Vintage and Classic Hondas

how to get melted plastic off pipes??

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Jack

how to get melted plastic off pipes??

I had a plastic shopping bag stuck to my header. The plastic melted to the pipes. Had this happened to anyone. Does anyone know how to get it off. I tried pulling some if it off when the bike cooled down, but now it is hard as a rock.

LukeM

Re: how to get melted plastic off pipes??

Administrator

Yeah, I've run into this a few times. If your headers are chromed, I'd recommend using a plastic ice scraper to get the big parts off. Then use some chrome polish after that. I can't promise you'll get ALL of it off, but it should work OK. If that doesn't go, you may have to move to a metal edge piece, but you run the risk of scratching the chrome finish, and that could lead to other problems in the future.

Another alternative is to find a heat gun (used to remove paint from walls, and on heat shrink tubing) to cook most of it off. Again, I can't say it'll get all of it off, and it may damage some painted pipes, but it's worth a shot.

Hope this helps.
Luke M

Used to have a 1979 CB750L, sold it as a parts bike, now riding a slightly modified 1984 VT700C. Network/Field Engineer. Central OH, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy, Universe.

TOOLS1

Re: how to get melted plastic off pipes??

Administrator

In reply to this post by Jack

I have used a heat gun to remove plastic, and melted nylon straps off of exhaust pipes. However I try to wipe it off while the pipes are still hot with the engine running. I did have a friend that touched his hot exhaust while wearing some sort of nylon/PVC glove, and that was a real mess. Ended up using a soda blaster to get it off. Soda blasting will not hurt chrome, so it worked out pretty good.
TOOLS

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750K8

Re: how to get melted plastic off pipes??

A red scuff pad is usually a good idea, followed by wet sanding and polishing. If that doesn't cut it:

You can even go as far to use a brass wire wheel.

Chrome pipes are very very very very hard to scratch.

Lucky 1

Re: how to get melted plastic off pipes??

In reply to this post by Jack

Easy off oven cleaner and then use a teflon spatula.

On a Roadstar Adventure.

Jack

Re: how to get melted plastic off pipes??

I probably should have mentioned before, I painted over the chrome on the headers with high temp temp header paint. Two of the pipes were rusted really bad, so I took the inexpensive route and repainted them.

I like the easy off and rubber spatula idea considering I work in a kitchen, easy to find materials. Thanks for the help, very much appreciated.