Can anyone tell me why my pipes are rusting? Or at least the right one? Recently became the proud owner of a 2009 Ultra Classic, all stock, 7800 miles. Noticed when I purchased that the inside of the stock pipes were not coated with gray/black exhaust like on my 2001 FLHT, but thought maybe the dealer had cleaned them for showroom display. Returned from 1500 mile trip last weekend and still no carbon/exhaust buildup in mufflers and now I've got surface rust inside the right muffler. We did have rain and wet roads the last morning of our trip, but the pipes would have had an all-afternoon ride to "dry out". Shouldn't the inside of these pipes be gray/black?

 

Probably condensation rusting the pipe.

 

The rusting probably started before you even bought the bike and now it is finally starting to show.Condensation is more than likely the cause from shorter trips.Do you know if the pipes had been replaced with a imported part as they are known for that
type of issue happening.

 

I have buddy's bike stored in my garage. His right pipe is doing the same thing. I got tired of seeing his bike get eaten up by the elements year after year and offered a parking space for the winter. I think that the condensation does that because he had it under a tree and covered with a tarp.

I noticed it after I cleaned my bikes. I was still in the mood so I cleaned his to. He has 4,000+ miles on his scoot and I cleaned rust off every bolt and chrome piece on his bike. Looks nice now.

I don't know if burning through some gas and getting carbon built up will help or not.

 

You said it's all stock and that probably why it isn't building up any soot. The factory had the bikes so lean it can't build up carbon. I had the stage 1 done on mine before I took delivery and it has plenty of carbon buildup at only 2300 miles.

 

I'm enjoying over 40 mpg normal riding and I got almost 48 mpg riding in the Smoky Mts. this past weekend. Did you lose some mpg with the Stage 1?

 

A solution is to clean out/remove any and all rust tsurface then apply a coat of high temp black paint to the offending area.
This worked on my Ultra until I upgraded to to Rinehart TD's
An exhaust upgrade is the ultimate solution in my opinion

 

My '09 is completely stock and seems to be building up enough carbon. i see no to very little rust inside my pipes.

My trips vary from 10 mile commute to work to so far no more than 100 mile rides.

 

Are you talking about rust and discoloration on the inside of the end of the muffler exhaust? If so, every new 2009 touring bike on the dealer's showroom floor had that problem. I noticed it right away. Whoever made the stock mufflers made a boo-boo and the MOCO didn't make them fix it. Fortunately there is a very easy fix to correct the problem. Go to the hardware store and pick up a small cup brush that will chuck up in your 1/4" electric drill. Using some care, put the spinning cup brush into the rear of the muffler and clean them up. Three or four minutes of brushing them will make them shine like a diamond in a billygoats butt. If you want to go the extra mile put some rattlecan black spray paint on the brushed metal after cleanup. You will have to mask off some of the exterior chrome but it is easy. I did this nearly two years ago and it still looks good.

 

As mentioned above, the insides are not coated or chromed so they will rust.

Like the others, the day I got my '08 UC home, I immediately cleaned the inside of the pipe tips then sprayed them with High Temp flat black Rust-Oleum. Now a touch-up once every couple of months keeps them looking better then factory new.