Radiator repair

OregonAaron · Sep 24, 2018

Hey there, I was seeking opinions on repairing a radiator. Yes, I know the correct way to do it would be to take it to a shop and have them solder it. So, I did something dumb and wacked the radiator with a wrench when replacing the fuel pump and it now has a slow leak in one of the vertical tubes. The leak is in the middle and no where near the tanks. The hole is very small and I cant even see the hole, just a area of a few smashed fins and a weeping leak. I was planning on taking the radiator out a assessing the damage. So, if I cleaned the area very well could I JB weld a small leak? Also, are these radiators brass? I could try to solder it if so, but I have not done any real low heat soldering in quite some time... I don't want to make a bigger problem!

Bob · Sep 24, 2018

Clip a small area out of the fins so you can see the damage, clean up the damaged tube, apply "tinning flux", then solder with a heavy-duty soldering iron or a soldering "copper" and 50-50 acid core solder.

Wash, clean, and neutralize the area with a backing soda solution to prevent corrosion.

Since you are apparently not experienced in radiator repair DO NOT attempt to use a torch.

OregonAaron · Sep 24, 2018

well, I used to solder and braze with a torch ALOT! However it's been awhile... so, a soldering gun (hand held pistol style) should probably work? If so, the this shouldn't be a big deal. I have a few of them and I solder wire quite frequently.

nashranch · Sep 24, 2018

Quite an easy fix Aaron...do as Bob says and you'll have no problem

Bob · Sep 24, 2018

I have a big 'ol Weller D550PK soldering gun and have soldered quite a few radiator tubes with it.

With a torch, it's real easy to mess up the neighboring tubes.

Also, like I said, an even heavier electric iron or a soldering copper are options, as well.

OregonAaron · Sep 24, 2018

My soldering gun is not quite as heavy duty as yours. Yours is 200-250 watts and my biggest is 150 watts. I hope it is capable of getting it hot enough.

Fighting suburbia in NC · Sep 25, 2018

Ground pepper - worked for me for 19 years in my tractor. Actually forgot that I had done that until the ooze came back. I may have exacerbated the issue when taking off the PTO shaft out of the crank and rubbing up against the back of the radiator where the leak was.

It is an old trick but it saved me changing out the radiator for a long time.

OregonAaron · Sep 25, 2018

I actually used the pepper trick in my wife's ford expedition. Had a weep where the plastic tank met the core. Did it 4 years ago and I still use that rig as a ranch beater.

MJMJ · Sep 25, 2018

Not the correct way to do it, but I dabbed some JB Weld on a small leak like that about 10 years ago and it's still holding on.

Radiator repair

OregonAaron

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Bob

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OregonAaron

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nashranch

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Bob

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OregonAaron

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Fighting suburbia in NC

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OregonAaron

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MJMJ

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