? What is the  cost ?  I heard bead blasting with dry ice is the best way , just what I'm told.  The machine is probably expensive though.

One other question , my carburator needs to soaked and cleaned , should I soak it in gas?

Matthew Quinlan

[thrownchain]

Get in your yellow pages and look for someone to blast it for you, I'd recomend glass beads, but fine sand will work also. Make sure that they don't use too high a PSI as it will eat the pipe.
As for the carb clean, head to your local auto parts store and get a carb cleaning pail. It will come with the solvent in it and a nice dipping tray. If you take care of the pail [ keep it sealed between uses] you should be able to use it multiple times.

[pketchum]

On thing often overlooked is to make sure to break the pipe in heat-wise before getting it dirty.  Often I've painted my pipe and run the engine around a bit to warm it up and then took to the trails where I got the pipe a bit dirty and hot.  Well, it bakes in the muddy water right onto your pipe - not good.  

Let the pipe get real hot while it's still clean and you won't have this problem.

Phil
(speaking from experience)

[MattyQ]

Thanks everyone for the great info , especially the baking of the paint before trail riding! Surely would have done the same thing !

Matthew Quinlan

[Rain Man]

Matthew, I have both a 100 # sand blaster and an enclosed glass bead machine purchased from Harbour tools. Relatively cheap, extremley messy and they use alot of air. I try to restore a bike a year, so they get used.
  I glass bead all the magnesium engine parts and aluminum parts.  I use sand on all the CMF stuff, and then sand down the parts a bit before painting.
  Also on those real stubborn carb parts that won't clean up, I soak them in alcohol.  It seems to clean alot of the shellac off and out of those small orifices.

Raymond
 Down East Pentons

[MattyQ]

Thanks for all the great info ,  what should I expect to pay to have something either bead blasted or sand blasted , like my muffler?  

Q

Matthew Quinlan

[tofriedel]

I cannot give you a price for sand blasting.  I do my own with a sand blaster that a local garage has which they let me use their equipment & air.  I have to supply the sand.  Get the fine blasting sand.  I get mine at a local hardware store for around $8 for 100# bag.  More than enouch for a pipe.  I buy them a 12 pack of beer.

Check out you local garages & body shops.  Takes less the .5 hours to do a pipe, maybe only 5 - 10 miutes.

Tony