RUST IN RADIATOR TANK

09112 · Sep 20, 2018

I have just purchased a new radiator for my old Allis B. I was informed the top tank was full of rust and it would be more expensive to remedy the problem than buy a new one. I still have the old radiator and am wondering if I was sold a bill of goods. Is there an effective means of safely disolving this rust w/o destroying the core? I'm still not convinced this rad was junk as it holds water, but has not been tested under pressure. Any comments would be appreciated.

TractorGuy · Sep 20, 2018

Try sticking a magnet to it and see if the radiator has any steel in it to rust. The rust is most likely from inside the engine block. If so the new radiator will soon have rust in it's tank.

Soak in 50% vinegar and water solution. If it flows good and doesn't leak it may be okay.

09112 · Sep 20, 2018

Thanks Guy, I'll get on this tomorrow morning and get back to you.

nyone · Sep 24, 2018

Is the rad steel? If not i would do a rad flush. Get out what you can and keep an eye on it.
Part of what antifreeze does it not let your cooling system rust so its about time to change it and mabe its manufacturer of it.

09112 · Sep 25, 2018

I thought I would be done with this before now but work has piled up and I haven't gotten around to it yet. The rad is off the tractor at the moment but I will be putting in some quality time today and try to make this one of my projects. Thanks for the input.

super55 · Sep 25, 2018

Ahh the joys of working on older machinery. I had a similar situation for my Avery tractor where the radiator had rust. Getting a replacement rad was all but impossible so I took the radiator off and back flushed it by using some old hose and some PVC fittings to fabricate a connector to a garden hose. Hooked to the bottom of the rad where the pump would typically draw and ran copious amounts of water through it.

Have no idea how hot the tractor runs because it doesn't have a temp gauge but I have used it regularly for 3 years now cultivating crops and it hasn't blown up yet so I can only presume that the cooling system is working.