Pipe bluing

Howdy all,
Recently, (last week), I purchased an XJ 1100, with 15,000 miles on it. It looked to be well maintained, with logs in the owner manual about service done. So it is not a PO'd wreck.
However, all four of the top bends in the exhaust pipes are blued, 3 and 4 more so than 1 and 2.
Since these are stock headers, double walled, ( I checked ), it puzzles me as to why they would blue. The mains are 112.5's, and 115,s, float height was good, needles 1 3/4 out, and the plugs where tan. This bikes live at 5000 foot elevation, so that should make it run rich, if anything.
Anybody know if any other XJ's have had the blueing problem?
Thanks CZ

 

does it have stock pipes on it. If so the floats might be a tad low leaning it out or the air screws need adjusting and carbs synced

 

Blueing is a sign of lean mixture you know that. Sounds like you need to do a tuneup. Do you have a color tune?

 

Yes, lean mixture equals blue pipes.
How is the air filter? The XJ11 air filter is a little hard to come by these days. Some owners will remove the paper element when it gets dirty. I have had 2 XJ11s that had the same pipe bluing with a modified air filter. Replaced the filter and the pipes would eventually turn back to normal, or re-jet 1 size up if you have a K&N filter.

 

My original pipes were about 17 years old when I removed them, and they had no bluing (just dents and scratches because of the guy that knocked my bike over with his trailer when it was parked in a parking lot.)

The Mac pipes I put on started changing color almost immediately.

That said, the 1100 is a bit of a different animal from the 550/650/750/900 family. I'd still guess that something is, or was in the past, not quite right.

 

The inner pipes might be compromised in some way, either rusted though or cracked, allowing the exhaust heat to directly transfer to the outer walls.

It happened on both my SR500s, but on those the inner broke up from vibration.

Or, like SQL Guy said, it's a "PO track" from a previous era...

 

You should examine your Spark Plugs.
If you find evidence of a LEAN Condition; make Tuning adjustments or rectify situations preventing adjustments from taking effect.

Older Bikes displaying a sudden onset of Lean Condition usually have Diaphragm Pistons unable to rise due to "Sticking Pistons" unable to rise and fall within the Bore due to the Bore being contaminated by Aluma-Oxidation.

Aluma-Oxidation is like a coat of gray dust on the previously clean and shining surface.

Refinishing the Bores following a thorough Carb Cleaning will restore performance and alleviate the Lean condition.

 

Thanks for the input, guys.
I'll take all suggestions under advisement, check out the appropriate parts, check the exhaust pipe temps next time I ride it, and go from there.
I appreciate the input, CZ

 

BEFORE you do a ride, ... L@@K at the PLUGS.

If your Plugs are C-L-E-A-N !!!
Bring-out the Screws
-OR-
Add some Top Cylinder Lube to the Fuel.

 

exhaust system

So I was wondering about the pipes looking sorta blue. Is there a way to remove the exterior blue on the headers?

I've read that it can be caused due to the inner wall being cracked/rusted as well as the possibility that the engine was waaaay too lean. Either way if I were to put this system on my xj would the blue ever disappear by itself?

btw: don't steal this system from me if you hadn't found this and live in the area. If I decide to make the purchase its a 2 hour drive for me to get it, and I've always had the itching to have a spare system on hand (especially in this condition)

 

There was a polish specifically to remove exhaust bluing from chrome a few years ago can't remember what it was called.
Here you go I dont think this is the same but hey it's a start
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/blue-job ... polish.htm

 

Also, you may be in tune at idle, but lean on the main fuel (3k/4k rpm plus). To check you would need to do plug chops at speed with with new plugs. dmccoach on this site had a build thread in which he did some plugs chops and fine tuning. It is a very good and informative build thread.

Here is a link to his build thread...

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=35179.html

 

thanks guys for the info. yes I am aware of the procedure to avoid bluing. I was just curious as to whether or not if I install this system that the bluing will fade away? since my current headers do not have bluing & I personally have not had an issue with bluing

or else if I want the bluing to be gone will I have to do some elbow grease? just curious if others have had a similar scenario

if you've looked at the system for sale, all-in-all it looks to be in nice condition. my current silencers (mufflers) are from a 750 in which I had to tack-weld them to the rest of my 650 system and collector. over the past 2~3 years they are vibrating loose and just hanging on by the bolts so I know my system is not solid because I can feel exhaust leaking through cracks and holes around this connection. it'd be nice to pick up a spare system so when it does fall apart for good I can be ready for a switch

 

The headpipes on the "system for sale," based on where they're discolored, are probably rusted out inside.

If the inners were intact and the 'donor' bike had overheated enough to "blue" solid double-wall pipes, they would be blue right up at the bends coming away from the head. Where those are blue points to the inners being compromised.

Also note the pictures the seller DIDN'T POST: the close-ups of where the crossover flanges are. I'm betting that there's some rust-outage there.

Honestly I'd pass.