Cover vs. Hot Pipes... NO CONTEST!!

[wnt2ryd]

After installing my new PhatRiser IIs yesterday I made a quick 1/2 mile trip up the road to check general feel. Rain began to fall, and I hurried back to the house to get the bike under shelter and under it's cover.

I've put the cover (Dowco Guardian WeatherAll, which has heat shields to allow immediate use after riding) on the bike a thousand times, with never so much as even a close call. But yesterday was different. I wasn't in a hurry, but for some reason the cover turned wrong and slipped down without my knowing. It was the smell that first alerted me ...

I pulled the cover off the right side and immediately scanned the pipes, knowing what had happened. It didn't take long to spot it - on the rear cylinder pipe - a smouldering, bubbling, repulsive MESS.

Trying to wipe it off would've only made things worse, smearing and cooking plastic over more of the pipe's griddle-like surface. So, I covered the bike and resigned myself to dealing with the issue "tomorrow."

Lots of research was done while downing my breakfast, and I opted for the cheapest/easiest for a first attempt - Easy Off over cleaner. I'm skeptical, but lots of people on the interwebs are singing praises at the near miracles this stuff seems to perform again and again. I figure at this point, I have nothing to lose, so why not?

1) The loser in the battle: the cover.
2) The winner in the battle: the pipe.
3) The bubbled up material makes the pipe look diseased.
4) First round of Easy Off applied and left to soak/work/do it's thing.

[Old Bear]

If need be, you can finish up (now that you've already started) with 0000 steel wool and some WD-40. Cleans right up, slick as a whistle.

[wnt2ryd]

Jerry -
I picked up some #4/0 at O'Reilly on the way back from grabbing the Easy Off!

Thanks for the suggestion :cheers:

[wnt2ryd]

Well, after round 1, I have to say I'm actually a little hopeful. The baked on plastic-y yuck is sliding/peeling right off the pipe.. amazing!

I'll give it another round and see where I am

[wnt2ryd]

2 rounds of Easy Off and almost everything is *GONE* :tup:

I would never have believed it, but it worked....

A little touch up with some #0000 steel wool (MUST BE #0000!!!) to get the remaining little bits, and you can't tell anything ever happened! Shield was already discolored before the "incident", thanks to prior owner.

Easy Off is some NASTY stuff - cover everything not being sprayed, including your HANDS!

Hope someone else benefits from this info

[cactusjack]

I would go with the Easy-Off. I won't use steel wool on chrome. At least not the chrome on my bike. It's always worked for me.

[cnc]

Often times after letting the pipe cool, applying ice to the area will make the melted plastic brittle and you can get a fair bit off gently scraping it with a plastic spatula. A few applications of chrome polish removes any specs still stuck on.

[NobleRider]

I did the same thing on my bike. The wind from the impending rain storm blew the cover right onto the pipe. Easy off worked great. Try to find a product called "Blue Job" for the discoloration. It's a powder that you make a paste out of and rub onto the pipe. It restored the chrome luster. Good luck!