Melted microfibre cloth on the pipes!

[Beerman]

So...I  carelessly dropped a glove on my hot pipes yesterday, with a bit of ensuing 'textile burn'. My beautifully polished chrome was blemished, and in my panic to restore the pipes to their pristine state, I grabbed a microfibre cloth...and made the problem 20 times worse!

Does anyone have a magic wand that I can wave at my pipes to remove the melted - and very stuck on - material?

Thanks,

Beerman

[Sasquatch Jim]

 An air chisel.

[acogoff]

     That sucks, I hear rubbing it with $100 dollar bills helps. Kidding aside I have never found a way that does not screw up the chrome.

[Phang]

you need time

do nothing and ride more, it will be burnt away or flake off after multiple hot and cold cycles

[n3303j]

Run the pipes up to full hot and rub them clean with an all cotton cloth. It will remove the melted residue and when cool finish the job off with a good chrome polish.

[Waltr]

I second Phang, give it time and it will burn off.  Whatever you do it is good to know chromes is softer than you think and steel wool or a scotch pad will only scratch it up.

[JACoH]

Maybe try ice? And then chrome polish with a soft cloth.

[Socalrob]

I've heard of folks catching plastic grocery bags blowing in the wind on a hot pipe.  Makes a real mess.

[Dimples]

Basically you want to dissolve the plastic residue. Not unlike certain paints. I've had success in similar situations using a solvent like Acetone or stronger. With the pipes COLD, saturate a cotton cloth with solvent and wrap it around the residue (protect other plastic and paint). After about 10 minutes (before it evaporates) remove it. If it's going to work you should now be able to start scraping carefully with a piece of soft wood. Eventually you can remove the final bits just using the solvent and cloth. Use no abrasives except chrome polish afterwards.

[helipic]

I have used oven cleaner spray when the pipe was hot, let it soak for 5 min, then scrape off with a nikel coin. It is a softer metal than chrome and did not scratch my pipe.

[Guzzi Gal]

I dropped a microfiber on mine, and used a wooden shim to remove most of the mess whilst still hot.  Then used a dollup of chrome polish to remove the hazy leftovers after it cooled down.

[Mike Craven]

I have used oven cleaner spray when the pipe was hot, let it soak for 5 min, then scrape off with a nikel coin. It is a softer metal than chrome and did not scratch my pipe.

But others should be careful.  You're referring to new types of cleaner.  The old fashioned caustic (lye based) oven cleaners will eat chrome.  As always read the labels.
Regards,
Mike

[old as dirt 2]

wd40 is a great cleaner.

[Beerman]

For anyone interested, an update: the pipes are clean again, and I'm very grateful for the advice.

What worked? A bit of 'all of the above', but Guzzi Gal's recommendation to use a wooden shim (on hot pipes) really did the trick.

Many thanks,

Beerman

[Guzzi Gal]

 :1:

[Air-Cooled]

I have also dropped a microfiber towel on a hot pipe. I knew well enough not to use a razor blade or steel wool. Then someone told me how to do it. Use a penny or a nickel. Use the edge to repeatedly scrape over the melted residue. It will come off and will not scratch the pipe.

[Ncdan]

Bad news is I’ve seen this type of incident and there is no getting it off completely. That’s what is known as a memory scar as “ you remember the ride we did and had a wonderful time with our ridding buddies, when one of us got our rain coat of the muffler “. :)

[Air-Cooled]

Bad news is I�ve seen this type of incident and there is no getting it off completely.

Use the nickel as a scraper and you will get it off completely. Spray it first with a liquid to make it go easier, I think I used Meguiar's Quick Detailer. It may take you several minutes, but it works.

[bigbikerrick]

Use the nickel as a scraper and you will get it off completely. Spray it first with a liquid to make it go easier, I think I used Meguiar's Quick Detailer. It may take you several minutes, but it works.

Only a nickel will work? any other coins, or is it something special about the nickel
Rick

[Air-Cooled]

A nickel or a penny will work. They are softer than chrome and they do not have a serrated edge.

[Guzzistajohn]

I got mine hot and hit it with steel wool Banda bing

[Air-Cooled]

Steel wool, no matter how fine, will scratch the chrome on Harley pipes...and no polish will take those scratches out.

[Guzzistajohn]

Steel wool, no matter how fine, will scratch the chrome on Harley pipes...and no polish will take those scratches out.

I touched the inner lining of a jacket to my chrome lafranconis and steel wool took it righ off, no scratches. But they aren’t Mexican made Harley pipes either

[slowmover]

Time and heat.I had a plastic bag blow across a parking lot and wrap around a hot pipe and instantly melt. I just drove until it disappeared.

[Air-Cooled]

I touched the inner lining of a jacket to my chrome lafranconis and steel wool took it righ off, no scratches. But they aren�t Mexican made Harley pipes either

Well let's just say that if you use steel wool, you may or may not scratch your pipe. But if it does scratch it, you won't be able to undo it.