Since I am starting fresh again what do you fellow trucksters recommend to keep these things looking new?

 

replace with HD F150, BABolt or other tips.

As for oem tips. stay the heck away from Ceramabryte. It's crap!

Mother's mag polish and Neverdull work really good.

 

Clean them often. My lightning had only 1500 miles when I decided it was time. After about an hour of scrubbing, a third of a bottle of Ceramabryte (I read about it on svtlightnings.com and worked better than any other cleaner I tried), and about a six pounds of elbow grease, a good resemblance to my new tips came back. I alternated between the Ceramabryte and soap and water.

I used a plastic brush (I was afraid a wire brush would scratch the ceramic coating) and LOTS of paper towels. Don't forget the bandages and antibiotics because the edges can be a sharp.

I think BaBolt has stainless steel tips and karcraft.com sells the Harely Davidson tips. I'm not sure if they're easier to clean. If anyone says yes, I'm buying a set.

 

aus6321 -

The BABolt tips clean up with soap and water; if you're **** like I am you can clean the insides with the quick pass of a bottle brush.

 

I started cleaning the insides after reading your post months ago but I use a 'conical' shaped wheel cleaning brush. Think I got it from Griot's. I just spray inside the tips with carb cleaner, WD40, Amsoil foamy cleaner, etc. and twist the brush in and out. Doesn't remove all the carbon but evens everything out--gives a good contrast to the outer shine.

Dan

 

Hey NeedFourSpeed where exactly can you get the Babolt tips, I can't find them anywhere?

 

You can find a set on my truck.



Can't have them though. Rumor has it that these are now a collector's item. Glad I got in early.

 

LightningRod -

Good idea and I like that Griots Garage site. Somebody on this board tuned me on to it and I would like to thank them.

xbigjoe - I think you can get them from the svtlightnings.com sitesvtlightnings.com or if you search around for the person who makes them, Mike Phillips. I believe his address is mphillips@mediaone.net. They clamp on but I welded mine so there wouldn't be a chance of them coming loose or somebody removing them. The are worth every penny and I get a ton of compliments from other L owners.

 

I use Ceramabryte too and I think it works pretty well. It can be a pain untill I stumbled on something to use in between the major cleanings.

Are ya ready??? Glass cleaner (w/o ammonia)!! Then I bought the glass cleaner wipes and they work even better (an Armoral product).

I works almost as well as Ceramabryte but is much easier to use when you on the road, at the your favorite hot spot.

 

My stock tips were NASTY espesially after I had the dealership do the undercoating(I know, I know). After that I put on the Borla which was pretty easy to keep clean but I soon tired of the Borla and I cleaned the stock tips with buffer and polish wheels and get this.....One of those nail buffers that women use....On one side it is like a miniature buffer and the other side is fine sandpaper . Worked really well, when it came time to remove the undercoating over spray. I went back to the stock tips because of the hanger problems with the Borla.

 

BaBolts tips are the only way to go, a little windex and your good to go.

FRITZ Stock Silver 2001 "L"

 

Mothers polish does the trick for me. Still look new...
(not my mother's polish. I don't know what she uses).