Removing Rust from Chrome Exhaust

[anomolli]

I recently bought an almost perfect 2009 Ninja 250R. I say almost because the exhaust had some pretty noticeable rust stains/spots on it, otherwise, the bike was perfect. After looking at aftermarket exhausts and prices for replacing the OEM exhaust, i decided to see if the interweb would help me with a DIY solution.

I found one and I have to say, it's AWESOME! Here's what you do:

1) Get a cup of Coke, yes, Coke.
2) Ball up some aluminum foil, shiny side out.
3) Dip the crumpled ball of foil in the Coke.
4) Lightly buff out the rust!
5) Rinse sticky stuff off with water and clean towel.

And that's it, you're done! I was really happy with the results, so I thought i'd share it in case somebody else has the same problem.

BEFORE:



AFTER:

[ARF07]

wow, very cool. Thanks for sharing!

[Alex]

Good job!

[Verus Cidere]

I always heard coke could remove rust, just never saw the effects. Well done!

[CZroe]

Mine is rusted nearly as badly. I will be trying this! I want to powder-coat it black later.

I have a ton of Coke Zero. Does it need to be sticky/have sugar to work?

[Momaru]

Holy frijoles! I had no idea it was that simple. Now I'm wondering what all that carbonic acid is doing to my innards...

Eh, I'll finish my Coke, then wonder

[anomolli]

LOL! No kidding, i used to drink a gallon of the stuff a day in college. And honestly, i think you could use any soda because it's probably the carbonation that helps (though i'm far from being anything close to a chemist).

[divingtigger]

There was an email a couple years ago about the truth behind coke, one of the things was that Coke Inc uses it to clean the engines of their trucks. I don't think it has to be a ball of tin foil even though I've used that to clean BBQ grills before.

Good find none the less

[divingtigger]

Found it on a site where they prove myths....kinda like the mythbusters I guess COUGH ripoff COUGH

1. The highway patrol carrying Coke to clean up blood at car accidents. Unproven! (Help us out) If this is true, we haven't found it.
2. A t-bone steak will be eaten away by Coke in two days. Unproven! (Help us out)
3. Clean a toilet with Coke. Truth! According to www.howtocleananything.com, the popular household hint guru Mary Ellen says some coke in the toilet for an hour can do the trick.
4. Remove stains from vitreous china. Truth! According to columnist Heloise.
5. Use Coke and a ball of aluminum foil for rust on chrome. Truth! According to Joey Greene's www.wackyuses.com
6. Clean corrosion from car battery terminals. Truth! This is true of a lot of carbonated beverages.
7. Use a Coke-soaked cloth to loosen a rusted bolt. Truth! According to Mary Ellen.
8. Use a can of Coke in a load of greasy laundry. Truth! According to Mary Ellen.
9. Dissolve a nail in 4 days in Coke. Unproven! (Help us out)
10. Hazardous materials signs are required on trucks carrying Coke concentrate.


And here is the original full list

1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl... Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean.

4. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

5. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

6. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away corrosion.

7. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

9.The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

10.To carry Coca Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly Corrosive materials.

11.The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

[Banzai]

The only issue is that once you remove the rust, you still have the bare steel that needs to be protected and sealed or it will simply rust all over again.

[tjkamper]

Yup Coke is a great cleaner/degreaser/solvent. It will take off about anything. If you are looking for something more specific to rust, you can also use Naval Jelly. It doesn't damage the metal and it removes the rust.

[backinthesaddleagain]

my stock exhuast is rusty around the hex bolts at the end of the muffler. will open a can of coke tonight - thanks!

[CZroe]

One of the bolts near the ignition switch is rusting on me too. It's from condensation in the morning and water that pools there after cleaning. It doesn't look rusted but I've been carfull and yet the "Lock - Off - On" ring around the key hole is gradually flaking away ("Lock" is almost gone and most of "Off" has flaked away).

I think we should start a thread about the little cosmetic things that most owners never think to prevent until it's too late. Without any pics, I'm not going to try yet, but it's open to whoever wants to. For example, the flip that covers the keyhole on my fuel cap/door has a mark where it contacts and rests on the cap that would be prevented if SOMEONE made a proper protector for it (all the ZX14 protectors have the wrong number of holes and are upside-down). The ring around the fuel door has a mark from the gas pump nozzle scraping it on my first fill up. My cable/bike lock key is extremely sharp and was noticably marking up the area around my keyhole until I stuck a Bic Clear Stik pen cap over the key. Of course, there are scratches on the tank from my magnetic tank bag and zippers, though I've been careful. I couldn't find a matching tank protector I liked.

Originally Posted by Banzai

The only issue is that once you remove the rust, you still have the bare steel that needs to be protected and sealed or it will simply rust all over again.

Despite appearances, the rust bleeds out of microscopic holes in the chrome. At least, that's the case with my heatshield. It was only visible when washing the bike-you'd see little V-shaped disturbances in the water flowing over it. At first it looks like a little mud got thrown on it and later it becomes rust-city. After I clean it off, what do you suggest I seal it with?

[Sailariel]

There is a product sold in Marine Supply stores like WEST Marine, called Corrosion-X. It comes in a red and white plastic spray bottle. After you give the chrome the aluminum foil Coke treatment, apply Corrosion-X and leave it for 12 hours. It is an oil that has something in it that renders rust inert. Wipe it off and you are home free. I use it when I restore old bicycles.

[DarkNinja52]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

There is a product sold in Marine Supply stores like WEST Marine, called Corrosion-X. It comes in a red and white plastic spray bottle. After you give the chrome the aluminum foil Coke treatment, apply Corrosion-X and leave it for 12 hours. It is an oil that has something in it that renders rust inert. Wipe it off and you are home free. I use it when I restore old bicycles.

i can't believe i havent seen this thread... i love the coke and foil thing, gona try that... also love the corrosion -x and ill let you konw how it goes

[Snake]

I have heard of people using coke to clean out radiators and I have used it to clean battery terminals. After seeing what it did to my terminals I stopped drinking coke.

[backinthesaddleagain]

i like the flat black can on the 2010.

[CZroe]

I've got a little rust on my forks. Can I apply this trick to the forks or would the foil scratches ruin the fork seals?

[Sailariel]

The foil will not cause scratches. The foil is the catalyst. There is very little rubbing involved. It should not affect your seals.

[CZroe]

Thanks, Alex!

[EngrNewf]

Wow, thanks so much. My pipe was a little rusty when I took it out of my neighbors shed and I was just about to make a post on this. Thanks!

[00v_Lucky]

One word: Electrolysis

[EngrNewf]

Originally Posted by 00v_Lucky

One word: Electrolysis

Coke: a dollar
Electrolysis: I don't have a battery charger or a motorcycle sized tub

[lockie]

This I have to try. Thanks.

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by Sailariel

The foil will not cause scratches. The foil is the catalyst. There is very little rubbing involved. It should not affect your seals.

Actually, I tried to find a video to confirm this before trying it and all I could find was one where water + foil worked just as well and a video full of a bunch of proven-false urban myths about Coke. *shrug* It looks like most any fluid works. I used Coke anyway just in case the phosphoric acid made it any easier and it didn't seem to be any less effort than the guy on YouTube who used water (he was restoring a rusted bicycle).

[00v_Lucky]

Originally Posted by EngrNewf

Electrolysis: I don't have a battery charger or a motorcycle sized tub

I think this is the safer way to go imo, not for me, but for my bike

My friend and I just bought a battery charger with enough amps, and tried to get as much rust off of objects as possible until the last day we could return it

[adouglas]

Mythbusters tested most of the Coke lore, including dissolving a steak, dissolving teeth, degreasing an engine and polishing chrome.

The only one that really truly worked was polishing chrome.

By the way, Coke is carbonated, sure, but it's phosphoric acid (also?). Don't know if any other sodas are like that.

[EngrNewf]

So, got all the rust out with water and tinfoil today





Now, what should I do with this:



and this:

[CZroe]

Originally Posted by adouglas

Mythbusters tested most of the Coke lore, including dissolving a steak, dissolving teeth, degreasing an engine and polishing chrome.

The only one that really truly worked was polishing chrome.

Did they test it with water as well?

[Snake]

I think instead of using crummpled up aluminum foil I will try an S.O.S pad soaked in coke.

[CynicalC]

Originally Posted by Snake

I think instead of using crummpled up aluminum foil I will try an S.O.S pad soaked in coke.

Steel wool is more abrasive than aluminum foil and more likely to scratch what you're working with.

[bedian]

Check this out

www.robertscycle.com/chrome-clean.html