How To Polish your Harley Davidson’s Exhaust

Keeping your Harley Davidson exhaust system well cleaned and
polished is an important part of the overall maintenance process of your
vehicle. The exhaust system is not one of the most often cleaned and
maintained portions of your motorcycle, but it’s nonetheless one of the
crucial parts of the vehicle that can help to make a difference between a
Harley Davidson that looks professionally cleaned and maintained and
one that does not. Using a good chrome polish to apply several coats
periodically with a brush or sponge can help you to keep your vehicle
looking its best at all times; read on for a brief step by step guide on
to polishing your Harley Davidson’s exhaust.

Step 1 — Gather the Necessary Materials

You’ll need the following tools and materials in order to properly polish your Harley’s exhaust system:

• Chrome surface cleaning solution
• Rags
• Fine and ultra soft brush
• Sponges and buckets of water
• Paper towels
• Chrome polish

Step 2 — Prepare the Motorcycle Exhaust

Before you can polish the exhaust on your Harley Davidson, you should
first plan on preparing the vehicle. One of the most important thing
that you can do in order to make your polishing job look as professional
as possible is to properly clean up the exhaust system before you treat
it with polish. Begin by wiping down the exhaust system exterior with a
set of paper towels. The purpose of this is to remove any excess grime,
dirt and debris from the outside of the exhaust. You can also then
sponge down the other, smaller bits of grime and dirt from the outside
of the exhaust pipe using a sponge and clean water.

Next, use the chrome surface cleaning solution to clean up the
outside of the exhaust system. Typically, only a few drops of this
solution will be necessary to spot clean the outside of the exhaust.
Follow the instructions by applying the chrome surface cleaning solution
directly to the metal or to a rag and then gently wiping down the
outside of the metal pipe.

Step 3 — Apply the First Coat

Once the exhaust pipe and outer system pieces have had plenty of time
to fully dry, you’ll then need to apply the first coat of the polish.
Use the chrome polish that you have and apply it to the ultra soft
brush. Next, apply this polish evenly to the sides of the metal pipe,
being sure not to get the brush dirty by inserting it into the metal
pipe on accident. Smooth out the polish in short, even strokes. The goal
is to layer a single, even coat of polish over the entire surface of
the exterior of the metal pipe.

When the coat of polish is evenly layered over the exterior of the
pipe, allow for an hour or two for it to dry, or follow the instructions
on the polish container if you should allow it to set for longer.

Step 4 — Apply Additional Coats, if Desired

The number of coats of polish that you apply to your chrome exterior
exhaust system will determine exactly the type of sheen that you’ll get
from it. Generally, it’s advisable that you apply at least two coats of
polish, and most people opt to put three or four onto their exhaust
system. Evaluate how the exhaust looks before you begin to apply another
coat of polish.

For more information about how to professionally polish your Harley
Davidson’s exhaust system, consult with a professional in your area for
added tips.