Heat Exchanger Leak

[FreeBeeTony]

Well my leak turned out to be my heat exchanger........not my risers or riser gaskets.
The risers needed to be replaced anyway.

I isolated the fresh water side of the exchanger and pressure tested it. Didn't hold pressure and I saw bumbles coming out of the exhaust when I looked over the transom!!

Called a few repair places and they recommended replacing it being that it's >10yrs old.

I'm gonna remove it tonight and see if I can determine where the leak is.....maybe it's just 1 tube that I can seal off.
Might try some JB Weld instead of solder.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Good Luck with it Tony,.....

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

I had a leaking tube in mine years ago. Found the tube, sanded fluxed and soldered with 50/50.... to both ends of the tube. Still doing well.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Found a leaky tube, plugged both ends w/ JB Weld.
Will test tomorrow......

 

[Scott Danforth]

Take it to a radiator shop for a proper repair

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Take it to a radiator shop for a proper repair

Could not find one in my area that would fix it.

 

[Volphin]

I'd either replace the HE or pop over to some popular marinas and ask the service guys who they use for HE repair. Sadly, radiator shops are becoming extinct. Everyone just wants to replace instead of repair.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Then I would pick up a propane torch and some solder and repair it properly. I would not trust JB weld to hold.

The heat exchanger is nothing but a bunch of copper tubing and fittings brazed together.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Then I would pick up a propane torch and some solder and repair it properly. I would not trust JB weld to hold.
.

I thought about soldering it but one shop told be its tough to do w/o disturbing the other tubes. I'm figuring it's only under around 7psi of pressure.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... Solderin' is one of those things that either, Ya get it, 'n yer Good at it,....

Or ya don't, which could easily lead to disaster with heat exchangers, 'n radiators,....

The right torch, good heat control, plenty of flux, 'n extremely Clean metal are some of the keys,.....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Just pressurized to 10psi and it seems to be holding...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Looks good so far........just gave it a coat of paint.
Hope to install tomorrow.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The original heat exchanger is brazed core. Soldering is how you repair them.

 

[Volphin]

Let us know how it works out Tony. Did you take some pics of the repair?

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Forgot to take pics.........not too difficult, just plugged both ends of the leaky tube w/ JB Weld.
Hope to install later.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Well, installed the exchanger.
All went well, until I forgot to open the raw water input that I closed.
Probably ran for a minute or so until I realized it.
No burnt rubber or anything, I was standing over the engine
After I opened the raw water input all seemed well.
Hoping the impeller was in a water bath.....seemed to be pumping ok.

Need to take it for a test run........

Heat exchanger seemed to hold pressure well.
May have saved myself ~$600....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

↵Took the boat out tonight, ran it hard.

Seemed to be fine......he​ld pressure and temp was steady @ 160*. Guess the raw water impel​ler is ok.

 

[NHGuy]

yaaay

 

[FreeBeeTony]

yes.......back in the game!!