best method to paint exhaust

[seestheday]

Hi,
I recently bought an 81 CB750K with 86,000 km's on it as my first bike and I'm loving it.  This bike is bulletproof.  I have put 3,000 km's on it so far and I have only needed to buy a new a chain for it so far (old one was quite worn).

Anyways, it has a 4 into 1 exhaust and the headers are quite rusted.  I would like to make them look better and thought that a good cheap fix would be to paint them flat black with bbq paint.  I was planning on taking them off before painting them, but now I'm not sure if I need to.  What is the general consensus?  Should I not bother?  I am planning on using a rust remover/primer first, and if I painted them on the bike I'd definitely cover everything I don't want painted with either aluminum foil or paper/tape etc.

Thanks,
Simon

[TOOLS1]

Welcome to the forum. Do it however, you feel comfortable with. However the aftermarket 4 into 1's are pretty easy to remove.
TOOLS

[Half-Caf]

Definitely take them off first -just be careful that you don't snap the header bolts if they are rusty (a little blaster would probably be a good idea).

The best advice I can give you is sand, sand, sand until they feel like a baby's bottom, then apply several thin coats, being sure to get all the small crevices. I did the same thing with my bike and they came out looking great. It took a lot of sanding and a whole can of engine manifold paint to get the job done.

Glad you're enjoying the new bike!

Welcome to the forum.

[Piute]

 As The Man "TOOLS" what you fill comfy doing but,let me add,you will need high heat primer ,and you didn't mention if your HEADER was Chrome or black already,
  If chrome(rusty),I'd take them off and either get them sand blasted or use 100grt.belt sanding paper and sand like you were buffing yo boots(but then pulling is easier then pushing)but ya get the Idea ,you'll have to try to get it all down to the same look in color witch should look like silver brushed,then work your way to 220grt.
  If blk already simply start with lighter grt and concentrate on the rust.
 Primer is your friend (high heat ?)these heat paints are like a ceramic coating help spread heat and protect IF use right,  1st put on light coat (60-90deg. temp.)wait 10 min ,Second coat good coverage,remember to shake the can for at lest a minute or so .wait 15min.Then a third heavy but not runs.let it set 24hrsgive quick light scuff with pad ,your just scuffing nothing gritty ,then add 2 more medium heavy coats,
   NOWyour ready to paint,you should have enough primer on to to have filled any scratches left from missed sanding and buy letting it set you will be able to tell if you cleaned it well enough,cause it didn't lift,wax and paint prep is great ,great soap N water with great rinse.works also.
  I enjoy painting ,It's all in the prep for a quality paint job ,you may be able to prep just fine with them on ,If it don't look right when you shoot the (BLK) primer take them off then .

  >>>Piute,,,N>>>judose<<<

  you wont 3 good coats of color and most all paints take 5-7 day to cure completely in 60-90 deg. temp.

[seestheday]

Thanks for all of the advice.  My headers are kind of a rust colour right now.  They look like they were just steel originally, I don't see any chrome at all.

I have rust remover that says it leaves behind a paintable primer.  As I understand it, it really just causes a chemical reaction that leaves behind a surface that is ok to paint.  Not sure now if I should use this, or if I need to manually get all of the rust off and then use a high heat primer.

Anyone have any experience using a rust converter on headers?

I'm leaning towards taking the exhaust off.  I will have to see if I can do it with only the centre stand though, because I don't have a separate stand and don't feel comfortable doing it on the kickstand.

[seestheday]

Here is a pic of me on the bike.  It's not the best view of the headers, but you can see they are pretty much covered in rust.  Lots of things for me to fix on the bike, thankfully they're all cosmetic as far as I can tell (ripped seat I'm going to recover this winter is the 2nd thing on my list).

[Piute]

  I've used napa's Brand ,auto parts stores ,wall-mart ,and even por-15,
 some work with rust as you stated chemical reaction,none of the one mention will work ,for sure
What I use and have Permatex says on bottle surface witch not to exceed 200deg. F(93c) look at pics of my bike used all over it some not painted over.
  Por-80 has there heat brand.
  All the rust has to come off most brands I've used they come off sooner or later why I keep trying others ,
 POR-15 cost to much for me (I'll clean it really good elbow greese is FREE) like 150 gal I think
 POR-15 has a manifold gray thats like 1,000deg.I think was about or under 40 bucks great stuff
  >>>Piute<<<

[seestheday]

Thanks for the help.  I'm leaning towards using a wire brush attachment I have on my rotary tool to remove the rust and then follow that up with sandpaper and rust converter, followed up with primer and then the paint.

Since I'm doing all of that work I'll definitely take the headers off.

[Piute]

  if useing steal try to keep it uniformed,
  brass is lots softer ,
   wear saftey glasses

  >>>Piute<<<

[seestheday]

I picked up a brass wire brush attachment for my hand drill and tryed to do just one header while it was still on the bike.  I ended up having to switch to a steel brush on my dremel because sthere was so much rust the battery dried on the fully charged cordless drill.

Anyways, I was able to get a lot of rust off, but not all of it.  It is in therr quite deep, so I'll need to get off as much as I can and use the rust converter.  I'll post pics after I get it done.

I might use black heat wtap for the first 6 inches or so.  Anyone have experiwnce with that?

Sorry for the typos, posting from my Blackberry playbook.

[TOOLS1]

You could mix up a solution of muratic acid, and water (50/50). Put it in a spray bottle, and spray it on the rusty spots. After a few minutes rinse it off with a water hose. The metal will look like new. Just be very careful not to get any on, you, or inhale the fumes.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

Where can I pick that up?  A quick google search showed that I can get it at Home Depot, but I searched homedepot.ca and couldn't find any (might just not be listed).

[TOOLS1]

Home Depot quit carrying it. However Lowe's still does. Also Ace, and True Value.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

Thanks for the tips, unfortunately none of those around where I am (Waterloo, Ontario).

I found it online at Rona (Canadian equivalent) http://rona.ca/shop/~acid-muriatic-acid-rona-38418_!muratic-acid_shop

[TOOLS1]

What? You do not have hardware stores?
TOOLS