Radiator repair

[Notagoodmechanic]

I put a hole in the bottom of my radiator, perhaps the size of a quarter. New from LS is $517.35 plus tax. Would it be possible to fix it somehow, maybe fiber glass? Any suggestion?

Edit: This is not the plastic overflow bottle, it the bottom of tha radiator and will be under pressure. Thanks.

 

[Egon]

What’s the radiator made of?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Yes, what's it made of? Bottom? You mean tank or damaged the core?. Tank if it's metal could be easy. TIG probably if it's aluminum and solder if if brass or copper. Plastic? Maybe plastic welding.

 

[Notagoodmechanic]

It痴 the bottom tank, plastic. I値l probably have to take it to a radia tor shop, about an hours drive away. I螢 rather patch it somehow, but I don遞 know if it would hold or what to use.

 

[Topzide]

If it were mine, I'd give ol' JB weld a try on the repair. Get everything good and clean, scuff up the smooth surface. Apply to the edge to bond and then build layer over the edge. Let it set up a day or two. $10 is worth the shot. You never know, could out last the tractor. Seen some repairs done that I wouldn't have thought would have worked.

 

[number two]

Check out Rapid-Fix.

Good Luck!

 

[jaxs]

The key to succesful repair is begin by identifying the type plastic (there are many) then choosing correct material for that sprcific plastic.
JB Weld has been mentioned and that might be a good choice but within the JB Weld line of products,choose one that matches the tank material.

 

[Topzide]

That looks like what I've been doing with super glue and baking soda! That could work also. Just put super glue and then pour some baking soda onto exposed glue to make a super hard fix.

 

[RoyKing]

A Plastic epoxy it has some MEK in it. Still need to sand the area. Take q-tip and some PVC pipe cleaner and see it will dissolve the glossy surface. An ABS welder mike be able to fix it. Somebody who fixes plastic car bumpers.

 

[Egon]

Work one or two aluminum strips into the hole and epoxy and screws (pop rivets ) to hold in place. Then build up the outside with epoxy and Fibreglass that extends well past the hole.
Drill a hole and use a screw on the aluminum strips to hold them when drilling the holes to hold them in place.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Our equiv of harbour freight offers a chinesium plastic welder, cheap (for what they usually cost) but still rather expensive. What makes them so expensive? Not like they use high frequency or anything fancy like industrial stuff.

Do you have the broken piece?

I would drill a bunch of holes and put some stainless 6-32 machine screws around the hole facing up with nuts. Roughen and clean the area and use the best adhesive you think might stick to the plastic and can take the heat. Not sure if that Lepages PL 25 (?) would stick to that plastic, but it's a crazy strong adhesive. Also not sure if it handles any temperature.

 

[jaydee325]

Go with a competent radiator repair shop.

They may even have a line of replacement radiators available that are less money than OEM.

I just sent my motorcycle radiator to a well known motorcycle radiator repair shop. I'll probably have $100 or so in it. OEM was $800 for new. I just can't risk being somewhere out in the boondocks and have a DIY goop radiator repair fail.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Our local rad shop clsed up after many years. Too many aluminum and plastic rads out there now.

I took my leaking generator rad to another guy an hour away. Said he would repair it no problem, cheaply. Got it back and all he did was cut out the bad part! I could have done that myself and saved the money and time.

 

[big bubba]

pour cornmeal in it

 

[CoyPatton]

pour cornmeal in it

Did you look at the picture of the hole? I think not!

 

[big bubba]

Did you look at the picture of the hole? I think not!

well then add the whole bag

 

[big bubba]

Go with a competent radiator repair shop.

They may even have a line of replacement radiators available that are less money than OEM. (or go online)

this would be my route, go after market rather than cobbling a patch, you can't afford even 1 overheating incident

 

[Snobdds]

That is not fixable...

One day I guy I know with a Landcruiser similar to mine asked if I wanted his old radiator. He said he just got a new aluminum one. I knew the old one was brass and copper. So I took it.

Took it into the radiator shop and they rerodded it and took off the tanks and rebrazed them. Good as new.

A year later he blew that aluminum radiator. He also said it never could cool the motor. Turns out it was a single core " high efficiency radiator". Well, the coolant never stayed in the radiator long enough to take any heat out of the coolant. Beware of high efficiency radiators when getting a new one.

 

[CoyPatton]

well then add the whole bag

And watch it flow out of the hole faster than it can be poured in! An plug up the small ports throughout the system. Leave the corn meal in the kitchen for cornbread or coating food to fry!

 

[big bubba]

And watch it flow out of the hole faster than it can be poured in! An plug up the small ports throughout the system. Leave the corn meal in the kitchen for cornbread or coating food to fry!

you guys actually took the bait, seriously....

back to the OP: Snobdds' comment about finding a multi core aftermarket radiator is an excellent point. personally would be looking at biting the bullet & going OEM. wouldn't dream of cobbling a patch. that's about as reliable as using cornmeal.
good luck, best regards