What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Got any tips and tricks for BMW R1200RT/R1250RT owners? feel free to share them here.
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David.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

The F800Riders thread seems to be referring to a remote network of dealers selling Hilltop software.

The thread was posted in June 2019, I visited Hilltop in August 2019. My most recent correspondence with Hilltop was in March 2020.

Doesn't make sense to me.
Last edited by David. on Sun Apr 12, 2020 11:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by hammo »

Got lost a bit there !!!! mapping ? shiny exhausts ?
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

Sorry if I've contributed to taking the thread off topic. I was just trying to be helpful in answering a question.
Old-Git wrote:Wonder what loosing the flap would do for performance?
This led on to my experiences with Hilltop when considering removing the EFCV & Cat. from my Camhead.

The discolouration of exhausts is temperature related from a lean running engine. Therefore, with the correct AFR (re-mapping),  exhausts may stay shinier for longer.

The thread has developed from problems keeping chrome exhausts shiny to looking at alternatives such as stainless steel and ceramic coating.

Life & exhausts would be a bit dull without reasoned discussion.
Last edited by David. on Sun Apr 12, 2020 1:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by Old-Git »

well blackwidow say their stainless headers "will blue and bronze with use" so the main saving will be weight. There is a bike dealer local to me who has a little used rolling road / dynometer / whatever it they are called who has said he will put mine on it and only charge if it does need a remap. I'm very tempted as we have another 3 weeks of lockdown.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

Although s/s will discolour, it can be more aggressively polished than chrome to make it shiny again with causing any damage.

If you do go ahead with the BW s/s headers, it'll be very interesting to see how you get on with the potential re-map. Would the local bike dealer be prepared to check the AFR etc. with the OEM system on the bike as a base line. Removing the cat. & flap "allegedly" requires remapping or is it all just BS.

Akrapovic, the only silencer "approved" for use by BMW say, if fitting the non-cat. version headers, remapping the ECU is recommended in order to prevent »check engine light« warning signal and achieve optimized performance and throttle response. They are supposed to be the experts or perhaps Treetop Tuning are.
Last edited by David. on Fri Apr 17, 2020 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by Old-Git »

Hmmm I was just about to buy the headers, but I thought I'd try the stud nuts first. Glad I did, they ain't very good, even after a spray of plus gas. Socket slipped once so I stopped. Next week the bike will be up on the ramp so I can service it, I think I'll see if the nuts will come off before I go ahead with the headers.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

Interesting, are the stud nuts like this and is there exposed stud thread showing.

Image

Image

Some discussion on BMWMOA, https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.ph ... eader-nuts

JVB the BMW Guru recommended using a 12 point 13mm socket.
Last edited by David. on Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by Old-Git »

David. wrote: Interesting, are the stud nuts like this and is there exposed stud thread showing.

Image
Well the outer ones are. Can't lie down to have a look at the inners, will have to wait until it goes up on the lift.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

I must admit that removing the header nuts on my Camhead is a concern.
Hopefully, with this type of hex head nut which fully covers the stud thread, it won't be so much of a problem.

Image

Image

Perhaps applying some heat to the nut on a Wethead may help.
The backs of the nuts are like this which may not be helping the situation.

Image
Last edited by David. on Fri Apr 17, 2020 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by michaelc2710 »

David. wrote: I must admit that removing the header nuts on my Camhead is a concern.
Hopefully, with this type of hex head nut which fully covers the stud thread, it won't be so much of a problem.

Image

Perhaps applying some heat to the nut on a Wethead may help.
The backs of the nuts are like this which may not be helping the situation.

Image

The bottom nut is the better one of the two, as the rear are the lock when tightened up, The top enclosed nut's shouldn't be used on really on exhaust's as the studs have no way of cooling, so the nut can end up coming lose with the expansion and contraction. The stud and nut will expand and contract at difference temperatures/ speed.
Have you purchased some headers David ? and which ones if you are concerned about removing your nuts.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

michaelc2710 wrote:The bottom nut is the better one of the two, as the rear are the lock when tightened up. The top enclosed nuts shouldn't be used really on exhausts as the studs have no way of cooling, so the nut can end up coming lose with the expansion and contraction. The stud and nut will expand and contract at difference temperatures/speed.
Perhaps this is why BMW have changed the nuts from Camhead to Wethead.
michaelc2710 wrote:Have you purchased some headers David and which ones if you are concerned about removing your nuts.
No, I'm just thinking ahead to possibly having the headers Cermakrome coated like Simbo has had done.
Whilst trying to gain some confidence that if I do, removing the nuts won't be a problem.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by Beagle »

Old-Git wrote: Well the outer ones are. Can't lie down to have a look at the inners, will have to wait until it goes up on the lift.

Those funny looking copper coloured nuts are the same that are fitted to aircraft except they are titanium.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by David. »

These nuts are described as 12 point or bi-hex, they are useful where access is limited.

Image

Hence why a suitable socket is required, a 6 point or hex socket won't work.
Last edited by David. on Fri Apr 17, 2020 3:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by simbo »

@David..dont worry about the manifold nuts, they're only done up to 21Nm so they're not very tight.
The GS 'is' the better bike :-)
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Re: What do you use to keep your chrome exhaust shiny?

Post by Beagle »

Those fancy nuts are torqued to 28Nm
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