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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: andrewdonald1 on January 11, 2015, 02:13:00 PM

Title: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 11, 2015, 02:13:00 PM
Anyone else getting those liver spots on the headers of the stelvio?
Seems to be in the regions where the blasts of hot exhaust gases have to hit the header and turn down around the curve of the header.
Is this warranty work?
Is this something that I just have to live with?
Meaning it seems like the headers are anodized or something, seems like if I scrub them or something I am just riding of surface rust but its going to come back.
Thoughts?
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: rboe on January 11, 2015, 02:24:04 PM
Some spots on my Griso, a few more on my CB1100. Cosmetic. Some of the guys have done some chemical cleaners with limited success.

Hardly warranty work. They are not anodized, just SS. Some folks that this really bothers with have them hard coated with an aftermarket service; sounds like something you may want to consider.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: beetle on January 11, 2015, 03:48:54 PM
Steel wool and elbow grease required.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: Bill Hagan on January 11, 2015, 04:58:02 PM
Steel wool and elbow grease required.

How about showing the OP a pic of the pipes on your Griso?   ;)

Bill



Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: not-fishing on January 11, 2015, 05:01:00 PM
Liver spots on my Griso exhaust.

Liver spots on my hands.

We're Matchy Smatchy.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 12, 2015, 08:02:55 AM
They are not anodized, just SS.

Mine sure look anodized.. or some process of that nature.
I don't have a pic this week of that, but they look like a faded golden color to them if I remember right.
They are not plain SS though...
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: rboe on January 12, 2015, 08:18:27 AM
Both the Griso and CB start out with nice steel looking pipes but turn to a nice golden patina once warmed up. The colour goes especially well with the Green SE (and not too bad with the red CB).

On the Griso I also have blueing at the hard elbo's just down stream from the exhaust.

All of this colour can be removed, and I seem recall that one of the chemical treatments prevented much of the brown/tan from returning, just can't recall what it was - I didn't care because I happen to like the look. Different strokes for different folks. But if you simply steel wool it away; it returns after a good ride. So if it bothers you this much now, you are a good candidate for an after market coating service.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: toma nova on January 12, 2015, 08:51:04 AM
Mine sure look anodized.. or some process of that nature.
I don't have a pic this week of that, but they look like a faded golden color to them if I remember right.
They are not plain SS though...

NTX pipes are different than the SS pipes on my 1200 Sport.  On the 12S, I did indeed remove some spots with 0000 steel wool (plastic bag flew up and melted onto one of the headers). I definitely would not take steel wool to my Stelvio pipes - there's a textured, gold-ish coating on them that will likely be worn off by steel wool.

Maybe check with the dealer about warranty?  They may have seen it before or tried to address it with MG.  No discoloration on my pipes yet, but only 2k miles so far.

Tom
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 12, 2015, 10:28:04 AM
NTX pipes are different than the SS pipes on my 1200 Sport.  On the 12S, I did indeed remove some spots with 0000 steel wool (plastic bag flew up and melted onto one of the headers). I definitely would not take steel wool to my Stelvio pipes - there's a textured, gold-ish coating on them that will likely be worn off by steel wool.

Maybe check with the dealer about warranty?  They may have seen it before or tried to address it with MG.  No discoloration on my pipes yet, but only 2k miles so far.

Tom

Ok, great I was sure thinking they look anodized or something..

Honestly if getting them replaced (if successful) on warranty doesn't solve the problem long term (ie it does it again):
I'd much rather just get them fixed permanently with another process if one is available at my cost.
Done once and be done with it is my thoughts..

Mine definitely look like they could use some "love."
All just up in the area of where they exit the head and just at the area where it is making the turn downwards.
 

Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: LowRyter on January 12, 2015, 11:13:50 AM
stainless steel patina
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: boatdetective on January 12, 2015, 11:23:29 AM
They are stainless steel and yes, it will recur. No real point in trying to remove it. It is a lot of work. What you are looking at is trace Fe corroded on the surface. You can remove it with Nitric Acid or "electropolishing" if there's anyone near you who does it. I cleaned up my Griso pipes and it was a PITA. Steel wool will tend to just push the Fe around on the surface and it will just come back. Technically, if you chemically remove the trace FE, then you'll be left with a pure chromium oxide coating. That's technically speaking. I haven't bothered with the 1200. 
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: Chuck in Indiana on January 12, 2015, 11:49:03 AM
You can buff stainless to look like a pewter dollar with a buffing wheel and rouge. To avoid the spots after, keep your oily fingers off them. They will turn an even gold color then. For a while.  ;D Repeat as necessary..
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 12, 2015, 12:53:53 PM
I am unclear but I suspect that the exhaust headers are anodized on the Stelvio?
It is not raw SS.
Can someone confirm? 



Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: boatdetective on January 12, 2015, 01:08:52 PM
They are stainless. You can anodize aluminum- but not stainless.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: kirb on January 12, 2015, 03:59:57 PM
My NTX is a satin stainless. They are not buffed or polished.

The Griso are polished stainless that get liver spots. I use mother's metal polish in the fall before I put the bike away on all the pipes. It looks great for most of the season and only needs a touch up. Takes an hour while I'm changing fluids. That would only work if they were already polished.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 12, 2015, 04:02:48 PM
My NTX is a satin stainless. They are not buffed or polished.

The Griso are polished stainless that get liver spots. I use mother's metal polish in the fall before I put the bike away on all the pipes. It looks great for most of the season and only needs a touch up. Takes an hour while I'm changing fluids. That would only work if they were already polished.

So Satin Stainless that turns a golden hue when heated? 

I guess this weekend I'll respond with a pick of my headers as well.

Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: andrewdonald1 on January 12, 2015, 04:04:14 PM
They are stainless. You can anodize aluminum- but not stainless.


Just learned something new there.  THANKS!
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: bad Chad on January 12, 2015, 04:10:16 PM
Not sure about he Stelvio, but if its similar to the Breva11/12/Sport they are gonna get spots. I have just decided to occasionally take off the very worse, and learn to love the rest.
Title: Re: Liver spots on Stelvio Headers
Post by: Mayor_of_BBQ on January 13, 2015, 07:25:39 PM
Call me crazy but hit it with a mr.clean magic eraser + water on cold pipes


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