The last time I installed pipes on a bike, i was told to spray white grease inside the end that bolts to the block. This supposedly would keep them from bluing. Does anyone do this still? My pipes are gonna be V&H Big Radius. Woo hoo!

Any other suggestions to keep 'em from bluing?
Thanks

 

I have only found 1 way to keep them from bluing, don't put them on!!!! I have tried every trick, tip ,or whatever and nothing has ever worked except not to use them.

 

I've never had a V&H set of pipes blue at all. They have some of the best heat shields/chrome around IMO. That's not to say a lean hot running bike couldn't blue a set, but I just haven't seen a set yet.

 

+1. I hate heat shields; wrap them or ceramic coat them black. They will blue, including V&H. V&H chrome wil also yellow with time and use, usually the front part of the tail pipe just after the 2:1 transition and the heat shield.

 

I believe those pipes come with the full heat sheilds... Thats the only way I could fix mine from bluing. Although I did order some stuff named blue job that takes it off nicley.

 

All you guys talking about heat shields keeping pipes from bluing need to look under the heat shields.......they are still blue under there. Mine are blue from head to toe, by product of my break in map, way off!!!!!

 

All long as they are blue under there its fine with me! haha... I still have to touch up where I can see the pipe tho.

 

I had a chrome supertrapp for a Fatboy back in the day when Supertrapp didn't make a chrome exhaust all they made was SS and it yellowed, Custom Chrome marketed a 2-1 that was chrome steel with a Supertrapp muffler and it had a dinky heat shield that was about 12" long to protect your boot from melting on the pipes. I tried that stuff that you pour inside the pipes, when that crap blew out , I cleaned them out tried black high temp, standing on my head , swingin a dead chicken , I tried everything , they just kept gettn bluer and bluer.

 

I really couldn't care less if the pipe behind the shield turns color. It takes high heat and I'd expect it to change color. OP was talking about a set of pipes that come with shields and I assumed he hoped the shields didn't turn blue. If you are running nice full heat shields (like what come with V&H, D&D, Rinehart, etc) you will see the nice shiny chrome and not the bare pipe. I guess I'll have to live with the shame of a blue/yellow pipe if somebody decides to get down on the ground and look under the shield. Oh well.

 

Thanks for all the advice. They are on now and look great. A totally different look to the bike. Pretty loud too, so maybe the cellphone users will know I'm beside 'em.