Clear Coat on Carbon Fiber - Help!

**GSKR** · 10-26-2015, 04:32 PM

I would back off from a machine if he is not getting any kind of results from the oily turtle wax ,try a light compound nothing with silicone ,was the pipe hot or warm when you wiped the exhaust with alcohol?

**Karl Hungus** · 10-26-2015, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Never would imagine that alcohol would do that to carbon fiber. Could it be a coating that is applied for heat resistance that reacts with alcohol?

I don't know what it is, but I was absolutely shocked that it affected it this way. I doubt it's a heat resistance thing; even after riding for an extended period, you can wrap your hand around the exhaust. That's how cool it is.

**FUNX650** · 10-26-2015, 05:19 PM

Instead of all of this fiddle-fartin' around:

I'd personally contact Yoshimura-RD
and ask for their expert advice regarding
proper care/repair(?) of their CF-exhaust
systems' components.

Bob

**Karl Hungus** · 10-26-2015, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by GSKR

. . . was the pipe hot or warm when you wiped the exhaust with alcohol?

That's the funny thing - this pipe stays cool even after extended running. I can't imagine heat is a factor at all here.

**AnthonyGXP** · 10-26-2015, 07:41 PM

You need an abrasive set, which is found in a compound or polish, to even try to remove this damage. Most waxes are non-abrasive, therefore will do you no good on this damage.

**jrs1418** · 10-27-2015, 02:13 AM

Most CF has some kind of resin over it, and I've used ISO on CF hoods without doing any kind of damage. I'm assuming this exhaust for some reason has some version that can be chemically etched or liquefied with ISO. I'd try some compound to see if its just the surface that got damaged, and hope that it isn't damaged all the way through. If that doesn't work I'd contact the manufacturer for recommendations before you attempt any wetsanding.

**Karl Hungus** · 10-28-2015, 12:22 PM

It's sunny out and there's some glare that makes the finish hard to see, but long story short, it's as good as new. Better, even, because the main portion of the exhaust isn't as shiny as the tip! Took me about two minutes of light rubbing, followed with a couple coats of Turtle Wax Ice. Thank you to everyone who took time to weigh in and offer advice!

Bullet = dodged!