Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
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RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
ORIGINAL: LIRIDE
You might be better off drinking the acetone. Sounds like your doomed when he finds out
You might be better off drinking the acetone. Sounds like your doomed when he finds out
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,289
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From: Rowlett, Texas
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
I had the same problem and called Harley. They told me the way they do it is heat up the pipe and very carefully scrape it off with a razor blade. Don't know if it will help you, but it worked for me.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,058
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From: MEXICO
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
NO, Absolutely not, did it both ways and only one way works. With the bike COLD, razor away carefully as much as melted rubber as you can with a razor blade in a very acute angle agaist the pipe's surface in order not to scratch it. When you've removed the excess of melted crap, use some SIMICHROME or WHITE (smoothest) automotive poolish to get ride of the remains.
If you do it in HOT the pore of the chrome opens then it becomes as week as gold, you can actually scratch hot chromed surfaces with a dirty towel.
Best regards.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2006
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RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
I had a plastic bag blow up and cover my exhaust pipes on ride. Warm the engine up till the pipes are hot, spray Easy Off on the area (carefull not to get it anywhere else) and just wipe it off. May have to spray it on a couple or three times to get it all. When I finished I just mildy polished the pipes (like I would normaly do and I can't tell where the stuff was. Good as new.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
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From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
ORIGINAL: j2dawson
I try acetone or MEK first, just don't get either on the paint.
Jim
I try acetone or MEK first, just don't get either on the paint.
Jim
You dont want to scrap the plastic off with anything.
Chrome polish could leave fine scratches.
Oven cleaner could stain/etch the metal.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 174
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From: Inverness, Florida
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
The Easy Off oven cleaner idea sounds good to me. But I would run it by your buddy first just in case it somehow causes another problem. Then he can share the guilt. Good luck. Just the thought of having to deal with that makes me cringe like when someone scratches their nails on a blackboard.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 48
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From: Massachusetts
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
I had nylon from my Harly jacket burned on my pipe...I took a penny and placed it in a crecent wrench. Once the pipe was hot I slowly scraped off the nylon. The copper from the penny is softer then the pipe and thus it will not scratch it. After that I used some cleaning to smoth out the surface. Sounds weird, but it works!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: THE MARITIMES Canada
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
Do Not Heat The Pipes..this will only make it worse and once the pipe discolours, from burning off the excess, nothing will remove it. .....Do Not Scrape The Chrome With Anything. I'm not saying these methods didn't work for the guys above, but it was luck, don't take the chance. The oven cleaner will work, take your time, spray it on a rag, hold it on the plastic (COLD PIPE) for about 20 seconds, then rub. Just repeat until it is gone.
This would be my first choice before the oven cleaner. At our shop, we got Harley's in all the time with this problem, we used an aerosol paint/varnish remover (any hardware store), used the same way as I described for the oven cleaner. It works everytime and has never damaged a pipe..........and believe me, we've seen some pretty ugly chit melted on these pipes.
This would be my first choice before the oven cleaner. At our shop, we got Harley's in all the time with this problem, we used an aerosol paint/varnish remover (any hardware store), used the same way as I described for the oven cleaner. It works everytime and has never damaged a pipe..........and believe me, we've seen some pretty ugly chit melted on these pipes.
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
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From:
RE: Plastic melted to pipe, HELP
Definately running all of these ideas by him before I do any of them to let him choose. So far the cold pipe + acetone (or oven cleaner) sounds the least invasive to try first. WRAP EM er i mean ya acetone on a rag.