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2008xb12scg
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 05:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I need to replace my header and I'm thinking of getting it coated. I haven't decided, since money is tight. I really don't care about performance gains (seems minimal if any) but a little less heat on the leg wouldn't hurt lol just wondering if there's anything I should know or any advice you guys could give?
Thanks
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2008xb12scg
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 06:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Also, what do you guys think of just painting them myself, bad idea?
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Strokizator
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 06:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've had ceramic coated headers on a big block Ford as well on the pipes of a DRZ400 and KTM990 and was extremely happy. Noticable heat reduction in the engine bay as well as obvious increase in durability.
A lot more colors available these day and can even mimic the look of titanium. To me, well worth the money.
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Torquehd
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 06:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well you could put something like this https://www.amazon.com/Thermo-Tec-13575-Adhesive-B acked-Barrier/dp/B00029KC2K
on the inside of the frame to reduce heat transfer from the motor.

American Sport Bike used to sell a roll of something like that, when they were open.

And you can wrap the header in fiberglass exhaust wrap from your local Oreilly's.
I like the look of wrapped headers; maybe one day I'll get around to doing mine.
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Fresnobuell
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 06:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have had a couple things powdercoated and have been thrilled with the final product. The last thing was a 15 foot swinging metal gate. I vote strongly for podwercoating and IMHO its not outrageously expensive. I think I paid like $300 for the gate, which was the frame and 3 separate sheets of metal that screwed to the frame. If I had the headers off the bike, it would be a no-brainer.
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Aesquire
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 07:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Proper aluminized/ceramic header coating, not regular powder coat, will reduce heat to the leg, a small amount, will look nice for quite a while. Also rust resistance is great. Regular powder coat won't work.

OTOH, you've got stainless headers, so you can just polish them. The'll turn blue & gold pretty quickly, but I like that look.

Header wrap, the fiberglass tape, is considered bad mojo in aviation circles, as it traps the heat in stainless steel to the point the Chromium gets consumed and it rusts to crud in short order. On mild steel, it rusts to crud, takes a bit longer, but not much. ( Airplane exhausts are expensive, because of low production numbers )

OTOH, I like the look of wrapped headers on a rat bike. Gives it that "don't care what it looks like, pure function rules" look.

I've sandblasted several sets of headers and used guncoat, which takes curing in an oven. A buddy did this in his kitchen oven, and suffered the extreme wrath of spouse when she came home. Plus I suspect his food was somewhat toxic for a while. You have been warned. I've cured guncoat on headers, after a 24 hour room temp. dry, just by running the bike, shutting down, and repeating the cycle a few times. Not optimum, but workable. Uncured guncoat is soft and easy to scratch, so mounting the headers takes care. Usually got a few years of service. ( looking good, no rust ) Don't ride the bike, or bugs will cure into the headers.

Today they have better stuff for home application. https://www.kgcoatings.com/products/firearm-relate d-products/protective-coatings/c-kote-pure-ceramic

But unless you have a curing oven or are willing to rig one, professional application does the best job.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 07:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

OTOH, you've got stainless headers, so you can just polish them. The'll turn blue & gold pretty quickly, but I like that look.

Polishing them will actually reduce the heat that they radiate. A polished surface has a lower emissivity than an unpolished surface. Emissivity is a measure of how well a thing radiates (or absorbs) heat.

I polished the headers on my S3 ~15 years ago and was amazed at how much it reduced the heat to my right leg. Did it on my Uly a couple of years ago and noticed a similar difference.
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Sifo
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 07:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had the header done on my XB12. I certainly like the look. I like the look of a polished header too though. I can't tell any performance difference at all. Didn't expect to either. Hard to say if you can tell a difference on the heat issue. Maybe? There's no way to do a back to back comparison though. You still don't want to touch a hot header. Heat wrapping them is far more effective IMO, but see the draw backs mentioned above.

Knowing what I know now, I would do it again on an XB. Any extra comfort is a help. It's held up well with no maintenance other that wiping stuff off like I would the stock header. It's gotten a few chips in it, but nothing noteworthy. If money were tight, I might decide not to do it though. If you have a 1,000 degree header and manage to reduce that by 10% (which I have no idea if you get that much), it's still freaking hot.
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Torquehd
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 07:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Proper aluminized/ceramic header coating, not regular powder coat, will reduce heat to the leg, a small amount, will look nice for quite a while. Also rust resistance is great. Regular powder coat won't work.

x2.

I had a powdercoating shop tell me that there was a new type of powdercoating that was not ceramic but was capable of handling exhaust temperatures. I was skeptical but they're the experts right? Wrong. It didn't last 15 minutes after starting my 1125.
After that I had it ceramic-coated. It's looked great ever since.
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Mtjm2
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 09:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Had my headers ceramic coated on my 01M2
And like it.
No maintenance
Looks good and stays that way.
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Ourdee
Posted on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 - 09:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)






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Pwnzor
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 06:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm a fan of polishing the headers as well...



Not as nice as RD's but I never took them off the bike and only spent about 15 minutes a month with some 600 - 1200 - 2000 grit sandpaper.
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Zac4mac
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 09:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I polished the Uly's headers a few years ago.
Definitely dropped the right-leg-discomfort, time to polish again tho.
Just put a new Drummer on last month.





Z
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Maddiemsu
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 11:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I had JetHot ceramic coat the headers on my 01 X1 and really liked the look and it held up very well. Also did the same on my Firebolt but in black. Still looks great.
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Crusty
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 03:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I also had Jet Hot ceramic coat the exhaust (Headers and Muffler) on my 2006 Ulysses in flat black. It looked good up to the day I traded it in on a 2008 XT.

I'd recommend having them do it.

If you paint the headers yourself, repainting will become a regular chore for as long as you have your bike and the headers won't look nearly as good.
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2008xb12scg
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 04:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The la for all the input ! I wrapped them and loved the look , when other people do it, mine didn't come out good lol. I'm going to look at some prices and make a decision. Unfortunately, money us tight right now and that's going to be part of the decision
Thanks again for all the advice
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Aesquire
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 04:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Polishing is free except for labor. I've been way too lazy to do mine, except an occasional swipe to take off bird guts baked on, etc.

The KG products are darn good. ( maker of Gun Coat ) and IIRC a 350 deg cure is fine. I know one guy who "built" a curing oven out of mud & sticks, and then jumped a few thousand years to use a high quality heat gun for a heat source.

Don't use the kitchen oven unless you open windows, have plenty of ventilation, an understanding SO, and plan out taking her out to dinner for a few days.
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Sifo
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 06:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've heard not to use the oven for food after that too. YMMV, but I'm sure that would cause cancer in CA.
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1313
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 06:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

...but I'm sure that would cause cancer in CA.

With everything already on the Prop 65 list, I expect the next warning that will need to be made is:

The state of California is known to cause cancer in the state of California.
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2008xb12scg
Posted on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 - 09:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm not worried about cancer, the SO on the other hand, she scares me when she gets mad.... lol
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Aesquire
Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2018 - 12:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

In my buddy's case, let us just say that I am told Puerto Rican folk are the 2nd fastest speakers of Espanol. Red heads have a rep for a Reason. I believe both. Seriously. ( I could be wrong on speed of cursing. I'd like proof )

Besides, in many homes it's a violation of territory. Does she borrow the pipe wrench?

( I know guys that are The Chef, and gals that fix plumbing. )

When budget isn't an issue, convince yourself you need a shop pizza oven that Tim "The Toolman" Taylor would grunt over. And a new HVLP paint rig.

Otherwise, pros do better work cheaper, because of tools.
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2008xb12scg
Posted on Saturday, May 26, 2018 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Lol I was married to a redhead, now a Filipina . I hate to Break it to ya but they're all mean as fk when you piss them off lmao
She will occasionally borrow a tool, then clean it and put it back where it goe, so I don't worry. But putting paint in the oven... lol I love her cooking so she's in charge of the kitchen 100% Lol
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Steveford
Posted on Friday, June 01, 2018 - 08:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I can vouch for red headed women being the Spawn of Satan when they get angry.
That's why God made fast motorcycles, so you can escape from them.
In conclusion, I'd say that the sex isn't worth dealing with their temper.

Jet Hot has always held up well for me.
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46champ
Posted on Friday, June 01, 2018 - 10:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have both a painted header and a ceramic coated header for my M2. The ceramic header is noticeably cooler and has held up well probably have 75,000 miles on it.
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Aesquire
Posted on Friday, June 01, 2018 - 10:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Oh, it is worth it.

So is the ceramic coating.
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