What would you do about the rust on these mufflers?

[Tugboat]

Got a great deal on these to replace the open pipes I currently have. I'd like to clean up some of this rust before I mount them though. None of the rusted bits will really show once mounted, so cleaning them up is really just for my piece of mind.

So how would you do it? If the mufflers separated from the headers I'd just use the wire wheel mounted on my bench grinder. But as it stands they're just too heavy to do that for any length of time. Other options I can think of include a wire brush on a Dremel, maybe some of that rust converter stuff painted on there.. sandpaper, followed by VHT header paint? Regardless, I don't want to spend an inordinate amount of time on something you'll never see.. So, any suggestions?

 

[joedrum]

cool

 

[dan filipi]

I would hit it with a wire wheel in a variable speed drill then paint.
Where the rust meets the good face chrome area of the mufflers I'd tape off the chrome in a straight line back.
I did that to a set, turned out looking pretty good.

 

[mcgovern61]

Naval jelly and steel wool works real fast with very little effort, the jelly does all the work. I have also used chrome polish; just apply it and let it set for a while and then hit it with steel wool.

 

[slabghost]

I read once where one guy used oven cleaner on the rust and wrapped it in plastic so it wouldn't dry out. The before and after pictures looked pretty convincing but I've not tried this yet.

 

[chilidawg]

I'm told wet, bunched up Aluminum foil works good on rust, but I'd be less worried about their looks than the intregrity of the lengthwise bottom header weld, especially on the right side pipe, what looks like a tiny hairline crack can go all the way through, I'm fighting just such a leak on mine right now.

 

[toytender01]

Use a bath in white vinagar, wife doea all my rusty tools that way.....

 

[westgl]

When I did mine they where worse than yours are.

I cut the heat shield off the header as I did not want the heat shield on the headers,

Then I cut the muffler off as far back as I could, Then I painted the headers with a High temp Header primer and Paint, then I went to my local Harley shop (Sorry guys I used the H word

Took the new Harley Mufflers to my local exhaust shop they put a spreader in the Harley mufflers and opened them up so that they are a snug fit on to my headers.

Then I took them home tried them on the bike and adjusted them to the right angles, and had the muffler shop weld them on at the right angles/heights that I wanted.

They have a VERY NICE sound with out being loud at all just a mellow deep roar, and at idle it sounds like it has a different cam in it, kind of a nice loapy sound.

Those mufflers cost me $30.00 for the pair from the Harley dealer, they were new bike take offs they looked like the bike had not been fired, I picked up three different styles while I was there, this one was a Medium length, I picked a shorter pair and a longer pair.

 

[westgl]

Sorry those are older picture's but that is all i have at the moment

 

[dan filipi]

I'd like to do Harley pipes one day but I sure would like to hear one first hand. Your description though sounds like what I'm after.

 

[westgl]

Hey Dan,

I like the Harley Mufflers so much that my GL12 also needed a pair it has the shorter one on it.

here's a picture of it

The first picture has my GL1500 trike in the back ground, that I built/am building, it will have the Long Harley Mufflers on it

 

[westgl]

Or just take the whole exhaust to the Muffler guy have him do all the work.

Cut off the mufflers grind the header ends remove the heat shields.

Then you just have to wire brush the rust off, that seemed to work the best for me.

The Harley mufflers & stock headers are a lot lighter than the stock set up

I used a Harley Muffler clamp to clamp the muffler to the headers

 

[westgl]

Hey Dan,

Here is a you tube of a guy that has the shortest Harley mufflers on his.

I would think that the shortest ones would be the loudest as they are for 1200 sporsters, the medium ones seem to be better for our wings bigger motor bigger exhaust diameter, but if you are going for a very short look then they would work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_i2FOPnzuo

I would make a video, but i would not now how to upload it

Sorry guy's you also have to have the Welder weld on approx a 3-4" long piece of pipe to the header, then the Harley muffler clamp over the this newly welded on piece of pipe.

 

[dan filipi]

Hey Dan,

Here is a you tube of a guy that has the shortest Harley mufflers on his.

I would think that the shortest ones would be the loudest as they are for 1200 sporsters, the medium ones seem to be better for our wings bigger motor bigger exhaust diameter, but if you are going for a very short look then they would work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_i2FOPnzuo

I would make a video, but i would not now how to upload it

Winnie!
Haven't seen that vid in a while.
That's Roady's girl.

 

[westgl]

That's what mine sounds like, only MUCH better in person.

And now the mufflers can be replaced with something that is available and reasonably priced

 

[Ansimp]

And they look great as well :wave:

 

[westgl]

I just came across this picture of my Headers and Harley mufflers before I installed them

Here's a picture

aw crap that GL1500 has to get in the picture

 

[Ansimp]

And they look great as well :wave:

And just as good on the ground :good:

 

[flash2002]

I just sandblasted the headers and painted with header paint and instald harley mufflers, got them real sheap.

 

[joedrum]

now thats how its done .......it dont matter the direction you go ...once its made the ending is this perfect job