Hole in Radiator

[rbh]

SO, it is one of those mornings.
Fired up the ditch witch, bolt vibrated and dropped to the frame, glanced off frame and put a pin hole in the front of the radiator.

Can I rough up/clean around the hole and apply some of the flux, heat with a 1500 watt soldering iron and apply the solder???


Really do not want to remove and have to go to a rad shop.

thx
rob

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Hole in Radiator

On the side core or "fin" area.

If it's the fin area. Here's how I've fixed radiators in the past.
I've taken some side cutters and cut the tube in half right were the pin hole is, Small pair of pliers and squeeze it down.

Then take a propane torch and start to heat up the tube ends where you cut and squeezed. This will start to burn away any coolant, Then apply soldering flux and use Acid Core Solder.

Solder up the 2 ends and seal them up.

Depending on the size of the hole, you may be able to just heat, flux and solder the hole up. But I've never had any luck doing that.
But most importantly, Acid core solder. Regular electrical solder wont stick to the dirty metal.

Once it's cool. Take some baking soda and water to the solder joints to neutralize the acid in the solder. Just a quick brush or wipe.

 

[rbh]

Re: Hole in Radiator

So, pushed fins aside, squeezed hole together, gave it a shot of
brake clean??, just because.
applied flux, turns out the soldering gun was a weller 140/100 watt, didn't work worth a hoot, so went for the oxy/acetaline, good heat, and I held the tip about 8 inches away for ten seconds.
only solder I had was resin core???

now for the water holding test, pray, pray, pray

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Just keep an eye on it. If it wasn't acid core, once the radiator heats up then cools, the solder make break free from the radiator. All depends on how clean the metal was.

 

[rbh]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Just keep an eye on it. If it wasn't acid core, once the radiator heats up then cools, the solder make break free from the radiator. All depends on how clean the metal was.

If at first you do not succeed, to the rad shop.

(She was a drippen from the spot.)

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Hole in Radiator

When ever a tube got a hole in it I would cut the tube near each tank. Leave enough for a pair of needle nose vise grips to pull the tube out when you apply some propane torch heat.
Then clean the holes really good and then solder the holes in the tank plates shut.

The tank plates are much thicker than the tubes and I found them to be easier to get a good soldering than the thin tubing.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Try not to solder the pin hole. Complety cut the tube in half, Needle nose pliers and squeeze the tube flat (but not too hard or you'll have a crack in crimps). I've always left about 1/4 inch this way you can fill the crimp with solder. You'll do this twice. Solder those ends.. You can also do what jeeperman said by pulling the tube.

Also,, I don't know your solder skills so I'll put in few pointers.

For your job.. Acid core solder.. (Couple of bucks at the hardware store)
No oxy/axcy... Too hot. Propane will do fine..
Dont let the flame heat the solder.. You need to heat up the metal so when you touch the solder to the metal it melts.

I did this on an old 78 chevy I had. 8 years later the truck finally crapped out on me and I creeped it to the salvage yard. Radiator still holding strong.. Had 5 solder spots in it from corrosion.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Hole in Radiator

If it was only a pin hole leak why not FIRST add some good quality stop leak and see it that takes care of it. If not then bring out the heating iron and welding rods..

 

[ifallsguy]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Other temp fixes:

Put some pepper into the radiator. It will flow to the hole and block it.

Stick a raw potato up against the radiator and carefully push it in. The potato starch will close up the hole.

These fixes will let you run for a while, but the radiator needs to be repaired or replaced

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Hole in Radiator

EEK>>>

I hate those words of additives on cooling systems. While Stop leak may stop the pin hole, you have to think about something else. The container of stop leak you poured in has to go somewhere....... In the water jackets of the head/block, water pump, partially blocked radiator core etc....

These "Band aids" for fixing radiators are bad news. Can't tell you how many times I've fixed cars that has cooling problems, because people put in eggs, stops leaks, saw dust and other snake oil products. For the cost of the stop leak you can buy the solder and seal it properly.

 

[rbh]

Re: Hole in Radiator

$20 bucks fixed.
Pressure tested/flow tested and NO skinned knuckles, yet.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Glad it's all fixed.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Hole in Radiator

Most if not all car manufacturers pop a "barrs leaks" type product in before it leaves the assembly line. A little more for a small pin hole should not harm anything.
My 2 cents.

 

[jimr]

Re: Hole in Radiator

I had a 2008 freightliner fl series pop an aluminum core radiator last week. Core split right behind the air to air. truck has 11,000 miles on it and runs mostly in town. Took air to air off, cleaned it with lacquer thinner and then mixed up some JB Weld and filled core, pinched together and then encapsulated it with JB. let it sit a day and filled it pressured it up no leaks. all is good.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Hole in Radiator

If it was only a pin hole leak why not FIRST add some good quality stop leak and see it that takes care of it. If not then bring out the heating iron and welding rods..

Never ever ever ever add stop leak to a cooling system.

"good quality stop leak" <<-- Oxymoron

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Hole in Radiator

I think a ditch witch is just the kind of thing you do use stop leak in..I would before I started spending money and have it sitting broken for any time..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Hole in Radiator

I think a ditch witch is just the kind of thing you do use stop leak in..I would before I started spending money and have it sitting broken for any time..

Not sure what the OP has but a Ditch Witch of the type that has water for cooling could easily be $20K.