The Hodaka Club Forum

How does one clean out an Ace 92B type chrome pipe? I’m assuming you don’t put the chrome pipe on the Barbie? So are there any special tricks? Victor

You can buy WD 40 in gallon cans and try soaking it.Plug one end ot the pipe and fill half way. Day or 2 later plug the other end and flip it. The WD 40 will not discolor the chrome the way some chemical cleaners can if left on the surface to long. Use a pressure washer to rinse it out.

Some guys used to heat up Simple Green to 150 degrees and pour it in. Use the same soaking method.

Both of these should be safer than other solvents or heat.

OK, I’m not a big fan of Simple Green, so I’ll try the WD-40. Do you warm up the WD-40 or is it not necessary? Just want to make sure. Thanks! Victor

Interesting . . . I've been trying to find time to post all day that I have little to no confidence that WD-40 will do anything at all to internal exhaust system deposits. Simple Green seems the better choice to me. Although the primary choice for chrome pipes is probably mechanical removal. There is an old technique of fishing an old chain into the pipe and working it around/up-and-down/and all over to mechanically break up deposits. I don't know of a proven "best" method for the chrome pipes.
Ed

I use a device I fashioned out of a three foot brazing rod with a short segment of light chain attached to a loop bent into the end of the rod. After removing the exhaust system internals, run the brazing rod through the pipe until the chain just enters the pipe and attach the other end of the rod to a variable speed drill. Run the drill just fast enough to get the chain rattling around the inside of the pipe and go to town working the chain along the length of of the pipe. Not too fast. Wear a glove on the non dominant hand to wrangle the rod to keep it from flopping around. You'll need to gently clamp the pipe in a vice to stabilize it. This also works well to loosen up the carbon after burning out a painted pipe. Finish up with a blast of compressed air. For pipes with attached header you just work from the open end. You can also use a straightened out coat hanger if you don't have long brazing rod.

Can you post a picture of the 92B chrome pipe? And what serial number does the frame have. ---------------Clarence

I dont think we heated the WD 40. May have been to flammable to safely heat it up. We used to soak pistons in it to soften the carbon so we did not scratch the tops or distort the ring groves while cleaning very heavily modified snowmobile engines. My memory may have faded, this was the 60', so I have a piston soaking in it right now to see if it works the way I remember. There are many other home remedies like oven cleaner, but I believe the object of the project is not to damage the chrome with harsh chemicals. Mechanical cleaning can be the best and or quickest, but use care if spinning something in a pipe which may have baffles or chambers. You wad something up inside the pipe, getting it back out may prove fatal to the patient. Been there, done that. Everything offered as a solution has promise, keep us posted on how the project turns out.

https://thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/61 ... you-do-it/

Pay attention to wr450fgreg’s comment regarding the wire rope. Works great! Works better if you flay the end so that it makes contact inside to “brush” the carbon off the inside.

$0.02

Roger

Good point, dogs. The chain on my rig is very smooth - no hooks or protrusions to snag any internal baffles. I cut it from an old dog leash. Also, keep the RPMs down so that the chain acts as a gentle "flail" that just rattles around. We're not trying to remove metal here. Roger, same concept - possibly an improvement over my rig. Might have to give it a whirl next time I have a pipe-b-q.

Well that must have been a different problem we solved with WD 40 because it does slightly soften hardened carbon some, but not the solution I remember. We may have added it to a solvent with a high evaporation rate that was stronger when soaking pistons in open containers. I worked with some old school mechanics first at a Hodaka dealer and later at a machine shop. Seldom were things like environmentally safety or user protection given much thought. Someone will share that magic formula to get the results you are looking for.

Over the years, I successfully soaked my pipes in carb cleaner. It was the good stuff before carb cleaner got watered down after attacks from the EPA. My memory is not clear. Did the carb cleaner destroy the chrome finish? I do remember the carb cleaner generally cleaned the pipe as good as you could expect. Nothing has been said about this chemical so decided to speak up.

Richard Schwarz

The 92B did not have a chrome pipe. Did it? -----------Clarence

taber hodaka wrote:The 92B did not have a chrome pipe. Did it? -----------Clarence

You are correct Clarence. Here is a link to a YouTube video where Paul explains the specs on the 92B.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvzvoF_B0Rg

So I was sent a pipe by Bruce which looks like the 92B pipe but is all chrome. Is that a 92 pipe and not the 92B? Thx! Victor

If it is straight it is not a model 92B pipe. If it is straight and chrome it is a model 92 pipe. The model 92B is a flame thrower pipe. ---------------------Clarence

OK. I’ll contact Bruce & send it back to him! Victor

Victor what is your frame number only will that tell you. Clarence

I believe it’s 43650. Butvid have to go look with a flashlight

Victor if your frame is 43650 it would not be a 92B as the 92B frame started with 51013. If that is the case the exhaust would be straight, look like the 92 pipe except painted black with the same chrome shield. ------------ Clarence

Yup, Clarence, I checked the VIN plate again & it is 43650. So does that make this Ace an original Model 92 & not a Model 92B, a I was told?

And here’s the pipe Bruce sent me. It’s all chrome, no black at all. I haven’t cleaned it yet, so I just set it on top of this box. Victor

Yup, Clarence, I checked the VIN plate again & it is 43650. So does that make this Ace an original Model 92 & not a Model 92B, as I was told?

And here’s the pipe Bruce sent me. It’s all chrome, no black at all. I haven’t cleaned it yet, so I just set it on top of this box. Victor

It would be the correct pipe if you just sand it down and paint it. Cheaper than chrome and you do well with painting, the shield would remain chrome. ---------------Clarence

OK, cool! The other thing this model requires is the low front fender. I have the fender, what I don’t have is the mounting stay for the fender mount. Does anyone have those and will sell them to me? I have a high mount fender & bracket, but would prefer to “stay” correct. So let me know if anyone has that front fender stay! Victor

I have seen the low mount front fender stay come up on e-bay from time to time, so I believe they are still around. I bought one off e-bay for an Ace 100 years ago and, at that time, the price was very reasonable. Bruce might also have one, might check with him. He seems to always have needed items, and his prices are always great.

Yes. I plan on checking with Bruce. I will have the ability to go either way with the front fender, once I acquire a front fender stay. Victor