Header pipes blueing

**Cajunrider** · 07-19-2010, 08:51 PM

While leaning over to adjust my idle up, I noticed the reflection of the back side of my front header pipe on the new exhaust is blueing pretty badly. I could see the reflection of the header on the engine chrome in front of the oil fill plug. I adjusted my #1 pot on the TFI up from 4:00 to 4:30 after installing the V & H baggers. Has anyone else running V & H noticed the same?

borto1990 · 07-19-2010, 08:56 PM

yea, mine changed right away too. I originally was trying to think of a way to completely wrap a chrome shield around it, but I really don't notice it anymore.

pirate · 07-19-2010, 09:23 PM

Mitch, mine did the same thing shortly after getting the bike. Like Tony, I guess I really don't notice it anymore.

timebandit · 07-19-2010, 10:27 PM

If you remove the heat shields, you'll see that they become golden brass color with blue tones at the hotter spots. If you let the engine warm up without the shields, you can see some spots turning orangy white withe the heat.

I wrapped mine and don't see that anymore

**Cajunrider** · 07-19-2010, 10:32 PM

The 220* wrap around shields hide the headers well. You are right about the golden color with the blue tones and ribbons. I really hated to see that but I suppose there is not stopping it with the fuel processor tuned correctly.

AlabamaNomadRider · 07-19-2010, 10:36 PM

Those things get terribly hot and that does happen.

cactusjack · 07-19-2010, 11:15 PM

Same thing happened with my Cobras. No getting around it, I'm afraid.

Yellow Jacket · 07-20-2010, 03:38 AM

Yeah, that's probably why so many bikes are now using chromed heat sheilds over the pipes instead of just chroming the pipes themselves.

**ringadingh** · 07-20-2010, 04:33 AM

Mine have been a bright blue as well for a long time.
There is or was a product called Autosol that was a polish that removed most of the bluing on pipes. I used to use it on my other bike.

kenk · 07-20-2010, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

The 220* wrap around shields hide the headers well. You are right about the golden color with the blue tones and ribbons. I really hated to see that but I suppose there is not stopping it with the fuel processor tuned correctly.

One can read their pipes, gold /bluest tones shows you’re tuned right , dark blue /purple/reddish tones shows lean, running hot or cheap thin pipes or both. All this should be happening in the first six to eight inches of the header Discolored pipes shows you ride the thing and the only way you’re not going to discolor your pipes is to leave the bike set in the garage.

macmac · 07-20-2010, 08:57 AM

Typical of single wall pipe. You won't stop it. This is called the parade of color by any decent black smith. It is used to determine how hot a steel is too and used to temper steel.

The first color of light straw starts around 375 degrees F and becomes a dark straw around 390. Other colors appear in hotter yet to become peacock blue at around 600'F or spring steel temper. Last is dull gray dead soft.

Of course these would mean the pipes were high carbon tool steel and were hardened first, which they are not.

This will even show on stainless steel, so if you want to play around and create your own controlled parade you can cook a table knife.

Double wall pipe is getting to be a thing of the past and triple wall pipe is gone.

My pipes are this way too.

macmac · 07-20-2010, 08:59 AM

Ring, how does that go?

clean em up nice and fire the bike to weep?

**ringadingh** · 07-20-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

Ring, how does that go?

clean em up nice and fire the bike to weep?

I only polish the heat sheilds on this bike, but my other bikes I had no heat sheilds so I polished them all top to bottom.

07-19-2010, 08:56 PM	#2
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	Header pipes blueing yea, mine changed right away too. I originally was trying to think of a way to completely wrap a chrome shield around it, but I really don't notice it anymore.
	0

07-19-2010, 09:23 PM	#3
pirate Sr. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,865	Header pipes blueing Mitch, mine did the same thing shortly after getting the bike. Like Tony, I guess I really don't notice it anymore.
	0

07-19-2010, 10:27 PM	#4
timebandit Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Casselman, Ontario Posts: 790	Header pipes blueing If you remove the heat shields, you'll see that they become golden brass color with blue tones at the hotter spots. If you let the engine warm up without the shields, you can see some spots turning orangy white withe the heat. I wrapped mine and don't see that anymore
	0

07-19-2010, 10:32 PM	#5
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Header pipes blueing The 220* wrap around shields hide the headers well. You are right about the golden color with the blue tones and ribbons. I really hated to see that but I suppose there is not stopping it with the fuel processor tuned correctly. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-19-2010, 10:36 PM	#6
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Header pipes blueing Those things get terribly hot and that does happen. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

07-19-2010, 08:51 PM	#1
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Header pipes blueing While leaning over to adjust my idle up, I noticed the reflection of the back side of my front header pipe on the new exhaust is blueing pretty badly. I could see the reflection of the header on the engine chrome in front of the oil fill plug. I adjusted my #1 pot on the TFI up from 4:00 to 4:30 after installing the V & H baggers. Has anyone else running V & H noticed the same? __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-19-2010, 11:15 PM	#7
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Header pipes blueing Same thing happened with my Cobras. No getting around it, I'm afraid. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-20-2010, 03:38 AM	#8
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	Header pipes blueing Yeah, that's probably why so many bikes are now using chromed heat sheilds over the pipes instead of just chroming the pipes themselves. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
	0

07-20-2010, 04:33 AM	#9
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Header pipes blueing Mine have been a bright blue as well for a long time. There is or was a product called Autosol that was a polish that removed most of the bluing on pipes. I used to use it on my other bike. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

07-20-2010, 08:57 AM	#11
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Header pipes blueing Typical of single wall pipe. You won't stop it. This is called the parade of color by any decent black smith. It is used to determine how hot a steel is too and used to temper steel. The first color of light straw starts around 375 degrees F and becomes a dark straw around 390. Other colors appear in hotter yet to become peacock blue at around 600'F or spring steel temper. Last is dull gray dead soft. Of course these would mean the pipes were high carbon tool steel and were hardened first, which they are not. This will even show on stainless steel, so if you want to play around and create your own controlled parade you can cook a table knife. Double wall pipe is getting to be a thing of the past and triple wall pipe is gone. My pipes are this way too. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-20-2010, 08:59 AM	#12
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Header pipes blueing Ring, how does that go? clean em up nice and fire the bike to weep? __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

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