Cleaning pipes in GTA

[kenmasters]

I have a set of pipes, or expansion chambers for the 2 stroke guys.. they need some good cleaning.  Besides taking a torch or putting in under a BBQ, is there a professional way of cleaning these pipes?   Cleaners who use caustic materials for cleaning radiators, water tanks, etc.. ??   Anyone in the GTA still do this?

thanks,
Ken

[reds]

When I read the the title I was like whoa buddy, I think your on the wrong forum, but if you're that desperate try the Now! weekly magazine. The whole back of the paper is covered in escort ads! Ha

 Anyways, jokes aside, caustic isn't really used in the gta anymore due to environmental issues and regulations. You can try a chrome shop as their strip tank would do it. Not sure what they use. Give Chuck at Mayfair plating a call or try a place for ceramic coatings as they too should have a strip tank.

[kenmasters]

haha lol...      Thanks for the tip.. I go check out Now! i mean Chuck who has a strip tank... lol

[Tim]

You mean clean the innards out?  Mayfair is not likely going to dip used pipes in their tanks for the purpose of cleaning out carbon build-up.  Most places won't re-chrome used pipes because of this.

Media blasting might be an option.

[stroker crazy]

I still use caustic soda.  Cleans them up pretty good and, if handled correctly, shouldn't constitute much of a problem for the environment.

Crazy

[reds]

You mean clean the innards out?  Mayfair is not likely going to dip used pipes in their tanks for the purpose of cleaning out carbon build-up.  Most places won't re-chrome used pipes because of this.

Media blasting might be an option.

I've had a chrome shop here do it. Now i knew them, so maybe that helped or maybe they have a tank just for dingy, grimey parts before going into their regular cleaning tank or maybe i got them just when they were going to clean their tank out. Either way I asked and they did it. Now that being said, over the years i have known other two stroke riders to have had their used pipes chromed or ceramic coated. They unbolt the pipe from the motor, wipe the outside off with a rag, drop it off/ mail it in and finally receive freshly coated pipe(s).
 You're not gonna know unless you ask. And if it's no, then ask if it would be possible when they are going to change their tanks over. In a perfect world every part would be brand new before being coated, but it's not and so parts are covered in paint, dirt, grime, carbon, old chrome..... and yes i'm sure they glass bead some of those parts before they go in the strip tank.

 As for the caustic, about 4 years ago,when i was still in the gta, we bought a huge lot of first generation hemi's two of which are in my avatar pic (354 & 392) from stateside. They did not look anything like that when we had got them. They were sitting outside for 30+ years and the waterjackets  just filled with rust, dirt, oil sludge and grime. I phoned around to other machine shops looking for someone who still used caustic in their hot tank as we did a lot of aluminum blocks and heads and the caustic is too harsh for aluminum. Nobody i talked to used it anymore as they too are rebuilding modern aluminum motors and because the cost of using it as it was regulated for environmental reasons. To run caustic in their tanks, they would have to also pay a company to remove the old solution everytime they wanted to refresh their solution in their hot wash tanks verses running a cheaper biodegradable bi-metal solutions that they can clean and dispose of themselves without worry of fines from the environmental police. Problem is the bi-metal solutions are not as strong as the caustic soda.
 As for buying caustic and doing it yourself, I'm not sure anyone would sell to joe public in the GTA area, but once again, you don't know unless you ask!

 Anyways, good luck!

 oven cleaner, muriatic acid, high pressure power washer, buy new pipes  ......

[kenmasters]

Thanks!  I'm going to go in this order to clean my pipes....  from zero cost to $$..

- pressure washer
- plug one end and shake like mad
- submerge in CLR, over cleaner, or rust remover for a few days
- pressure washer
- take one of those toilet brushes and attach a wire to it, shove it in...
- butane flame
- 100 grit sand paper for the outside
- if this still fails, find a caustic guy

[Drewski]

I guess my first question is, are the pipes chromed now or are they painted?

If they're painted, most guys I know blast 'em with heat and burn the crap outta them! I've seen pics of pipes laying in the middle of a bonfire, flames spitting out of both ends as the carbon burns inside. It takes some doing, but it works and it's cheap!

[kenmasters]

Painted, but with some rust.  The pipe silencers are chrome.  Going to try on my own once I get back my pressure washer.  There was one place that does chemical baths to restore old cars/industrial parts, and they've quoted me a minimum of $200 for the pipes.  Too much $$.. 

[JohnGoFast]

Take them to a self serve car wash after soaking them in a cleaner that removes carbon deposits. Stick the nozzle in and go to town.