High temp spray paint coming off of my headers/pipes, what next?

[Monkeytofu]

so my headers are starting to chip and peel in high friction areas on my headers and exhaust pipes. I really love the look of the 250 with the stock exhaust so I'm thinking of repainting them, but what should I do this time? Should I pay someone to do it for me? Should I do it myself?

It's really a damn shame this is happening, my pipes stock when I first finished them but the paint is just not up to snuff.

What's the call you would make?

[Jiggles]

plastidip

[johnjohn]

lol

[CThunder-blue]

Paint is all about the prep work. Did you scuff & clean your pipes before you painted?

[stealth250]

Originally Posted by CThunder-blue

Paint is all about the prep work. Did you scuff & clean your pipes before you painted?

+1

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by CThunder-blue

Paint is all about the prep work. Did you scuff & clean your pipes before you painted?

Yup.

Put down a layer of primer, then sanded, and then painted with my normal high temp paint. The paint is holding well in most parts but I'm pretty sure a combination of other factors including weather and general use are contributing to this. I don't garage my bike so it's not hidden from the elements.

Edit: considering powder coating it this time or taking it to someone who does. Any ball park idea of what a job like that would cost? I'm guessing around 200 at the cheapest.

[FrugalNinja250]

Primer failed. I don't know of any high-temp primers. Hi-temp paints I've seen are meant to be applied directly to the metal surface. Check out http://www.eastwood.com for some nice high-temp paints. However, if you're the least bit lean the temps of the exhaust at the head will be higher than any paint you can apply. Consider ceramic coating? Though, not sure why bother, the Ninja exhaust system isn't known for rusting out.

[GeorgeRYoung]

Painted my fairly rusty headers, brush on enamel for the cast iron stove. Worked fine so far on the EX250:

[CThunder-blue]

You shouldn't have needed to primer the pipes. Sand/scuff/clean and paint. Even if you wanted to primer the pipes, you should have still sanded and cleaned prior to the primer.

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by FrugalNinja250

Primer failed. I don't know of any high-temp primers. Hi-temp paints I've seen are meant to be applied directly to the metal surface. Check out http://www.eastwood.com for some nice high-temp paints. However, if you're the least bit lean the temps of the exhaust at the head will be higher than any paint you can apply. Consider ceramic coating? Though, not sure why bother, the Ninja exhaust system isn't known for rusting out.

Rustoleum makes a high temp primer for headers.


I'm considering ceramic. I mostly care about the aesthetics of my headers and exhaust pipes. It doesn't really matter in the end if our pipes are painted or not, I just don't to have to buy any headers other than stock since they're all so loud (even the area-p imo).

Originally Posted by CThunder-blue

You shouldn't have needed to primer the pipes. Sand/scuff/clean and paint. Even if you wanted to primer the pipes, you should have still sanded and cleaned prior to the primer.

I did this too.

Sanded pipes down to metal, scuffed them up, primed, sanded, primed spots without much primer, sanded, painted, then clear coated. all high temp paint rated at 2000 and all the same brand.

Maybe I just didn't do it well enough but main issue here is friction with the headers and pipes taking paint off (at least on my pipes), not paint just flaking off by itself.

[bdavison]

Unbolt everything and get it to the point that you just need to pull to have the can off. Now scuff/sand it up. Fire up the bike and get the exhaust good an hot(do not ride it), then (Carefully-Dont burn yourself.) remove the exhaust, and paint it while its still hot. The heat will help it cure better, and you get a better matte coating with no runs.

It doesnt really matter what you do, if you scrape the exhaust can up against something, it will chip off the high-temp paint.

[CThunder-blue]

I would go with a high temp ceramic paint.

[FrugalNinja250]

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

Sanded pipes down to metal, scuffed them up, primed, sanded, primed spots without much primer, sanded, painted, then clear coated. all high temp paint rated at 2000 and all the same brand.

Maybe I just didn't do it well enough but main issue here is friction with the headers and pipes taking paint off (at least on my pipes), not paint just flaking off by itself.

Those "2,000°F" ratings are fairly theoretical in the real world. They get them in closed environmental chambers under perfect conditions with no rain, road dirt, constant expansion/contraction due to thermal cycling, etc. Have you thought about just polishing them? (Referring to the actual exhaust pipes, the mufflers don't get near as hot.)

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by FrugalNinja250

Those "2,000°F" ratings are fairly theoretical in the real world. They get them in closed environmental chambers under perfect conditions with no rain, road dirt, constant expansion/contraction due to thermal cycling, etc. Have you thought about just polishing them? (Referring to the actual exhaust pipes, the mufflers don't get near as hot.)

I don't think silver/ unpainted headers would look nice on my bike or else I would have done that. There's also the issue of rust forming on them if I just leave them without paint.

I'm kind of at a loss at what I could do other than pay someone to paint them with ceramic paint, or just try and repaint them with HT paint again. It's a shame black ninja 250 pipes in stock condition are nonexistent

[CThunder-blue]

They sell ceramic paint for engines at autostores. I've used some and it holds up pretty well. I've also used some specialized ($40/qt) high temp black coating that can withstand heat from turbo manifolds. That worked really well, but prep is very strenuous. I media blasted the manifolds to get a uniform surface first. Then you spray it on and bake it at 400F. That's the initial cure. The final cure happens when you're boosting and the manifold gets to 800F. That coating held up very well, even to scratches and what not.

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

since they're all so loud (even the area-p imo).

have you heard an 18" QC system in person? It's the same volume as stock, nearly. Not that it matters because it's your bike and not mine, but still! Don't bash. They're darn impressive.

[eddiekay]

Had eastwood products too but sent them back before i put it on. Too late now for you but the auto boards tipped me off that...most of the time...it flakes. I sanded the pipe down to stainless and am real pleased with how it looks.

[Monkeytofu]

Originally Posted by choneofakind

have you heard an 18" QC system in person? It's the same volume as stock, nearly. Not that it matters because it's your bike and not mine, but still! Don't bash. They're darn impressive.

Sure I bet it's quiet, but stock is already too loud for me :P I end up coming home on weekends when a lot of people are sleeping (3AM or so) so it helps to be as quiet as possible so you don't piss off the neighbors/HoA

Also I love my dual exhausts <3

Originally Posted by eddiekay

Had eastwood products too but sent them back before i put it on. Too late now for you but the auto boards tipped me off that...most of the time...it flakes. I sanded the pipe down to stainless and am real pleased with how it looks.

not sure how good it would look on my bike:

http://i.imgur.com/qzNwa.jpg

Hell, I might just do it because of the flaking paint and see what it looks like. It's not like the paint is going to get any better.

How'd you sand yours? It took me forever to get them down with sand paper.

[rabies]

if you want to paint headers and exhaust you need a ceramic based paint.
they make header paint. it holds up to a very high temp.
general high temp paint isnt the same.
it will all burn off or dry and flake off.
you need header paint yo. auto stores have it. usualy black/grey/whiteish

[choneofakind]

Originally Posted by Monkeytofu

Sure I bet it's quiet, but stock is already too loud for me :P I end up coming home on weekends when a lot of people are sleeping (3AM or so) so it helps to be as quiet as possible so you don't piss off the neighbors/HoA

Also I love my dual exhausts <3

Yeah, you won't piss of neighbors with a QC system. But if stock is too loud for you, I guess I understand that. I was never personally a fan of the dual exhausts

[Jiggles]

Dual exhausts are damn annoying

[rabies]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Dual exhausts are damn annoying

x55678.3/4

[MasterCylinder]

Try a brand called "Stove Bright". It works wonders. I, and multiple others, use it on our turbo exhaust manifolds and it holds up just fine.


Just don't forget to prep good.

[exploring/carolina]

Painted the Ninja 250 exhaust system with 2000F Rustoleum primer/paint. It's starting to bubble/flake too.

Took the exhaust system off of an Aprilia Dorsoduro and had the headers & LeoVince decat ceramic coated at a local shop for $60. The ceramic coating worked out great.

[choneofakind]

Ceramic coated for $60 you say? Huh. Maybe I'll do that with my headers this season. I want to get them coated so my exhaust bungs don't rust.